Bible Dictionary
Irijah
Irijah was a captain at the Benjamin Gate in Jerusalem. He arrested Jeremiah, accusing him of intending to desert to the Chaldeans.
Definition
Irijah was a captain at the Benjamin Gate in Jerusalem. He arrested Jeremiah after accusing the prophet of intending to desert to the Chaldeans and brought him before the princes.
Biblical Usage
Irijah’s action forms part of the account of Jeremiah’s arrest during the troubled period when Judah faced the Chaldeans.
Historical Background
Irijah was the son of Shelemiah and served in the ward or guard at a gate of Jerusalem. The event is dated in the supplied material to about 589 B.C.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Smith's Bible Dictionary
(seen by the Lord), son of Shelemiah, a captain in the ward, who met Jeremiah in the gate of Jerusalem called the “gate of Benjamin” accused him of being about to desert to the Chaldeans; and led him back to the princes. (Jeremiah 37:13,14) (B.C. 589.)
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>i-ri'-ja (yir'iyayh, "Yah sees"): A captain at the gate of Benjamin in Jerusalem, who arrested Jeremiah the prophet on suspicion of intending to desert to the Chaldeans (Jer 37:13,14).</p>