Then said they, Come, and let us devise devices against Jeremiah; for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, and let us smite him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words.
Then said they, Come, and let us devise devices against Jeremiah; for the law shall not perish - (Jeremiah 11:19). Let us bring, a capital charge against him as a false prophet; 'for he foretells that this land shall be left without priests to teach the law, Malachi 2:7; without the wise - i:e., scribes, to explain its difficulties: and without prophets to reveal God's will; whereas it is certain that the law shall not perish from the prophet, etc.; since God has made these a lasting institution in His Church, and the law declares they shall never perish (Leviticus 6:18; Leviticus 10:11: cf. Jeremiah 5:12). (Grotius.)
The wise - scribes and elders joined to the priests Perhaps they mean to say, we must have right on our side, in spite of Jeremiah's words against us and our prophets, as Hananiah, Shemaiah, etc. (Jeremiah 28:15-16; Jeremiah 29:25, Jeremiah 29:32; 18:31); "for the law shall not perish," etc. I prefer Grotius' explanation.
Come, and let us smite him with the tongue - by a false accusation (Psalms 57:4; Psalms 64:3; Psalms 12:4; Psalms 50:19). For the tongue (is the translation of the margin - i:e., for his speaking against us.) 'In the tongue' - i:e., let us kill him, that he may speak no more against us (Castalio). I prefer the English version.