Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Jeremiah 29:21
Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, of Ahab the son of Kolaiah, and of Zedekiah the son of Maaseiah, which prophesy a lie unto you in my name; Behold, I will deliver them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and he shall slay them before your eyes;
21. Of these two prophets nothing further is known. The LXX omit the fathers’ names, and the words “which prophesy name.” Co. denies, while Du. and Gi. admit, the historical accuracy of the story, Du. pointing out that, had the prediction not been fulfilled, the passage would not have appeared in the Book.
Kolaiah, curse (kllh) and roasted (klh) are three such similar words that a play on them as used in these verses seems intended. The son of Kolaiah was to be called Kllh (a curse) because the king of Babylon klh (roasted) him in the fire. It may have been for sedition or for an attack on Babylonian worship that the two met their end.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 21. He shall slay them before your eyes.] Nebuchadnezzar would be led by political reasons to punish these pretended prophets, as their predictions tended to make his Israelitish subjects uneasy and disaffected, and might excite them to rebellion. He therefore slew them; two of them, it appears, he burnt alive, viz., Ahab and Zedekiah, who are supposed by the rabbins to be the two elders who endeavoured to seduce Susanna, see Jer 29:23. Burning alive was a Chaldean punishment, Da 3:6, and Am 2:1. From them other nations borrowed it.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Of these two persons we read no more in holy writ: that they pretended to be prophets, that they abused the name of God, pretending to reveal his will, wheras what they said was not the will of God, but a falsehood, we learn out of this verse; and that they were both of them burnt by the king of Babylon we find in Jer 29:22. What the falsehoods they published were is not expressed, but it is most probable they were some of those that pretended that God had revealed to them, that within two years, or a short time, the captives carried away with Jehoiakim should return out of Babylon. God here tells those that were of the captivity, that those two wretches should themselves be slain by the king of Babylon.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
21. Zedekiahbrother ofZephaniah (Jer 29:25), bothbeing sons of Maaseiah; probably of the same family as the falseprophet under Ahab in Israel (1Ki 22:11;1Ki 22:24).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel,….
[See comments on Jer 29:4];
of Ahab the son of Kolaiah, and of Zedekiah the son of Maaseiah, which prophesy a lie unto you: two false prophets, of whom we have no account any where else but here; and are, no doubt, the prophets, or however two of them, that they of the captivity boasted of that God had raised unto them in Babylon, Jer 29:15. The Jews c say, and so Jerom relates, that these are the two elders that attempted the chastity of Susannah:
behold, I will deliver them into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon: they should be suffered to commit some crime against the state, of which notice should be given, and they should be seized as seditious persons; which was so permitted in providence, that they might be brought to punishment for other sins they were guilty of:
and he shall slay them before your eyes; by roasting them with fire: as follows:
c R. Gedaliah Shalshelet Hakabala, fol. 80. 1.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
After having set forth the divine determination, the prophet’s letter addresses itself specially against the false prophets and tells them their punishment from God. Jer 29:21. “Thus saith Jahveh, the God of hosts, of Ahab the son of Kolaiah, and of Zedekiah the son of Maaseiah, who prophesy to you in my name falsely: Behold, I give them into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, that he may smite them before your eyes. Jer 29:22. And of them shall be taken up a curse by all the exiles of Judah that are in Babylon, saying: Jahveh make thee like Zedekiah and like Ahab, whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire, Jer 29:23. Because they have done folly in Israel, and have committed adultery with their neighbours’ wives, and have spoken in my name lying words which I have not commanded them. But I know it and am witness, saith Jahveh.” – Beyond what is here told, we know nothing of these two pseudo-prophets. The name is written in Jer 29:20 without ; thus the Kametz comes to be under the , and in consequence of this the Pathach is changed into a Seghol “Smite,” i.e., slay. The manner of their death is called, probably with allusion to the name Kolaiah, , roast, burn in a heated furnace; a mode of execution usual in Babylon, acc. to Dan 3:6. This punishment is to fall on them because of two kinds of sin: 1. Because they have done folly in Israel, namely, committed adultery with their neighbours’ wives; 2. Because they have prophesied falsely in the name of Jahveh. Except in Jos 7:15, the phrase: commit folly in Israel, is always used of the grosser sins of uncleanness; see on Gen 34:7. So here also. – The Chet. is expounded in the Keri by , according to which there has been a transposition of the letters and , as in Jer 2:25; Jer 8:6, etc. Still the article here is extraordinary, since has none. Therefore J. D. Mich., Ew., Hitz., Graf suppose we should read , the having been dropped from in scriptio continua , as it often is, especially after , in and other words, cf. Jer 19:15; Jer 39:16, 1Ki 21:29, etc. is then the copula between subject and predicate, as in Isa 43:25; cf. Ew. 297, b.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
Vs. 21-23: A CURSE TO BE REMEMBERED
1. Ahab, son of Kolaiah, and Zedekiah, son of Maaseiah, have proclaimed lies to the exiles in the name of Jehovah, (vs. 21-22).
a. In His wrath, the Lord will deliver these lying prophets into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar against whom they are encouraging insurrection, (vs. 21a).
b. As the servant of Jehovah, Nebuchadnezzar will slay these wicked men before the eyes of their brethren, (vs. 21 b).
c. The curse that the exiles are to use against future prophets who encourage them to walk contrary to the ways of Jehovah, indicates that Nebuchadnezzar roasted them with fire -just as he intended to do with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, (vs. 22; Isa 65:15; Dan 3:19-25).
d. Hananiah had already received his punishment for falsely representing Jehovah; Ahab and Zedekiah are about to go to what they deserve; Jehovah is jealous for the honor of His name!
2. These men had walked in utter disregard for any moral or spiritual sensitivity – living in gross immorality, (vs. 23; comp. Gen 34:7; 2Sa 13:12).
a. They had committed adultery with their neighbors’ wives, (vs. 23a; comp. Jer 5:7-8; Jer 23:13-14).
b. They had spoken falsely in the name of Jehovah -declaring things that He did not command, (vs. 23b).
3. Every rebellious heart should be startled into reality by the self-revelation of Jehovah in the latter part of verse 23: “I am He who KNOWETH, and am witness,” ASV, (comp. Jer 7:11; Jer 16:17; Pro 5:21; Heb 4:13).
a. If the people of God are confused by contrary messages -all claiming to be from above -there IS one way to clarify the situation; ask someone who knows.
1) God is that Someone!
2) He knows ALL; there is nothing hidden from His view or understanding!
b. He bears witness to what He knows, and wants His people to know. According to G. Campbell Morgan, There are three basic ways by which He makes known, to men, what He knows in their behalf.
1) He reminds us of the lessons of history – from which we ought, at least, to learn some general principles.
2) By inspired messages, as men of God are borne along by the power of the Holy Spirit: upward, to a higher plateau of understanding; outward, toward the boundaries of the Divine government; and inward, to the very heart and wisdom of God.
3. God also make know through His providential arrangement of such circumstances as will lead us to the recognition of the truth concerning ourselves.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
By saying, I will give (or deliver) them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, the Prophet still more clearly expresses what I have just said, that they would be thus slain by the order of the king, because God had determined what was to be done to them. And he assigns the cause of their death or mentions its author, that the Jews might not fix their eyes on the king of Babylon. What had Nebuchadnezzar in view? to preserve a peaceable kingdom; he saw the danger of a tumult if he pardoned these two men, who had disturbed the people. Lest, then, the Jews should look only on the design of the king, God here sets before them another and a higher reason, even because they prophesied falsely in his name. A clearer explanation follows, —
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
6. The fate of two notorious false prophets (Jer. 29:21-23)
TRANSLATION
(21) Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, concerning Ahab the son of Kolaiah and concerning Zedekiah the son of Maaseiah, who are continuing to prophesy to you a falsehood in My name: Behold, I am about to give them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he will smite them before your eyes. (22) A curse shall be derived from them by all the captives of Judah who are in Babylon, saying, May the LORD make you like Zedekiah and Ahab which the king of Babylon roasted in the fire, (23) because they have done folly in Israel, and. have committed adultery with the wives of their neighbors, and they have spoken a word in My name falsely, which I had not commanded them. But I know this, and am a witness to it (oracle of the LORD).
COMMENTS
Two of the leading prophets in Babylon are singled out for special attention by Jeremiah. Nothing more is known of Ahab and Zedekiah than what is here recorded. Jeremiah makes two serious accusations against them. First, he accuses them of prophesying lies in the name of the LORD (Jer. 29:21). Then he accuses them of committing adultery (Jer. 29:23). Loose theology often is accompanied by loose morality. Jeremiah indicates that these two scoundrels would be delivered into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar who would roast them in a fiery furnace. The Babylonian king no doubt regarded their oracles as treasonous. This allusion to execution by fire brings to mind three brave Hebrew young men whom Nebuchadnezzar attempted to execute in this manner when they refused to bow to a golden image (Dan. 3:6 ff.). Ahab and Zedekiah would be remembered, but not as prophets. Their names would become part of a gruesome formula of imprecation which angry men would hurl at one another (Jer. 29:22). God Himself has taken note of the sins of these two hypocrites and He will see to it that they receive their just due (Jer. 29:23),
Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
(21, 22) Ahab the son of Kolaiah . . .We know nothing, beyond what is here recorded, of either of these prophets. They would seem to have been the leaders of the party of revolt, and to have been conspicuous, like their brethren at Jerusalem (Jer. 23:14), for base and profligate lives. The record of the prediction of their fate implies its fulfilment. They were punished by the Chaldan king as traitors and rebels, and were burnt alive. The history of the three children in Dan. 3:6; Dan. 3:20, shows that this was a sufficiently familiar punishment. A strange legend in the Targum of Rabbi Joseph on 2Ch. 28:3 records that the future high-priest Joshua, the son of Jozedek, was thrown into the furnace with them, and came out uninjured (Smiths Dict, of the Bible, Art. Zedekiah). We may, perhaps, trace the source of the legend in the figurative language of Zec. 3:2, Is not this a brand plucked out of the fire? The name Kolaiah (which admits of being derived from a verb meaning roasting) possibly suggested the cruel mockery of a punishment which turned it into an omen of the false prophets fate.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
21. Ahab Zedekiah Of these men we have no knowledge outside of this passage. But the manner in which they are mentioned here attests their influence and their infamy. For two crimes, adultery and false prophesying, they would be roasted in the fire by the king of Babylon. The mention of prophesying a lie as one of the crimes for which they suffered may be explained by reference to Jehovah. The king of Babylon punished them for crimes against society; God, for rebellion and sacrilege. But it may be that even the king punished them for speaking lying words, because these words tended to produce uneasiness and incite to revolt.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Jer 29:21. AhabandZedekiah Two false prophets, who seduced the Jews at Babylon. The rabbies, followed by many interpreters, believe that there were the two persons who attempted to seduce Susanna. See Jer 29:23.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Jer 29:21 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, of Ahab the son of Kolaiah, and of Zedekiah the son of Maaseiah, which prophesy a lie unto you in my name; Behold, I will deliver them into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon; and he shall slay them before your eyes;
Ver. 21. Thus saith the Lord of Ahab the son of Kolaiah.] These two – though not the two elders that assaulted Susanna, as some have fabled – are singled out, as arch-imposters and filthy adulterers, to be exemplarily punished; to whom also is added Shemaiah the Nehelamite. Jer 29:24
And he shall slay them before your eyes.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Jer 29:21-23
21Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, concerning Ahab the son of Kolaiah and concerning Zedekiah the son of Maaseiah, who are prophesying to you falsely in My name, ‘Behold, I will deliver them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he will slay them before your eyes. 22Because of them a curse will be used by all the exiles from Judah who are in Babylon, saying, May the LORD make you like Zedekiah and like Ahab, whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire, 23because they have acted foolishly in Israel, and have committed adultery with their neighbors’ wives and have spoken words in My name falsely, which I did not command them; and I am He who knows and am a witness, declares the LORD.’
Jer 29:21 LORD of hosts See Special Topic: Lord of Hosts .
Ahab. . .Zedekiah These were false prophets who were in Babylon and who apparently would be publicly executed by Nebuchadnezzar. We learn from Ezekiel 13 that there were other false prophets in exile also. This entire literary unit, chapters 26-29, seems to be related by the theme of false prophets.
The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, vol. 6, p. 556, and the NASB Study Bible, p. 1103, make the interesting comment that there is a purposeful word play between
1. Kolaiah – BDB 877,
2. curse – BDB 887,
3. roast – BDB 885 I,
Jer 29:22 May the LORD make you like This verse reflects an ancient proverb and curse formula.
roasted in fire We have learned from the Code of Hammurabi that this was a common public means of execution (cf. Section 25:110,157). These prophets betrayed themselves by their lifestyle (cf. Jer 29:23; Jer 7:15-23; Mat 7:15-27).
Jer 29:23
NASBacted foolishly
NKJVdisgraceful things
NRSVperpetrated outrage
TEVterrible sins
NJBscandalous thing
JPSOAvile
REBoutrage
This NOUN (BDB 615, KB 663) obviously has a wide semantic field, but it denotes some kind of evil thought or act. It denotes someone who acts inappropriately either mentally or morally (cf. Gen 34:7; Deu 22:21; Jos 7:15; Jdg 19:23-24; Jdg 20:6; Jdg 20:10; 1Sa 25:25; 2Sa 13:12; Job 42:8; Isa 9:17; Isa 32:6). In this context of Jer 29:23 (only use in Jeremiah) it describes the actions of two false prophets.
1. adultery (cf. Jer 23:14)
2. spoken falsely in YHWH’s name (cf. Jer 2:8; Jer 23:13)
in Israel This does not speak so much of geographical Israel as genealogical Israel. For the name Israel see Special Topic: Israel (the name) .
I am He who knows, and am a witness This is the affirmation that God judges the heart as well as the deeds (cf. Jer 7:11; Jer 16:17; Jer 17:10; Jer 32:19; Pro 5:21; 1Co 4:5; Heb 4:13). This should be a warning to all those who claim to speak for God!
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
Ahab . . . Zedekiah. These were false prophets-whom Nebuchadrezzar treated as stated in Jer 29:22.
Kolaiah . . . curse . . . roasted. Note the Figure of speech Paronomasia. Hebrew. Kolayah . . . kelah . . . kalam.
Nebuchadrezzar. Some codices read Nebuchadnezzar.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Jer 29:21-23
Jer 29:21-23
Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, concerning Ahab the son of Kolaiah, and concerning Zedekiah the son of Maaseiah, who prophesy a lie unto you in my name: Behold, I will deliver them into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon; and he shall slay them before your eyes; and of them shall be taken up a curse by all the captives of Judah that are in Babylon, saying, Jehovah make thee like Zedekiah and like Ahab, whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire; because they have wrought folly in Israel, and have committed adultery with their neighbors’ wives, and have spoken words in my name falsely, which I commanded them not; and I am he that knoweth, and am witness, saith Jehovah.
Concerning Ahab. and Zedekiah …..
(Jer 29:21). This part of Jeremiah’s letter is directed to these two men, with a message from God that they shall be put to death. This was a rather lengthy communication which Jeremiah sent to Babylon, as Cawley and Millard noted, This letter includes messages to no less than four different groups:
(1) those already in captivity in Babylon (Jer 29:10-14);
(2) those who would become captives later (Jer 29:15-19);
(3) Ahab, Zedekiah and their fellow false prophets (Jer 29:21-23); and
(4) to Shemaiah (Jer 29:24-32).”
This extensive letter, addressed to different groups, indicates that Jeremiah’s communication with the captives had been rather extensive. Shemaiah was among those who had written a letter which Jeremiah read; and there were doubtless other examples also.
Roasted in the fire…
(Jer 29:22). The Babylonian method of putting criminals to death was by casting them alive into the fiery furnace (Dan 3:6); But the Babylonians would hardly have put men to death for committing adultery … Nebuchadnezzar probably put them to death for plotting a rebellion against Babylon.
The curse mentioned here is interesting. “When the exiles would imprecate the greatest evil upon one whom they hated, the heaviest curse in the fewest words they could think of was, ‘The Lord make thee like Zedekiah and like Ahab.’ “
Cheyne wisely commented that, “There is an important and melancholy addition to our knowledge of false prophets in Jer 29:23, namely, that they committed adultery. They were not only misleading prophets, but immoral men in their private capacities.” This pattern in the lives of false teachers has prevailed throughout history, and even to the present day.
6. The fate of two notorious false prophets (Jer 29:21-23)
Two of the leading prophets in Babylon are singled out for special attention by Jeremiah. Nothing more is known of Ahab and Zedekiah than what is here recorded. Jeremiah makes two serious accusations against them. First, he accuses them of prophesying lies in the name of the LORD (Jer 29:21). Then he accuses them of committing adultery (Jer 29:23). Loose theology often is accompanied by loose morality. Jeremiah indicates that these two scoundrels would be delivered into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar who would roast them in a fiery furnace. The Babylonian king no doubt regarded their oracles as treasonous. This allusion to execution by fire brings to mind three brave Hebrew young men whom Nebuchadnezzar attempted to execute in this manner when they refused to bow to a golden image (Dan 3:6 ff.). Ahab and Zedekiah would be remembered, but not as prophets. Their names would become part of a gruesome formula of imprecation which angry men would hurl at one another (Jer 29:22). God Himself has taken note of the sins of these two hypocrites and He will see to it that they receive their just due (Jer 29:23),
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
which: Jer 29:8, Jer 29:9, Jer 14:14, Jer 14:15, Lam 2:14
Reciprocal: Deu 13:5 – prophet 1Ki 22:11 – Thus saith 1Ki 22:25 – Behold 2Ki 2:24 – cursed them 2Ch 18:10 – Thus 2Ch 18:24 – Behold 2Ch 34:8 – Maaseiah Isa 9:15 – the prophet Jer 20:4 – thine Jer 20:6 – Pashur Jer 23:32 – to err Jer 29:23 – lying Jer 37:3 – Zephaniah Eze 13:9 – mine Amo 7:17 – Thy wife Mic 2:11 – a man Mic 3:5 – concerning Zec 10:2 – the diviners Mat 7:15 – false 2Ti 3:9 – their
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jer 29:21. The punctuation as the A.V. has this verse might be somewhat confusing in the use of the preposition “of. It will help clarify the thought by wording it as follows: The God of Israel says thus of Ahab, etc. This Ahab and Zedekiah were false prophets in Babylon who deceived the captives by their lying predictions, and whose false assurances had a tendency to incite a spirit of rebellion against the king. The letter said that these false prophets would be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon who would slay them in the sight of the captives.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
The Lord also announced the fate of two false prophets in Babylon: Ahab ben Kolaiah and Zedekiah ben Maaseiah. Yahweh would deliver them into Nebuchadnezzar’s hand, and the Babylonian king would execute them in the sight of the exiles.