THE OPENED FOUNTAIN 469
ing we attach to the word ^n^P rendered " of my friends," in the Authorised Version, but which might more properly be translated " my lover." Now Hengstenberg and others understood the " lovers " to signify idols, and regard the answer as a humble confession on the part of the false prophet who is thus detected, either that his wounds were received during some idolatrous rites, or, though self-inflicted, he was only the instrument the real authors of the wounds beings Ihis "lovers," namely, the idols whom he worshipped. But I agree with Koehler, Keil, Dr. Wright, and others, that, though it be true that the special conjugation of this verb (piel) is used in other cases of dishonourable love, and might therefore be figuratively used of idolatry and idols, " there is nothing in the form of the verb to render that meaning necessary. Intensity of love is all that is expressed in the word ; and the expression might, as far as the form is concerned, be used with reference to parents or any friends, whether good or bad."
It is very probable, therefore, that far from being a humble confession of his guilt, " this answer is also nothing but an evasion, and that he simply pretends that the marks were scars left by the chastisements which he received when a boy in the house of either loving parents, or some other loving relations or friends." *
This seems to me more in accord with the context, and illustrates the general statement that the false prophets would in that day themselves be ashamed of their former evil profession, and when detected would stop short of no falsehood in order to avert or dispel suspicion.
1 Keil. Kimchi explains as follows : " He shall say these wounds are not on account of prophecy, but my friends wounded and chastised me because I was abandoned, and was not industrious in cultivating the land in my youth ; and they beat me that I should cease from the profligacy of young men, and should set to my work. And the reason of the wounds being in the hands is, that they used to bind his hands and feet that he should not go out."
