thou hast greatly deceived this people] Heb. deceiving deceived them. Not that God indeed deceived them, but that he should so have done, had that been true, which those false prophets fathered on him: promising unto the people, as from him, peace: unto whose delusions God justly left them; because they loved not, nor listed, to listen to his truth, 1 King. 22, 23. Isaiah 63:17. Ezekiel 14:9. 2 Thess. 2. 11, 12. Or the words may be read by way of interrogation, Hast thou indeed deceived this people? Can it be, thou shouldest promise peace to them, and hold them in an expectation of it, as those their prophets in thy name do, when thou intendest nothing lesse? implying it to be a thing impossible, that God should so do, Numbers 23:19. Titus 1:2. the sword reacheth unto the soul] Striketh to the heart, vers. 18. woundeth deadly; unto the taking away of life. Soul, for life. Vers. 30. 1 Samuel 26:24. Matthew 16:25-26. Luke 14:26.