Matthew Poole and continuators on Ezekiel 22:25

25 There is a conspiracy of her prophets in the midst thereof , like a roaring lyon ravening the prey: they have devoured souls: they have taken the treasure and precious things; they have made her many widows in the midst thereof.

A Contrivance, or framing among themselves a design to speak all alike flattering, smooth words, and give ou[illegible: 1 letter] promises of peace, and safety, when there was no peace; they would have the Iews believe in little time the Vessels of the Lords house, and the Lords people in Babylon should be brought back: As Ier. 28.1, 2, 3. and whereas Ieremiah faithfully told them, that it would be no such thing, but that the rest of the Vessels, and Zedekiah, and the people should be carryed away into Babylon, they conspire against him and such as he was. Ier. 20. 2. and 26.8. and 29.25, 26. and persecute them with one consent and mind.

Hers not God's Prophets, the false Prophets, such as Hanania[illegible: 1 letter], Ier. 28.1, 2.

Of the Land, but principally in Ierusalem, the Metropolis, and residence of the Court, where were such as loved to be flattered, and of whom flatt[illegible: 1 letter]rers might make gain.

Whom hunger enrageth, and maketh roar in most dreadful manner, as some observe of them, when they hunt their prey, and when they have siezed, and are tearing it, so did these false Prophets with cruelty, and fierceness pursue the true Prophets, and such as believed their Word, feared the Judgment[illegible: 1 letter], and mourned for the sins of a self-ruining people.

Have eat up, impoverisht, and suckt dry men, that relieved, and maintained them, the guise of all false Prophets, or they have taken, in their complotting, and swallowed down whole the persons that disbelieved and opposed their lies.

They did not, without reward tell their lies, nor would prophesie without a reward out of the treasures of those that advised with them, so they drained the people of their riches.

Either 'tis a farther explication of what he had said, or possibly it may tell us, that where Money was not to be had, these false Prophets would demand something of Value; and, if 'twere Moneys worth, they were then for bartering the Prophesies, so they gull'd these sots.

One while by raising Persecutions, and cutting off Husbands from their Wives; another while, and which most agrees with the Place, Perswading, Encouraging, and bewitching Zedekiah; and the Princes, and People to hold out the War, and run all hazzards, and extremities of that Siege, which filled Ierusalem with dead Husbands, and forlorn Widows.

Marginal references: Hos. 6.9.; Matth. 23.14.; Mic. 3.11. Zeph. 3.3, 4.