So the hand of Ahicam the son of Saphan was with Jeremias, that he should not be delivered into the hands of the people, to put him to death.

“Here is set down the repression of the people's fury against Jeremiah, through the words of the elders. And first they set forth the example of a just man to be imitated, concerning the deed of Micah, setting down his preaching; Micah; one of the twelve minor prophets, of Morasthi, to distinguish him from Micah the son of Yela, of whom 3 Kings, last: Zion, Micah 3: hear, O princes of Jacob, and rulers of the house of Israel. Above 9: and I will make Jerusalem into heaps of sand, and dens of dragons, and I will make the cities of Judah a desolation, because there is no inhabitant. And the people's turning: did he condemn him to death? As if to say, No. Above 6: ask about the ancient paths, which is the good way, and walk in it; and you will find rest for your souls. And they draw the conclusion: therefore let us not do so. Psalm 7: his sorrow shall be turned back upon his own head, and his iniquity shall come down upon his own crown. Second, they set forth an example of injustice to be avoided, lest they add evils to evils; there was also a man prophesying. And first his preaching is set down; and he prophesied. 1 Corinthians 14: for God is not a God of dissension, but of peace. And therefore all were saying the same thing. Second, the persecution is set down, and the flight; and he heard (...) and fled. Matthew 10: if they persecute you in one city, flee into another. Third, his killing; and the king sent; because he was allied with the Egyptians. But this one was killed, and Jeremiah was set free, for this reason: because God permits some of the saints to be killed, for the condemnation of the wicked, and as an example of patience for the good, James, last: take, brothers, as an example of suffering evil, and of longsuffering, and of labor, and of patience, the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Similarly, Acts 12, James is killed, Peter is set free. Third, the execution of the sentence concerning the deliverance of Jeremiah is set down: therefore the hand of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, was with Jeremiah. And it is plain.”

“Nevertheless, the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah,.... Though this instance was urged as a precedent to go by, being lately done; or though the king's cruelty had been so lately exercised in such a manner; yet this man, who had been one of Josiah's courtiers and counsellors, Kg2 22:12; stood by Jeremiah, and used all his power, authority, and influence, in his favour: that they should not give him into the hand of the people, to put him to death; that the sanhedrim should not; who, by the last precedent mentioned, might seem inclined to it; but this great man, having several brothers, as well as other friends, that paid a regard to his arguments and solicitations; he prevailed upon them not to give leave to the people to put him to death, who appear to have been very fickle and mutable; at first they joined with the priests and false prophets against Jeremiah, to accuse him; but upon the judgment and vote of the princes, on hearing the cause, they changed their sentiments, and were for the prophet against the priests; and now, very probably, upon the instance of Urijah being given as a precedent, they altered their minds again, and were for putting him to death, could they have obtained leave of the court; and which only Ahikam's interest prevented. Next: Jeremiah Chapter 27”

“Ahikam--son of Shaphan the scribe, or royal secretary. He was one of those whom King Josiah, when struck by the words of the book of the law, sent to inquire of the Lord (Kg2 22:12, Kg2 22:14). Hence his interference here in behalf of Jeremiah is what we should expect from his past association with that good king. His son, Gedaliah, followed in his father's steps, so that he was chosen by the Babylonians as the one to whom they committed Jeremiah for safety after taking Jerusalem, and on whose loyalty they could depend in setting him over the remnant of the people in Judea (Jer 39:14; Kg2 25:22). people to put him to death--Princes often, when they want to destroy a good man, prefer it to be done by a popular tumult rather than by their own order, so as to reap the fruit of the crime without odium to themselves (Mat 27:20). Next: Jeremiah Chapter 27”

“The narrative closes with a remark as to how, amid such hostility against the prophets of God on the part of king and people, Jeremiah escaped death. This was because the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with him. This person is named in Kg2 22:12, Kg2 22:14, as one of the great men sent by King Josiah to the prophetess Hulda to inquire of her concerning the book of the law recently discovered. According to Jer 39:14; Jer 40:5, etc., he was the father of the future Chaldean governor Gedaliah.”