John Calvin Commentary Jeremiah 26:24

"But the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah, that they should not give him into the hand of the people to put him to death." — Jeremiah 26:24 (ASV)

There is an adversative particle here, and not without reason, for the contention is pointed out which had raged so fiercely that it became difficult to rescue the holy Prophet from danger. We therefore conclude that Jeremiah was in so much peril that Ahikam saved him only with great and arduous effort.

This man is frequently mentioned in sacred history, and his name will be found later in several places. He was left to govern the remnant of the people after the city's demolition (2 Kings 25:22; Jeremiah 39:14). There is no doubt that he made progress in religion and was an upright man. His virtues were so valued by Nebuchadnezzar that he bestowed such an honor on him.

He was soon afterwards slain by the ungodly and the wicked, but everything related about him is honorable. It was indeed an extraordinary act of courage that he dared to oppose the fury of the whole people and to restrain the priests and the false prophets who had conspired to put the holy man to death.

This is the reason why it is finally added that the hand of Ahikam was with Jeremiah. Although the people were furious, and the priests would by no means be restrained from persecuting the holy man, Ahikam could not be turned from his holy purpose but persevered in defending a good cause until Jeremiah escaped safely.

Thus it is said that his hand was with Jeremiah, for by hand in Scripture is meant effort (conatus). For wherever there is anything to be done, or any difficulty, Scripture uses the word hand.

But as Ahikam exerted himself to the utmost, not only by helping the holy Prophet with his words but also by restraining the people's fury and boldly resisting the priests and the false prophets, the hand in this place means aid. His hand was with Jeremiah; that is, he aided or helped him, so that he was not delivered up into the hand of the people.

Therefore, it also appears, as we said yesterday, that the people's tumult was not immediately calmed, for the false prophets and the priests had so roused their virulence that they became almost implacable.

Here, then, an example of courage and perseverance is set before us. It is not enough for us to defend a good cause only when we can do so safely; we must also disregard all ill-will, despise all dangers, resist the fury of the wicked, and endure conflicts and dangers for God’s servants whenever necessary.

We are also taught at the same time how much weight one man's influence carries when he boldly defends a good cause, does not yield to the madness of the wicked, and risks extreme danger rather than betray the truth of God and his ministers.