*H Son of man, prophesy thou against the prophets of Israel that prophesy: and thou shalt say to them that prophesy out of their own heart: Hear ye the word of the Lord:
Ver. 2. Heart; what pleases them, (H.) without being inspired. There were always such impostors. These deluded the people at Jerusalem, (C.) or at Babylon. v. 9. Sanct. — They might be distinguished by the sincere: yet caused irreparable injury to the ignorant people. H.
*H Thus saith the Lord God: Woe to the foolish prophets that follow their own spirit, and see nothing.
Ver. 3. Nothing. Yet would lead the blind, though they are not directed by God.
* Footnote * Jeremias 23 : 1
Woe to the pastors, that destroy and tear the sheep of my pasture, saith the Lord.*H Thy prophets, O Israel, were like foxes in the deserts.
Ver. 4. Deserts, or ruins. They sought only to gratify themselves.
*H You have not gone up to face the enemy, nor have you set up a wall for the house of Israel, to stand in battle in the day of the Lord.
Ver. 5. Enemy. You do not admonish sinners of their evil ways, nor strive to avert God's indignation, in imitation of true prophets, (Ex. xxxii. 10.) but rather undermine the wall like foxes.
*H And my hand shall be upon the prophets that see vain things, and that divine lies: they shall not be in the council of my people, nor shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, neither shall they enter into the land of Israel, and you shall know that I am the Lord God.
Ver. 9. Upon, to punish. — Counsel. They shall not be consulted, or have any credit. — Writing. They shall perish in the city, or in banishment. C. — Their works shall not be accounted canonical. Sixt. Bib. ii. 2.
*H Because they have deceived my people, saying: Peace, and there is no peace: and the people built up a wall, and they daubed it with dirt without straw.
Ver. 10. Straw. Iniquity ruins my people, (C.) and these do not endeavour to reform their manners. H. — They ought to demolish such a work, and not daub it over. Theod. — One false prophet builds, and another strives to support his authority; (Jun.) or God has given the people his law, but these people corrupt it. S. Jer. — A wall built without proper mortar, will easily be washed down: so vain hopes of security, without amendment, deceive the people. W.
*H Say to them that daub without tempering, that it shall fall: for there shall be an overflowing shower, and I will cause great hailstones to fall violently from above, and a stormy wind to throw it down.
Ver. 11. Hailstones. Lit. "stones," like those which fell on the enemies of Josue, (x. 11. H.) or thunderbolts. Grot. C. — Such will be the fate of all the buildings of the wicked. Mat. vii. 27. H. — None can resist the judgments of God, who will employ the Chaldeans. M.
*H And I will break down the wall that you have daubed with untempered mortar: and I will make it even with the ground, and the foundation thereof shall be laid bare: and it shall fall, and shall be consumed in the midst thereof: and you shall know that I am the Lord.
Ver. 14. You. Lit. "it." But Heb. and Sept. have, "ye." H. — The wall and the inhabitants shall perish. C.
*H And thou, son of man, set thy face against the daughters of thy people that prophesy out of their own heart: and do thou prophesy against them,
Ver. 17. Daughters: so false prophets are styled in scorn, (Vat.) or witches; (Rabbins) though it seems rather that there were false prophetesses as well as true ones. Such were Prisca and Maximilla among the Montanists. Women have commonly fostered heresies. C. — These pretended to be illuminated, like Debora and Holda; but flattered the people in their sins, instead of reclaiming them. W.
*H And say: Thus saith the Lord God: Woe to them that sew cushions under every elbow: and make pillows for the heads of persons of every age to catch souls: and when they caught the souls of my people, they gave life to their souls.
Ver. 18. Cushions, by making people easy in their sins, and promising them impunity, (Ch.) by disguising the truth, or not admonishing people of their danger. C. iii. 17. He alludes to the cushions used on sofas. — Pillows. Sym. "veils;" (Sept. and Kimchi) or "nets" designed "to take" the unwary; as mispachot may be properly rendered. v. 20, 21. Is. v. 7. C. — Souls. That is, they flattered them with promises of life, peace, and security. Ch. W. — People are often said to do what they only announce. Lev. xiii. 11. These impostors pretended to save, while they really destroyed. They shewed a cruel mercy, detaining the people in captivity, or rather Heb. "shall you catch?" &c. Do you expect to pass unpunished? C. — We might read the Vulg. "Did they give?" &c. Prot. "Will ye save the souls alive that come unto you?" H.
*H And they violated me among my people, for a handful of barley, and a piece of bread, to kill souls which should not die, and to save souls alive which should not live, telling lies to my people that believe lies.
Ver. 19. Violated me. That is, dishonoured and discredited me. Ch. — Prot. "and will ye pollute?" &c. H. — They employed the name of God to give credit to their lies, for the smallest advantage. — Souls, &c. That is, to sentence souls to death, which are not to die: and to promise life to them who are not to live. Ch. — They contradicted Jeremias, who exhorted the people to surrender. C.
*H Therefore thus saith the Lord God: Behold I declare against your cushions, wherewith you catch flying souls: and I will tear them off from your arms: and I will let go the soul that you catch, the souls that should fly.
Ver. 20. Catch. Heb. also, "hunt the souls to make them into gardens, (H.) or flourishing." Sept. "you gather souls there." The original seems to be incorrect. v. 18.
*H Because with lies you have made the heart of the just to mourn, whom I have not made sorrowful: and have strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his evil way, and live.
Ver. 22. Just. Jeremias, or any other, particularly the more simple, who were easily seduced and filled with apprehensions. You shall therefore die, (v. 23.) and your imposture shall be made known. C.