True and False Prophets
23: 1-40

597 BC during the eleven-year reign of Zedekiah

Jeremiah summarized the unrighteous kings as being like shepherds who were destroying and scattering God’s sheep. The branch of David through Jehoiachin had been cut off. However, YHVH promised to raise up to David another King who would be a righteous Branch, ADONAI Tzidkenu, or, the LORD our righteousness (23:1-8).

On the other hand, the false prophets who had not understood ADONAI correctly had, therefore, misled the people (Deuteronomy 13 and 18). Among these words of judgment are also claims that God intends to redeem His scattered people and to raise up a Shepherd in whose days Judah and Isra’el will find security (23:9-40).