Shemaiah

24The LORD also told Jeremiah to send a message to Shemaiah the Nehelamite.

Thus shalt thou also speak to Shemaiah the Nehelamite, saying,

NoteNehelamite is a name that may mean Shemaiah came from a place called Nehelam.

25The LORD who leads heaven's armies, the God of Israel, says this. You sent letters in your own name to the people in Jerusalem. You sent them to Zephaniah the priest, son of Maaseiah, and to all the priests. You wrote:

Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, Because thou hast sent letters in thy name unto all the people that are at Jerusalem, and to Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest, and to all the priests, saying,

NoteSending letters in your own name means he spoke for himself. But he wanted people to think God had sent his message.

26"The LORD made you a priest in place of Jehoiada. You are in charge at the LORD's house. Any wild man who acts like a prophet is your job. You must lock him up in chains and stocks."

The LORD hath made thee priest in the stead of Jehoiada the priest, that ye should be officers in the house of the LORD, for every man that is mad, and maketh himself a prophet, that thou shouldest put him in prison, and in the stocks.

NoteThe LORD's house was the temple, a large building made for worship. Priests worked there and took care of everything inside. Stocks were heavy wooden blocks that held a person's feet. Chains could be locked around the neck or hands. Both kept a person from moving or getting away.

27"So why have you not scolded Jeremiah from Anathoth? He is acting like a prophet among you."

Now therefore why hast thou not reproved Jeremiah of Anathoth, which maketh himself a prophet to you?

NoteAnathoth was a small town near Jerusalem. Jeremiah grew up there, and his family were priests.

28"He even sent a letter to us here in Babylon. He said we will be away a long time. He told us to build houses and live in them. He told us to plant gardens and eat their food."

For therefore he sent unto us in Babylon, saying, This captivity is long: build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them.

29Zephaniah the priest read this letter out loud to Jeremiah the prophet.

And Zephaniah the priest read this letter in the ears of Jeremiah the prophet.

NoteMost people then could not read. Letters were read out loud so everyone could hear them.

30Then the LORD gave Jeremiah a message. He said:

Then came the word of the LORD unto Jeremiah, saying,

31Send word to all the people far from home. The LORD says this about Shemaiah from Nehelam. Shemaiah spoke to you as a prophet, but I did not send him. He made you trust a lie.

Send to all them of the captivity, saying, Thus saith the LORD concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite; Because that Shemaiah hath prophesied unto you, and I sent him not, and he caused you to trust in a lie:

32So the LORD says this. I will punish Shemaiah and his children after him. He will have no family left among these people. He will not see the good I will do for my people, says the LORD. He told people to turn against the LORD.

Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite, and his seed: he shall not have a man to dwell among this people; neither shall he behold the good that I will do for my people, saith the LORD; because he hath taught rebellion against the LORD.

NoteHis children after him means his family for years to come. Families counted on children to carry on their name. Having no family left was a very sad thing then.