A second judgment speech follows in Jeremiah 23:13–15. The Lord first describes the prophet’s behaviour in Jeremiah 23:13–14 and then pronounces his judgment on them in Jeremiah 23:15.
The Lord describes the behaviour of the prophets by comparing the prophets of the northern tribes in Samaria (Israel) with the prophets in the south in Judah. The northern prophets behaved in an unsavory
manner by prophesying by Baal (1 Kings 18:16–40). To prophesy among the Lord’s people in this way was punishable by death under the terms of the covenant (1 Kings 18:16–40). Not only was this completely detestable in the eyes of the Lord, but it also led the people of Israel astray and led to their destruction.
13 In the prophets of Samaria I saw an unsavory thing: they prophesied by Baal and led my people Israel astray.