Jeremiah 27 Footnotes

27:15 Sometimes the Lord indicated that he sent deceptions to the prophets (6:21; see 1Kg 22:19-23). But in this case, the Lord made it clear that he did not send these false prophets, even though they invoked his name in their sayings.

27:22 Here Jeremiah uttered a prophecy that would come true in the near future (52:17; see 2Kg 25:13). The people could test him in this to determine if he was a true prophet (Dt 18:21-22; Jr 28:9; 32:7; 44:29-30). When this prophecy was fulfilled, they could conclude that he was a true prophet of Yahweh and that his long-term prophecies would also come true. Indeed, the temple articles were eventually returned (Ezr 1:7-11; 5:13-15). Some critics assume that this prophecy was written down after the fulfillment had already occurred (vaticinium ex eventu, a prophecy after the event). Such skepticism is grounded on the assumption that prophecy is impossible, either because God does not know the future, or because he cannot communicate with humans, or even that he does not exist. In these cases, one’s worldview or presuppositions exclude fulfilled prophecy. No amount of evidence to the contrary will be convincing.