The Exiles.
The false prophets had suffered the fate of their nation, and were with the rest in captivity; they at once endeavored to raise the hopes of the exiles by prophesying a speedy return. “It is of no use,” they said in effect, “to build houses, or plant gardens, or enter into marriage relations. In a short time we shall be back again in Jerusalem.” The ringleaders were Zedekiah and Ahab, men of grossly immoral life, who were made an example of by being roasted alive (Jer 29:21-23). Still the ferment continued, and the people refused to settle down in contentment with the conditions of their captivity.
Jeremiah, therefore, wrote a letter, which was intrusted to two men of high rank, friendly to himself, whom Zedekiah, the uncle and successor of Jeconiah, sent to Babylon with assurances of his fidelity. “Yield to the will of God,” was the burden of the letter. “Build, plant, settle.” “Seek the peace of the city whither God has caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the Lord for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace.” When Shemaiah, one of these false prophets, heard this letter, he wrote off in hot haste to Zephaniah, who was now high priest, and demanded that the prophet should be put into stocks, and his head into a collar, as a madman. The high priest, however, contented himself with reading the letter to Jeremiah, who replied by sending a second letter to the exiles, assuring them that God would punish Shemaiah and his seed, so that he should not have a son to perpetuate his name, and should not see the good which would come at the end of the predestined time (Jer 29:29.).
These denunciations were fraught with terror, and equally terrible was the fate which befell these men. It may be said, “Surely they were patriots, eager for the deliverance of their people. They were fanatical enthusiasts, not intentional criminals. They mistook their hopes for revelations.’’ But it should be remembered that they were also convicted of immoral and evil lives. Their sins had blunted their perceptions of the divine voice, while their words pandered to their people’s sins and encouraged them in their lewd idolatries. It was as vicious and fallen men, as well as false prophets, that they incurred the awful woes which befell them, both from the lip of the prophet and the hand of the Almighty.
Watchmen On The Pod 