True and False Prophecy: Jeremiah’s Revision of Deuteronomy

Abstract

Deuteronomy 18.15-22 offers a criterion of predictive accuracy for judging prophets. It is argued here that Jeremiah takes up this criterion and renders it problematic. A critical examination of three passages from Jeremiah reveals the nature of the critique: Jer. 18, 26 and 28. One key aspect of this critique involves Jeremiah’s accent on YHWH potentially changing his mind (‭םהב‬). The conclusion is reached that Jeremiah de-emphasizes the role of prophet as prognosticator in favor of the view that a prophet’s role is to spur moral, social, and religious change. As a postscript, a brief examination of Jonah’s understanding of this matter demonstrates that not all prophets were in agreement on the value of Jeremiah’s change.