Jeremiah 29:26

This and the two following verses give us the words of Shemaiah's letter to Zephaniah, as quoted in Jeremiah's reply.

thee Zephaniah.

in the stead of Jehoiada See on Jeremiah 20:1. The title "officers" here is the same in the original as the one given there to Pashhur. It is possible that the reference may be to the high-priest in the days of Joash (2 Kings 9:4 ff.), who "appointed officers over the house of the Lord" (Jeremiah 29:18). It is best here, however, with LXX, Targ. and other authorities to read "to be an officer."

that is mad Madness was looked on in the East as a sort of gift of prophecy perverted. Cp. "mad" (same Heb.) in 2 Kings 9:11; Hosea 9:7.

the stocks See on ch. Jeremiah 20:2.

shackles mg. rightly, the collar. The word is found here only in the Heb., but a cognate Arabic word indicates that it is an iron band fastened round the neck.