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Now these are the words of the letterwhichJeremiah the prophetsent from Jerusalem to the rest of the elders of the exile, the priests, the prophets and all the peoplewhomNebuchadnezzar had taken into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon.
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(This was afterKingJeconiah and the queenmother, the courtofficials, the princes of Judah and Jerusalem, the craftsmen and the smiths had departed from Jerusalem.)
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The letter was sent by the hand of Elasah the son of Shaphan, and Gemariah the son of Hilkiah, whomZedekiahking of Judahsent to Babylon to Nebuchadnezzarking of Babylon, saying,
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'Takewives and become the fathers of sons and daughters, and takewives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bearsons and daughters; and multiplythere and do not decrease.