Jeremiah 29:23
Because they have committed villany in Israel, and have committed adultery with their neighbours’ wives, and have spoken lying words in my name, which I have not commanded them; even I know, and am a witness, saith the LORD. Because they have committed villany in Israel, and have committed adultery with their neighbours’ wives, and have spoken lying words in my name, which I have not commanded them; even I know, and am a witness, saith the LORD.
The men exposed are Ahab and Zedekiah, two false prophets and teachers among the exiles in Babylon who professed to be holy and stood at the center of the controversy over the letters to the captives. While claiming to speak in the Lord's name they uttered lying words and prophesied falsely, and at the same time they lived corrupt lives, committing villainy in Israel by adultery with their neighbors' wives. Against this double guilt the Lord declares that He Himself knows their deeds and stands as witness against them, condemning their evil course.
Jeremiah faithfully condemned their evil course and warned them of their danger. Angered by reproof rather than humbled, they set themselves against his work, stirring up the people to discredit his words and to refuse submission to the king of Babylon. Through Jeremiah God declared that these false prophets would be delivered into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and slain before his eyes. That sentence of judgment was literally fulfilled not long afterward.