“Therefore behold,” declares the LORD, “I am against the prophets who steal from one another words they attribute to Me.”
Jeremiah returns again to the false teachers, who were the authors of all the evils; for they fascinated the people with their flatteries, so that every regard for sound and heavenly doctrine was almost extinguished. But while God declares that he is an avenger against them, he does not exempt the people from punishment.
Here is a long lesson for the false prophets. As none were more bitter and spiteful against God's true prophets than they, so there were none on whom the true prophets were more severe, and justly. The prophet had complained to God of those false prophets (Jer 14:13), and had often foretold that they should be involved in the common ruin; but here they have woes of their own. I.
Commenting on Jeremiah 23:9-32
Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, saith the Lord,.... The false prophets, with whom the Lord was displeased; he set himself against them, and was determined to bring wrath and ruin on them. So the Targum, "therefore, behold, I send my fury against the false prophets;'' that steal my word, or "words" (q), everyone from his neighbour; either from the true prophets; beginning their...