Ahikam: See 2Kgs 22.12, 14. He must have been a leader of considerable status and influence; we know that his son Gedaliah was made the governor of Judah after the fall of Jerusalem in 586 B.C. (2Kgs 25.22).

The hand of Ahikam … was with Jeremiah: The meaning is that Jeremiah “had the support of Ahikam” (Good News Translation). In Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch the entire verse reads:

• Nevertheless Jeremiah escaped execution—but only because Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, protected him and would not allow him to be handed over to the furious crowd.

Another way to render the verse is:

• But Ahikam the son of Shaphan supported Jeremiah, and therefore would not allow the crowd to take Jeremiah and kill him.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on Jeremiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2003. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .