The challenge to leaders continues. The address to the kings, the civil leaders (21:1–23:6), is followed by an address to the religious leaders, the prophets and priests (23:9–40). They are faulted for giving leadership in Baal worship, for personal immorality, and for being out of touch with God’s message for their time. Their message either is self-originated or comes by dreams or is borrowed from others.

Jeremiah’s denunciation of his peers is sad before it is harsh (23:9–10; cf. 9:1–6). Confronting persons with their evil is difficult for a caring person. However, so strong and overpowering are God’s words to him that, like a drunken man, he feels himself out of control. Since elsewhere the figure of drunkenness is used for those on whom God’s wrath comes (Jer. 13:13–14; 25:15–16), w…