“Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel that prophesy, and say thou unto them that prophesy out of their own hearts, Hear ye the word of the LORD; that prophesy out: Heb. that are prophets out of their own hearts”
Heart; what pleases them, (Haydock) without being inspired. There were always such impostors. These deluded the people at Jerusalem, (Calmet) or at Babylon, ver. 9. (Sanctius) — They might be distinguished by the sincere: yet caused irreparable injury to the ignorant people. (Haydock)
“Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing! follow: Heb. walk after and: or, and things which they have not seen”
Nothing. Yet would lead the blind, though they are not directed by God.
“O Israel, thy prophets are like the foxes in the deserts.”
Deserts, or ruins. They sought only to gratify themselves.
“Ye have not gone up into the gaps, neither made up the hedge for the house of Israel to stand in the battle in the day of the LORD. gaps: or, breaches made: Heb. hedged the hedge”
Enemy. You do not admonish sinners of their evil ways, nor strive to avert God’s indignation, in imitation of true prophets, (Exodus xxxii. 10.) but rather undermine the wall like foxes.
“And mine hand shall be upon the prophets that see vanity, and that divine lies: they shall not be in the assembly of my people, neither shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, neither shall they enter into the land of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the Lord GOD. assembly: or, secret, or, counsel”
Upon, to punish. — Counsel. They shall not be consulted, or have any credit. — Writing. They shall perish in the city, or in banishment. (Calmet) — Their works shall not be accounted canonical. (Sixt. Bib. ii. 2.)
“Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, Peace; and there was no peace; and one built up a wall, and, lo, others daubed it with untempered morter: a wall: or, a slight wall”
Straw. Iniquity ruins my people, (Calmet) and these do not endeavour to reform their manners. (Haydock) — They ought to demolish such a work, and not daub it over. (Theodoret) — One false prophet builds, and another strives to support his authority; (Junius) or God has given the people his law, but these people corrupt it. (St. Jerome) — A wall built without proper mortar, will easily be washed down: so vain hopes of security, without amendment, deceive the people. (Worthington)
“Say unto them which daub it with untempered morter, that it shall fall: there shall be an overflowing shower; and ye, O great hailstones , shall fall; and a stormy wind shall rend it.”
Hailstones. Literally, “stones,” like those which fell on the enemies of Josue, (x. 11.; Haydock) or thunderbolts. (Grotius) (Calmet) — Such will be the fate of all the buildings of the wicked, Matthew vii. 27. (Haydock) — None can resist the judgments of God, who will employ the Chaldeans. (Menochius)
“So will I break down the wall that ye have daubed with untempered morter, and bring it down to the ground, so that the foundation thereof shall be discovered, and it shall fall, and ye shall be consumed in the midst thereof: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.”
You. Literally, “it.” But Hebrew and Septuagint have, “ye.” (Haydock) — The wall and the inhabitants shall perish. (Calmet)
“Likewise, thou son of man, set thy face against the daughters of thy people, which prophesy out of their own heart; and prophesy thou against them,”
Daughters: so false prophets are styled in scorn, (Vatable) 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. (Calmet) — These pretended to be illuminated, like Debora and Holda; but flattered the people in their sins, instead of reclaiming them. (Worthington)
“And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe to the women that sew pillows to all armholes , and make kerchiefs upon the head of every stature to hunt souls! Will ye hunt the souls of my people, and will ye save the souls alive that come unto you? armholes: or, elbows”
Cushions, by making people easy in their sins, and promising them impunity, (Challoner) by disguising the truth, or not admonishing people of their danger, chap. iii. 17. He alludes to the cushions used on sofas. — Pillows. Symmachus, “veils;” (Septuagint and Kimchi) or “nets” designed “to take” the unwary; as mispachot may be properly rendered, ver. 20, 21., and Isaias v. 7. (Calmet) — Souls. That is, they flattered them with promises of life, peace, and security. (Challoner) (Worthington) — People are often said to do what they only announce, Leviticus xiii. 11. These impostors pretended to save, while they really destroyed. They shewed a cruel mercy, detaining the people in captivity, or rather Hebrew, “shall you catch?” &c. Do you expect to pass unpunished? (Calmet) — We might read the Vulgate, “Did they give?” &c. Protestants, “Will ye save the souls alive that come unto you?” (Haydock)
“And will ye pollute me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, to slay the souls that should not die, and to save the souls alive that should not live, by your lying to my people that hear your lies?”
Violated me. That is, dishonoured and discredited me. (Challoner) — Protestants, “and will ye pollute?” &c. (Haydock) — 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. (Challoner) — They contradicted Jeremias, who exhorted the people to surrender. (Calmet)
“Wherefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against your pillows, wherewith ye there hunt the souls to make them fly, and I will tear them from your arms, and will let the souls go, even the souls that ye hunt to make them fly. to make: or, into gardens”
Catch. Hebrew also, “hunt the souls to make them into gardens, (Haydock) or flourishing.” Septuagint, “you gather souls there.” The original seems to be incorrect, ver. 18.
“Because with lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life: by: or, that I should save his life: Heb. by quickening him”
Just. Jeremias, or any other, particularly the more simple, who were easily seduced and filled with apprehensions. You shall therefore die, (ver. 23.) and your imposture shall be made known. (Calmet)