Jeremías 29:2-12

2 Esto sucedió luego de que el rey Joaquín,
la reina madre, los funcionarios de la corte, los demás funcionarios de Judá y todos los artífices y los artesanos fueran deportados de Jerusalén.

3 Envió la carta con Elasa, hijo de Safán, y Gemarías, hijo de Hilcías, cuando fueron a Babilonia como embajadores del rey Sedequías ante Nabucodonosor. Esto decía la carta de Jeremías:

4 «Esto dice el Señor
de los Ejércitos Celestiales, Dios de Israel, a los cautivos que él desterró de Jerusalén a Babilonia:

5 “Edifiquen casas y hagan planes para quedarse. Planten huertos y coman del fruto que produzcan.

6 Cásense y tengan hijos. Luego encuentren esposos y esposas para ellos para que tengan muchos nietos. ¡Multiplíquense! ¡No disminuyan!

7 Y trabajen por la paz y prosperidad de la ciudad donde los envié al destierro. Pidan al Señor
por la ciudad, porque del bienestar de la ciudad dependerá el bienestar de ustedes”.

8 »Esto dice el Señor
de los Ejércitos Celestiales, Dios de Israel: “No permitan que los engañen los profetas y los adivinos que están entre ustedes en la tierra de Babilonia. No presten atención a sus sueños,

9 porque les dicen mentiras en mi nombre. Yo no los envié”, dice el Señor
.

10 »Esto dice el Señor
: “Ustedes permanecerán en Babilonia durante setenta años; pero luego vendré y cumpliré todas las cosas buenas que les prometí, y los llevaré de regreso a casa.

11 Pues yo sé los planes que tengo para ustedes —dice el Señor
—. Son planes para lo bueno y no para lo malo, para darles un futuro y una esperanza.

12 En esos días, cuando oren, los escucharé.

Jeremías 29:2-12 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.