Read Jeremiah 20:1-6
This event took place during the reign of Jerhoiakim of Judah. Jeremiah preached at the valley of Hinnom, the center of idolatry in the city. He also preached in the Temple, which should have been the center of true worship. Both places attracted many people; both are were places of false worship.
Pashhur was the official in charge of maintaining order in the Temple. He was also a priest and had pretended to be a prophet. After hearing Jeremiah’s words, Pashhur had him whipped and put in the stocks instead of taking his message to heart and acting on it. The truth sometimes stings, but our reaction to the truth shows what we are made of. We can deny the charges and destroy evidence of our misdeeds, or we can take the truth humbly to heart and let it change us. Pashhur may have thought he was a strong leader, but he was really a coward.
This prophecy of destruction came true in three waves of invasion by Babylon. The first wave happened within the year, 605 B.C. Pashhur was probably exiled to Babylon during the second wave in 597 B.C. when Jehoiachin was taken captive. The third invasion occurred in 586 B.C.