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John Gill
INTRODUCTION TO Jeremiah 23 This chapter contains threatenings to the Jewish governors, and to their priests and prophets, on account of their manifold sins; intermixed with gracious promises to the Lord's people, and particularly with a famous promise of the Messiah. The pastors or governors of Israel are charged with scattering and driving away the Lord's flock, for which they are threatened,...
John Gill
Woe be unto the pastors,.... Or, "O ye shepherds" or "governors", as the Targum; the civil rulers and magistrates, kings and princes of the land of Israel; since ecclesiastical rulers, the priests and prophets, are mentioned as distinct from them in Jeremiah 23:9; whose business it was to rule and guide, protect and defend, the people: but, instead of that, they were such that destroy and scatter...
Matthew Henry
In this chapter the prophet, in God's name, is dealing his reproofs and threatenings, I. Among the careless princes, or pastors of the people (ver. 1, 2), yet promising to take care of the flock, which they had been wanting in their duty to, ver. 3-8. II. Among the wicked prophets and priests, whose bad character is here given at large in divers instances, especially their imposing upon the...
Charles H. Spurgeon
Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD. What a dreadful woe this is upon all false shepherds, — those who profess to be sent of God to instruct the people, but who are not sent of God at all, whose labours only result in the scattering of the sheep, and destroying them, instead of gathering them to Christ for their salvation!