“‘“If the prophet is deceived and speaks a word, I, the LORD, have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand on him, and will destroy him from among my people Israel.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 9. Err. He speaks of false prophets, answering out of their own heads, and according to their own corrupt inclinations.—Deceived, and so forth God Almighty deceives false prophets, partly by withdrawing his light from them; and abandoning them to their own corrupt inclinations, which push them on to prophesy such things as are agreeable to those that consult them: and partly by disappointing them, and causing all things to happen contrary to what they have said. Challoner.—God permits the deception, to punish both the impostor and his hearers. Worthington.—Thus was Balaam treated. Calmet. Numbers 22. Bible.—He could do nothing of himself. Saint Jerome 2 Kennicott. xxii. 22. Calmet.—Here also an interrogation might be used ( Bible.) in Hebrew “have I?” and so forth Feiffer dub. cent. 4. b. lviii.—I have manifested the deceit. Calmet. 13:18.