Jeremiah 23:13
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“Among the prophets of Samaria I saw an offensive thing: They prophesied by Baal and led My people Israel astray.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
In this chapter the prophet, in God's name, is dealing his reproofs and threatenings, I. Among the careless princes, or pastors of the people (Jer 23:1, Jer 23:2), yet promising to take care of the flock, which they had been wanting in their duty to (Jer 23:3-8). II. Among the wicked prophets and priests, whose bad character is here given at large in divers instances, especially their imposing upon the people with their pretended inspirations, at which the prophet is astonished, and for which they must expect to be punished (v. 9-32). III. Among the profane people, who ridiculed God's prophets and bantered them (Jer 23:33-40). When all have thus corrupted their way they must all expect to be told faithfully of it.
Open source ↗23:13-14 Samaria, the capital of the northern kingdom of Israel, had been dominated by Baal worship supported by the government prophets (1 Kgs 18:19; see also Jer 16:12). The religious leaders of Judah were even worse. • Sodom and Gomorrah represented the worst of this kind of wickedness (Gen 18:20).
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
Cross-references
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The priests did not ask, ‘Where is the LORD?’ The experts in the law no longer knew Me, and the leaders rebelled against Me. The prophets prophesied by Baal and followed useless idols.
For those who guide this people mislead them, and those they mislead are swallowed up.
So Manasseh led the people of Judah and Jerusalem astray, so that they did greater evil than the nations that the LORD had destroyed before the Israelites.
Then Elijah ordered them, “Seize the prophets of Baal! Do not let a single one escape.” So they seized them, and Elijah brought them down to the Kishon Valley and slaughtered them there.