Lecture One Hundred and Thirteenth

We saw in the last Lecture the substance of the letter which Shemaiah had written to the chief priest. He reproved him for his neglect, because he did not silence Jeremiah according to the right and duty of his office. This had a plausible appearance; but it was a false principle which he assumed, — that Jeremiah falsely pretended God’s name, and was not sent, and had no command to prophesy; ²²⁶²²⁶     The verb for prophesying is in Hithpael as before; he still represents Jeremiah as one who made himself a Prophet, — “Who of himself prophesies to you;” and not as Blayney renders the clause, “Who giveth himself out as a Prophet among you.” What he meant is, that what Jeremiah prophesied came from himself, the very thing which God ascribed to the false prophets; thus wicked men impute to the good the very sin of which they themselves are guilty. — Ed.
     this was false. Justly then does the Prophet now oppose him, and pronounce the punishment which he deserved. It then follows, —