And will ye pollute me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, to slay the souls that should not die, and to save the souls alive that should not live, by your lying to my people that hear [your] lies?
Ver. 19. For handfuls of barley end for pieces.] Like so many base gypsies or common beggars. a Cato upbraided Marcus Caelius, and worthily, that, being a pleader, he would sell either his tongue or silence for a morsel of bread. These were low prized prophetesses. See Micah 3:5 .
To slay the souls,] scil., By denouncing death to them, or by stirring up the people to slay them as miscreants.
That hear your lies.] Such as deceive expectation; for so the word here used signifieth.
a A. Gell.