Jeremiah 20:1-2
Now Pashhur the priest, the son of Immer, who was chief officer in the house of the LORD, heard Jeremiah prophesying these things. Then Pashhur beat Jeremiah the prophet, and put him in the stocks that were in the upper Benjamin Gate of the house of the LORD.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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What's easily missed is that Pashur wasn't just any priest, but the "chief officer in the house of the LORD." This title implies he was second only to the High Priest, responsible for order and discipline within the temple itself. Therefore, Jeremiah's public prophecy about impending doom wasn't just a message to the people; it was a direct challenge to Pashur's authority and his duty to maintain the sanctity and perceived security of God's house.
Jeremiah has just delivered a grim prophecy about the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple to a crowd gathered in the temple courtyard. This message, filled with doom, was heard by Pashur, a high-ranking official within the temple hierarchy, who held a position of authority and oversight. Pashur, angered and disturbed by Jeremiah's words, now confronts the prophet.
Jeremiah steps into the temple courts to deliver God's message, but who was in charge there? This verse introduces a key figure with significant authority.
Jeremiah 20:1 introduces Pashur, identifying him as 'the priest, the son of Immer' and 'chief officer in the house of the LORD'.
A Man of Authority
This wasn't just any priest; Pashur held a high-ranking position within the temple system. The commentaries suggest he was likely the head of one of the twenty-four priestly courses or even a deputy to the high priest, sometimes called the 'captain of the temple'. His role involved maintaining order and upholding the law within the sacred space.
Temple as a Center of Power
The temple wasn't just a place of worship; it was also a center of religious and civic authority. As the 'chief officer', Pashur had the power to enforce rules and discipline those who disrupted the peace, including prophets who spoke unwelcome messages.
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Jeremiah speaks God's truth, but not everyone wants to hear it. How does the official religious leadership react to a prophet who challenges the status quo?
The very act of Jeremiah prophesying 'these things' – likely messages of judgment and doom for Judah's disobedience – immediately drew the attention of Pashur.
A Unwelcome Word
Jeremiah's prophecies were not comforting. They spoke of impending destruction and divine wrath because of the people's sins. For someone like Pashur, whose job was to maintain order and perhaps project an image of stability within the temple, such messages would have been deeply disruptive and threatening.
Power Responds to Truth
By 'hearing' Jeremiah, Pashur was put in a position where his authority was tested. The prophet's words were a direct challenge to the religious and political system that Pashur represented. This encounter sets the stage for the conflict that would define Jeremiah's ministry, showing how those in power often resist messages that expose their failures or threaten their comfort.
Understand the original words
kōhēn · Hebrew Noun
A priest is one set apart by God to serve in the sanctuary, act as a mediator between God and the people, and offer sacrifices for atonement. In the Old Testament, the priesthood was hereditary, descending through the line of Aaron.
nābî’ · Hebrew Noun
In a biblical context, a prophet is a spokesperson for God, chosen and empowered by the Holy Spirit to communicate His divine message, warn of judgment, call for repentance, or foretell future events. A prophet's authority rests entirely on the inspiration of God's Word.
The intense pressure from powerful empires like Babylon, coupled with internal religious and political corruption, created a volatile environment. Pashur, as a high-ranking temple official, represented the established religious order that felt threatened by Jeremiah's message of impending doom, making his opposition a direct consequence of the political anxieties of the time.
c. 627 BC
Jeremiah Begins His Ministry
God calls Jeremiah to prophesy to Judah and Jerusalem, a time of significant political and religious turmoil.
c. 612 BC
Fall of Nineveh
The Assyrian capital falls to the Babylonians and Medes, shifting the regional power balance and increasing the threat of Babylonian dominance over Judah.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon conquers Judah and takes Jehoiakim as a vassal king, deporting some of the royal family and elite, including Daniel, to Babylon.
c. 600 BC— this verse
Jeremiah's Temple Sermon and Arrest
Jeremiah delivers a scathing prophecy in the temple courts about the nation's sin and impending judgment. Pashur, a temple official, hears these prophecies and orders Jeremiah's arrest and punishment.
597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
After Jehoiakim rebels, Nebuchadnezzar deports King Jehoiachin and thousands more Judeans, including the prophet Ezekiel, to Babylon.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Third Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and the Temple, deporting the remaining population to Babylon, marking the end of the southern kingdom of Judah.
This passage describes Goliath, a powerful figure who instilled fear and seemed invincible, similar to how Pashur might have appeared as a chief officer, representing established authority.
Acts 4:1Here, priests and the captain of the temple (likely an official like Pashur) confront Peter and John, showing a pattern of religious leaders opposing those who spoke with divine authority.
2 Chronicles 31:13This verse mentions an overseer appointed by King Hezekiah within the temple, highlighting the hierarchical structure and administrative roles that individuals like Pashur held in the house of the Lord.
Jeremiah 38:1This passage introduces a different Pashur, who, along with others, casts Jeremiah into a cistern, demonstrating a continuation of opposition to Jeremiah from men holding positions of authority within the city and temple.
clarkeJeremiah 20:1: "Now Pashur the son of Immer the priest, who was also chief governor in the house of the LORD, heard that Jeremiah prophesied these things."
Pashur - chief governor - Pashur was probably one of the chief priests of the twenty-four classes.
wesleyJeremiah 20:1: "Now Pashur the son of Immer the priest, who was also chief governor in the house of the LORD, heard that Jeremiah prophesied these things."
20:1 Immer - The course of Immer was the sixteenth course of the priests, 1Chron 24:14. Pashur was his son, that is descended from him.
What's easily missed is that Pashur wasn't just any priest, but the "chief officer in the house of the LORD." This title implies he was second only to the High Priest, responsible for order and discipline within the temple itself. Therefore, Jeremiah's public prophecy about impending doom wasn't just a message to the people; it was a direct challenge to Pashur's authority and his duty to maintain the sanctity and perceived security of God's house.
Jeremiah has just delivered a grim prophecy about the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple to a crowd gathered in the temple courtyard. This message, filled with doom, was heard by Pashur, a high-ranking official within the temple hierarchy, who held a position of authority and oversight. Pashur, angered and disturbed by Jeremiah's words, now confronts the prophet.
Jeremiah has just delivered a grim prophecy about the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple to a crowd gathered in the temple courtyard. This message, filled with doom, was heard by Pashur, a high-ranking official within the temple hierarchy, who held a position of authority and oversight. Pashur, angered and disturbed by Jeremiah's words, now confronts the prophet.
"Now Pashhur the priest, the son of Immer, who was chief officer in the house of the LORD, heard Jeremiah prophesying these things. Then Pashhur beat Jeremiah the prophet, and put him in the stocks that were in the upper Benjamin Gate of th…" — What's easily missed is that Pashur wasn't just any priest, but the "chief officer in the house of the LORD." This title implies he was second only to the High Priest, responsible for order and dis…
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