Then said the princes and all the people unto the priests and to the prophets; This man is not worthy to die: for he hath spoken to us in the name of the LORD our God.
Then said the princes and all the people. The fickle people, as they were previously influenced by the priests to clamour for his death (Jeremiah 26:8), so now, under the princes' influence, require that he shall not be put to death. Compare as to Jesus, Jeremiah's antitype, the Hosannas of the multitude a few days before the same people, persuaded by the priests as in this case, cried, "Away with Him, crucify Him" (Matthew 21:1-46; Matthew 27:20-25). The priests, through envy of his holy zeal, were more his enemies than the princes, whose office was more secular than religious. A prophet could not legally be put to death unless he prophesied in the name of other gods (therefore, they say, "in the name of THE LORD"); or after that his prophecy had failed in its accomplishment. Meanwhile, if he foretold calamity, he might be imprisoned. (Compare Micaiah's case, 1 Kings 22:1-28).