Matthew Poole and continuators on Jeremiah 29:23

23 Because they have committed villany in Israel , and have committed adultery with their neighbours wives , and have spoken lying words in my name, which I have not commanded them , even I know, and am a witness, saith the LORD .

The reason here given must not be understood as the reason of the King of Babylon's punishment of them, but why God gave them up into his hands, because they had committed villany or folly in Israel.

Which is expounded [illegible: 1 letter]y the next words, they had committed adultery with their neighbours wives. All sin is folly, and so called in Scripture, uncleanness particularly, Gen. 34.7. here it is called villany, to denote the hainousness of it, especially in those whose office it was to teach others that they ought not to do it, Rom. 2.22. Falshood in discharge of a trust is ordinarily attended with debauchery of life, nor indeed can it be reasonably imagined, that those who, to humour men, have debauched their Consciences, and declared things as the will of God, which they know are not so, should be more true and honest in their conversation towards men.

The second crime of these false prophets was, what gave them their denomination, teaching people what God never bid them speak.

Now this saith the Lord I know, and am a witness to, their adulteries are in secret, but I am a witness to them; the poor people do not know that they teach them lies, but I know it. God will deal with men not according to what men like themselves know of them, and can prove against them but according to what he knowes, and can witness against them.

Marginal references: chap. 23.14.