Urijah
“Light of Jehovah”
Summary
An alternate form of the name Uriah, referring to several biblical figures including a priest who built a pagan altar for King Ahaz and a prophet executed by King Jehoiakim.
☩The Priest under Ahaz
Urijah was a priest during the reign of King Ahaz of Judah, likely the same person called as a witness by Isaiah for his prophecy concerning Maher-shalal-hash-baz. When Ahaz traveled to Damascus to meet Tiglath-pileser of Assyria, he saw a pagan altar there and sent its pattern to Urijah. The priest built a replica in Jerusalem, and when the king returned, he ordered the new altar to replace the bronze altar of the Lord for royal sacrifices.
☩The Prophet under Jehoiakim
Another Urijah was a prophet from Kirjath-jearim who prophesied against Jerusalem during the reign of Jehoiakim, speaking the same message as Jeremiah. When the king sought to kill him, Urijah fled to Egypt. However, Jehoiakim sent men who brought him back, where he was executed by the sword and his body cast into the common burial ground.
Related Verses11 mentions
See Also
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Urijah," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. X (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).