John Calvin Commentary Jeremiah 23:15

"Therefore thus saith Jehovah of hosts concerning the prophets: Behold, I will feed them with wormwood, and make them drink the water of gall; for from the prophets of Jerusalem is ungodliness gone forth into all the land." — Jeremiah 23:15 (ASV)

This verse is addressed to the prophets of the kingdom of Judah, as we learn from its conclusion. Thus, the exposition I have given is confirmed: namely, that God extenuates the fault of other prophets when speaking of the prophets of Jerusalem, who boasted of greater sanctity.

But He declares that they would have poison for food and gall for drink, as if He had said, “I will pursue them with every kind of punishment.” He clearly expresses the same thing I have referred to before: that their table would become a snare to them (Psalms 69:22).

Indeed, the ungodly always think that they can escape by their schemes. God, on the other hand, declares that even if they had a table prepared, they still would find nothing on it but poison for food and gall for drink.

For just as evils are turned to the benefit of God’s children and faithful servants, so for the ungodly and His wicked despisers, all things must necessarily turn out for their ruin—even food and drink, their course of life, and, in a word, everything.

The cause follows: For gone forth is impiety through the whole land from the prophets of Jerusalem, by which words He declares that they were the authors of all evils, so that, in comparison with them, the prophets of Samaria might have been considered, in a way, righteous.

But there is no doubt that this declaration was considered too severe. Yet we see by what necessity Jeremiah was constrained to speak this way; for the lamp of God still remained at Jerusalem, as is said in many passages, and the light of sound doctrine was not completely extinguished.

They professed that they continued to obey the Law. At the same time, however, they were much worse than others, for not only was the worship of God in the Temple and in the city corrupted, but adulteries, frauds, plunders, and all kinds of wickedness also prevailed everywhere.

He adds—