ישעיהו, פרק מ״א, פסוק כ״ו

A sharp challenge is presented to idols and false prophets, exposing their complete inability to predict the future or even communicate. The primary approach among commentators is that this is a direct question asking which of the prophets of Baal or the carved idols managed to declare the future before it happened, allowing observers to verify the truth of their words. Another perspective draws a distinction between different types of predictions. In this view, one type of declaration belongs to a true prophet who announces the future with absolute clarity. A second type belongs to a diviner who offers only vague predictions; only after an event occurs do people look back and realize he had spoken about it in the past [מלבי״ם].

If any of these figures had actually succeeded in foretelling events, they would be acknowledged as correct. Their words would be considered reliable, exact, and the complete opposite of a lie [אבן עזרא, רד״ק, מצודת דוד].

However, the reality highlights their total helplessness. The idols possess no ability to predict what is to come or to speak at all, as they have mouths but remain completely silent [מצודת דוד, רד״ק, אבן עזרא]. Alternatively, this silence describes the false prophets themselves, who do not share their messages in public because they are already known to be liars [מלבי״ם].

This powerlessness extends to the act of hearing. Some explain that no human being will ever be able to testify that they heard a true prophecy from the prophets of Baal [רש״י, רד״ק]. Others apply this directly to the idols, noting that although they have ears, they are entirely incapable of listening [מצודת דוד]. A final approach suggests that it is the general public who does not hear. Because the people know these individuals are false prophets, they simply refuse to listen to anything they have to say [מלבי״ם].