Study Desk

Tell Shemaiah the Nehelamite,

"This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: You sent letters in your own name to all the people in Jerusalem, to Zephaniah son of Maaseiah the priest, and to all the other priests. You said to Zephaniah,

'The LORD has appointed you priest in place of Jehoiada to be in charge of the house of the LORD ; you should put any madman who acts like a prophet into the stocks and neck-irons.

So why have you not reprimanded Jeremiah from Anathoth, who poses as a prophet among you?

He has sent this message to us in Babylon: It will be a long time. Therefore build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce.' "

Zephaniah the priest, however, read the letter to Jeremiah the prophet.

Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah:

"Send this message to all the exiles: 'This is what the LORD says about Shemaiah the Nehelamite: Because Shemaiah has prophesied to you, even though I did not send him, and has led you to believe a lie,

this is what the LORD says: I will surely punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite and his descendants. He will have no one left among this people, nor will he see the good things I will do for my people, declares the LORD , because he has preached rebellion against me.' "