(10) В¶ Afterward I came unto the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabeel, who was shut up; and he said, Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple: for they will come to slay thee; yea, in the night will they come to slay thee. (11) And I said, Should such a man as I flee? and who is there, that, being as I am, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in. (12) And, lo, I perceived that God had not sent him; but that he pronounced this prophecy against me: for Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. (13) Therefore was he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, and that they might have matter for an evil report, that they might reproach me.
It is more than probable that this Shemaiah acted as a prophet. But he could not have received his commission from the Lord. Nehemiah visited him, it seems, for he came into his house. But though set on by Sanballat and Tobiah, yet the Lord gave Nehemiah to discover that his advice was not from the Lord. Reader! what an awful thing is it when men assume the ministerial office, run unsent, and speak unauthorized; and yet worse, if possible, utter lies in the name of the Lord. From all such, of whatever name, or by whatever denomination distinguished among men, I would say for myself and all poor sinners, good Lord deliver us.