Charles Ellicott Commentary Jeremiah 42:20

"For ye have dealt deceitfully against your own souls; for ye sent me unto Jehovah your God, saying, Pray for us unto Jehovah our God; and according unto all that Jehovah our God shall say, so declare unto us, and we will do it:" — Jeremiah 42:20 (ASV)

For ye dissembled in your hearts ... —Looks and whispers betrayed, we may believe, the feelings of the prophet’s hearers. He saw by such outward signs, or he read, as by the intuition of inspiration, the secret counsels of their hearts (1 Corinthians 14:24–25), that they had made a false profession of their readiness to obey, and really meant all along to act as they liked, with the prophet’s approval, if they could get it; if not, without it. Hypocrisy such as this could not fail to draw down a righteous punishment.