Scholars are divided on who tells the story of Urijah. Some, like John Calvin, suggest Jeremiah's defenders cited it as a cautious warning against repeating a tragic mistake. Others believe his accusers used it as a precedent for execution, essentially saying, "Urijah was killed for this, so Jeremiah should be too." A third view is that the author added it later to show the extreme danger Jeremiah faced, making his survival more remarkable.