Lamentations 2:14

“Thy prophets have seen vain and foolish things for thee, etc.] Not the prophets of the Lord; but false prophets, as the Targum; which were of the people’s choosing, and were acceptable to them; prophets after their own hearts, because they prophesied smooth things, such as they liked; though in the issue they proved “vain” and “foolish”, idle stories, impertinent talk, the fictions of their own brains; and yet they pretended to have visions of them from the Lord; as that within two years Jeconiah, and all the vessels of the temple carried away by the king of Babylon, should be returned; and that he would not come against Jerusalem, nor should it be delivered into his hands; (see…”

“Thy prophets--not God's (Jer 23:26). vain . . . for thee--to gratify thy appetite, not for truth, but for false things. not discovered thine iniquity--in opposition to God's command to the true prophets (Isa 58:1). Literally, "They have not taken off (the veil) which was on thine iniquity, so as to set it before thee." burdens--Their prophecies were soothing and flattering; but the result of them was heavy calamities to the people, worse than even what the prophecies of Jeremiah, which they in derision called "burdens," threatened. Hence he terms their pretended prophecies "false burdens," which proved to the Jews "causes of their banishment" [CALVIN].”

“Thy prophets have seen vain and foolish things for thee - The Septuagint and Vulgate give the true meaning, “stupidity” (see Jeremiah 23:13 note). To turn away thy captivity - The right sense is, “They have not disclosed to thee thy sins, that so thou mightest repent, and I might have turned away thy captivity.” Burdens - Applied contemptuously to predictions which proved “false” or “empty,” i. e. failed of accomplishment. On the deduction to be drawn from this, see Jeremiah 28:9. Causes of banishment - The result of the teaching of the false prophets would be that God would “drive out” the Jews from their land. Some render the words “false ... banishment” by “oracles of falsehood and…”

“The prophets - False prophets told you vain stories. Not discovered - Whereas they ought to have made you sensible of your sins, and this might have prevented your captivity. False burdens - False stories to encourage you in sin, and so cause your banishment. Lamentations 2:18”

“prophets: Isa 9:15, Isa 9:16; Jer 2:8, Jer 5:31, Jer 6:13, Jer 6:14, Jer 8:10, Jer 8:11, Jer 14:13-15, Jer 23:11-17; Jer 27:14-16, Jer 28:15, Jer 29:8, Jer 29:9, Jer 37:19; Eze 13:2-16; Mic 2:11, Mic 3:5-7; Pe2 2:1-3 they have: Isa 58:1; Jer 23:22; Eze 13:22 false: Jer 23:14-17, Jer 23:31, Jer 23:32, Jer 27:9, Jer 27:10; Eze 22:25, Eze 22:28; Mic 3:5; Zep 3:4 Lamentations 2:15”

“From her prophets, Jerusalem can expect neither comfort nor healing. For they have brought this calamity upon her through their careless and foolish prophesyings. Those meant are the false prophets, whose conduct Jeremiah frequently denounced; cf. Jer 2:8; Jer 5:12; Jer 6:13., Jer 8:10; Jer 14:14., Jer 23:17, Jer 23:32; Jer 27:10, Jer 27:15. They prophesied vanity, - peace when there was no peace, - and תפל, "absurdity," = תּפלה, Jer 23:13. They did not expose the sin and guilt of the people with the view of their amendment and improvement, and thereby removing the misery into which they had fallen by their sin; nor did they endeavour to restore the people to their right relation towards the…”