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,
This is what the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, says: Because you have sent letters in your own name to all the people in Jerusalem, to Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest, and to all the priests, saying,
God is confronting someone who has been sending unauthorized letters to religious leaders and people in Jerusalem, claiming to speak with divine authority.
📚 Historical Context
This verse is part of God's judgment against Shemaiah the Nehelamite, a false prophet who was among the Jewish exiles in Babylon. Shemaiah had written letters to the priests in Jerusalem criticizing Jeremiah and trying to undermine his prophetic ministry. The temple priest Zephaniah was responsible for maintaining order in the temple and dealing with religious matters.
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