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A Message for Shemaiah

24 The Lord sent this message to Shemaiah the Nehelamite in Babylon: 25 “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: You wrote a letter on your own authority to Zephaniah son of Maaseiah, the priest, and you sent copies to the other priests and people in Jerusalem. You wrote to Zephaniah,

26 “The Lord has appointed you to replace Jehoiada as the priest in charge of the house of the Lord. You are responsible to put into stocks and neck irons any crazy man who claims to be a prophet. 27 So why have you done nothing to stop Jeremiah from Anathoth, who pretends to be a prophet among you? 28 Jeremiah sent a letter here to Babylon, predicting that our captivity will be a long one. He said, ‘Build homes, and plan to stay. Plant gardens, and eat the food they produce.’”

29 But when Zephaniah the priest received Shemaiah’s letter, he took it to Jeremiah and read it to him. 30 Then the Lord gave this message to Jeremiah: 31 “Send an open letter to all the exiles in Babylon. Tell them, ‘This is what the Lord says concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite: Since he has prophesied to you when I did not send him and has tricked you into believing his lies, 32 I will punish him and his family. None of his descendants will see the good things I will do for my people, for he has incited you to rebel against me. I, the Lord, have spoken!’”

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Shemaiah's False Prophecy

24 To (A)Shemaiah of Nehelam you shall say: 25 “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: You have sent letters in your name to all the people who are in Jerusalem, and to (B)Zephaniah the son of (C)Maaseiah the priest, and to all the priests, saying, 26 ‘The Lord has made you priest instead of Jehoiada the priest, to have (D)charge in the house of the Lord (E)over every madman who prophesies, to put him in (F)the stocks and neck irons. 27 Now why have you not rebuked Jeremiah (G)of Anathoth who is prophesying to you? 28 For he has sent to us in Babylon, saying, “Your exile will be long; (H)build houses and live in them, and plant gardens and eat their produce.”’”

29 (I)Zephaniah the priest read this letter in the hearing of Jeremiah the prophet. 30 (J)Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: 31 “Send to all the exiles, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord concerning (K)Shemaiah of Nehelam: Because (L)Shemaiah had prophesied to you (M)when I did not send him, and has made you trust in a lie, 32 therefore thus says the Lord: Behold, I will punish (N)Shemaiah of Nehelam and his descendants. He shall not have anyone living among this people, (O)and he shall not see the good that I will do to my people, declares the Lord, (P)for he has spoken rebellion against the Lord.’”

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