Jeremia 29:1-8

1 Dies sind die Worte in dem Brief, den der Prophet Jeremia sandte von Jerusalem an die übrigen Ältesten, die weggeführt waren, und an die Priester und Propheten und an das ganze Volk, das Nebukadnezar von Jerusalem hatte weggeführt gen Babel

2 (nachdem der König Jechonja und die Königin mit den Kämmerern und Fürsten in Juda und Jerusalem samt den Zimmerleuten und Schmieden zu Jerusalem weg waren),

3 durch Eleasa, den Sohn Saphans, und Gemarja, den Sohn Hilkias, welche Zedekia, der König Juda's, sandte gen Babel zu Nebukadnezar, dem König zu Babel:

4 So spricht der HERR Zebaoth, der Gott Israels, zu allen Gefangenen, die ich habe von Jerusalem wegführen lassen gen Babel:

5 Bauet Häuser, darin ihr wohnen möget, pflanzet Gärten, daraus ihr Früchte essen möget;

6 nehmet Weiber und zeuget Söhne und Töchter; nehmet euren Söhnen Weiber und gebet euren Töchtern Männern, daß sie Söhne und Töchter zeugen; mehret euch daselbst, daß euer nicht wenig sei.

7 Suchet der Stadt Bestes, dahin ich euch habe lassen wegführen, und betet für sie zum HERRN; denn wenn's ihr wohl geht, so geht's auch euch wohl.

8 Denn so spricht der HERR Zebaoth, der Gott Israels: Laßt euch die Propheten, die bei euch sind, und die Wahrsager nicht betrügen und gehorcht euren Träumen nicht, die euch träumen.

Jeremia 29:1-8 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 29

Thus chapter contains a letter of Jeremiah to the captives in Babylon; and gives an account of another sent from thence by Shemaiah to the people at Jerusalem; and is closed with threatening him with punishment for so doing. Jeremiah's letter concerns both the captives at Babylon, and the people left at Jerusalem, The persons to whom and by whom it was sent, and the time of writing and sending it, are mentioned in Jer 29:1-3; and though the prophet was the amanuensis, God was the author of it, as well as of their captivity, Jer 29:4; the contents of, it, respecting the captives, are advices to them to provide for their comfortable settlement in Babylon, and not think of returning quickly, by building houses, planting gardens, marrying, and giving in marriage, Jer 29:5,6; and to seek and pray for the prosperity of the place where they were; in which their own was concerned, Jer 29:7; to give no heed to their false prophets and diviners, Jer 29:8,9; and to expect a return to Jerusalem at the end of seventy years; which they might be assured of, since God had resolved upon it in his own mind, Jer 29:10,11; and especially if they called upon him, prayed to him, and sought him heartily, Jer 29:12-14; the other part of the letter respects the Jews in Jerusalem; concerning whom the captives are directed to observe, that both the king and people should suffer much by sword, famine, pestilence, and captivity, with the reason of it, Jer 29:15-19; particularly it is foretold, that Ahab and Zedekiah, two lying prophets, should be made an example of vengeance; and a proverbial curse should be taken of them, because of their villany, lewdness, and lies, Jer 29:20-23; next follows some account of Shemaiah's letter from Babylon, to the people and priests at Jerusalem, stirring them up against Jeremiah the prophet; which came to be known, by the priests reading it to him, Jer 29:24-29; upon which Shemaiah is threatened with punishment, and his seed after him, Jer 29:30-32.