Jeremiah 29:2

2 It was sent to them after King Jehoiachin had been forced to leave Jerusalem. His mother and the court officials were taken with him. The leaders of Judah and Jerusalem and all of the skilled workers had also been forced to go to Babylon.

Jeremiah 29:2 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 29:2

After that Jeconiah the king
Of Judah; the same with Jehoiachin, who was carried captive into Babylon when he had reigned but three months: and the queen;
not Jeconiah's wife, for he had none; but his mother, whose name was Nehushta, and who was carried captive with him, ( 2 Kings 24:8 2 Kings 24:12 ) ; and the eunuchs;
or "chamberlains" to the queen; the Targum calls them princes; these were of the king's household, his courtiers; and such persons have been everywhere, and in all ages, court favourites: and the princes of Judah and Jerusalem;
the noblemen and grandees of the nation: and the carpenters, and the smiths, were departed from Jerusalem;
whom Nebuchadnezzar took with him, partly for his own use in his own country; and partly that the Jews might be deprived of such artificers, that could assist in fortifying their city, and providing them with military weapons; (See Gill on Jeremiah 24:1).

Jeremiah 29:2 In-Context

1 I, the prophet Jeremiah, sent a letter from Jerusalem to Babylonia. It was for the Jewish elders who were still alive there. It was also for the priests and prophets in Babylonia. And it was for all of the other people Nebuchadnezzar had taken from Jerusalem to Babylon.

2 It was sent to them after King Jehoiachin had been forced to leave Jerusalem. His mother and the court officials were taken with him. The leaders of Judah and Jerusalem and all of the skilled workers had also been forced to go to Babylon.

3 I gave the letter to Elasah and Gemariah. Zedekiah, the king of Judah, had sent them to King Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon. Elasah was the son of Shaphan. Gemariah was the son of Hilkiah. Here is what the letter said.

4 The LORD who rules over all is the God of Israel. He speaks to all those he forced to go from Jerusalem to Babylon. He says,

5 "Build houses and settle down. Plant gardens and eat what they produce.