Jeremías 29

1 Y éstas son las palabras de la carta que Jeremías profeta envió de Jerusalén a los ancianos que habían quedado de los transportados, y a los sacerdotes y profetas, y a todo pueblo que Nabucodonosor llevó cautivo de Jerusalén a Babilonia

2 (después que salió el rey Jeconías y la reina, y los de palacio, y los príncipes de Judá y de Jerusalén, y los artífices, y los ingenieros de Jerusalén),

3 por mano de Elasa hijo de Safán, y de Gemarías hijo de Hilcías, (los cuales envió Sedequías rey de Judá a Nabucodonosor rey de Babilonia), diciendo:

4 Así dijo el SEÑOR de los ejércitos, Dios de Israel, a todos los de la cautividad que hice transportar de Jerusalén a Babilonia:

5 Edificad casas, y morad; y plantad huertos, y comed del fruto de ellos;

6 casaos, y engendrad hijos e hijas; dad mujeres a vuestros hijos, y dad maridos a vuestras hijas, para que paran hijos e hijas; y multiplicaos ahí, y no os hagáis pocos.

7 Y procurad la paz de la ciudad a la cual os hice traspasar, y rogad por ella al SEÑOR; porque en su paz tendréis también vosotros paz.

8 Porque así dijo el SEÑOR de los ejércitos, Dios de Israel: No os engañen vuestros profetas que están entre vosotros, ni vuestros adivinos; ni miréis a vuestros sueños que soñáis.

9 Porque falsamente os profetizan ellos en mi nombre; no los envié, dijo el SEÑOR.

10 Porque así dijo el SEÑOR: Cuando en Babilonia se cumplieren los setenta años, yo os visitaré, y despertaré sobre vosotros mi buena palabra, para tornaros a este lugar.

11 Porque yo sé los pensamientos que tengo acerca de vosotros, dijo el SEÑOR, pensamientos de paz, y no de mal, para daros el fin que esperáis.

12 Entonces me invocaréis, y andaréis en mis caminos y oraréis a mí, y yo os oiré;

13 y me buscaréis y me hallaréis, porque me buscaréis de todo vuestro corazón.

14 Y seré hallado de vosotros, dijo el SEÑOR, y tornaré vuestra cautividad, y os juntaré de todos los gentiles, y de todos los lugares adonde os arrojé, dijo el SEÑOR; y os haré volver al lugar de donde os hice ser llevados.

15 Mas dijisteis: El SEÑOR nos despertó profetas en Babilonia.

16 Pero así dijo el SEÑOR, del rey que está sentado sobre el trono de David, y de todo el pueblo que mora en esta ciudad, de vuestros hermanos que no salieron con vosotros en cautiverio;

17 así dijo el SEÑOR de los ejércitos: He aquí envío yo contra ellos cuchillo, hambre, y pestilencia, y los pondré como los malos higos, que de malos no se pueden comer.

18 Y los perseguiré con espada, con hambre y con pestilencia; y los daré por escarnio a todos los reinos de la tierra, por maldición y por espanto, y por silbo y por afrenta a todos los gentiles a los cuales los arrojé;

19 porque no oyeron mis palabras, dijo el SEÑOR, que les envié por mis siervos los profetas, madrugando y enviando; y no oístes, dijo el SEÑOR.

20 Oíd, pues, palabra del SEÑOR, vosotros todos los trasportados que eché de Jerusalén a Babilonia.

21 Así dijo el SEÑOR de los ejércitos, Dios de Israel, acerca de Acab hijo de Colaías, y acerca de Sedequías hijo de Maasías, quienes os profetizan en mi nombre falsamente: He aquí los entrego yo en mano de Nabucodonosor rey de Babilonia, y él los herirá delante de vuestros ojos;

22 y todos los transportados de Judá que están en Babilonia, tomarán de ellos maldición, diciendo: Póngate el SEÑOR como a Sedequías y como a Acab, los cuales quemó al fuego el rey de Babilonia.

23 Porque hicieron maldad en Israel, y cometieron adulterio con las mujeres de sus prójimos, y hablaron palabra falsamente en mi nombre que no les mandé; lo cual yo sé, y soy testigo, dijo el SEÑOR.

24 Y a Semaías de Nehelam hablarás, diciendo:

25 Así habló el SEÑOR de los ejércitos, Dios de Israel, diciendo: Por cuanto enviaste letras en tu nombre a todo el pueblo que está en Jerusalén, y a Sofonías sacerdote hijo de Maasías, y a todos los sacerdotes, diciendo:

26 El SEÑOR te puso por sacerdote en lugar de Joiada sacerdote, para que presidáis en la Casa del SEÑOR sobre todo hombre furioso y profetizante, poniéndolo en el calabozo y en el cepo.

27 ¿Y ahora por qué no reprendiste a Jeremías de Anatot, por profetizar falsamente a nosotros?

28 Porque por eso nos envió a decir en Babilonia: Largo es el cautiverio ; edificad casas, y morad; plantad huertos, y comed el fruto de ellos.

29 Y Sofonías sacerdote había leído esta carta a oídos de Jeremías profeta.

30 Y fue palabra del SEÑOR a Jeremías, diciendo:

31 Envía a decir a toda la transmigración: Así dijo el SEÑOR acerca de Semaías de Nehelam: Porque os profetizó Semaías, y yo no lo envié, y os hizo confiar sobre mentira;

32 por tanto, así dijo el SEÑOR: He aquí que yo visito sobre Semaías de Nehelam, y sobre su generación; no tendrá varón que more entre este pueblo, ni verá aquel bien que yo hago a mi pueblo, dijo el SEÑOR; porque contra el SEÑOR ha hablado rebelión.

Jeremías 29 Commentary

Chapter 29

Two letters to the captives in Babylon; In the first, they are recommended to be patient and composed. (1-19) In the second, judgments are denounced against the false prophets who deceived them. (20-32)

Verses 1-7 The written word of God is as truly given by inspiration of God as his spoken word. The zealous servant of the Lord will use every means to profit those who are far off, as well as those who are near him. The art of writing is very profitable for this end; and by the art of printing it is rendered most beneficial for circulating the knowledge of the word of God. God's sending to the captives by this letter would show that he had not forsaken them, though he was displeased, and corrected them. If they live in the fear of God, they may live comfortably in Babylon. In all conditions of life, it is our wisdom and duty not to throw away the comfort of what we may have, because we have not all we would have. They are directed to seek the good of the country where they were captives. While the king of Babylon protected them, they must live quiet and peaceable lives under him, in all godliness and honesty; patiently leaving it to God to work deliverance for them in due time.

Verses 8-19 Let men beware how they call those prophets whom they choose after their own fancies, and how they consider their fancies and dreams to be revelations from God. False prophets flatter people in their sins, because they love to be flattered; and they speak smoothly to their prophets, that their prophets may speak smoothly to them. God promises that they should return after seventy years were accomplished. By this it appears, that the seventy years of the captivity are not to be reckoned from the last captivity, but the first. It will be the bringing to pass of God's good word to them. This shall form God's purposes. We often do not know our own minds, but the Lord is never at an uncertainty. We are sometimes ready to fear that God's designs are all against us; but as to his own people, even that which seems evil, is for good. He will give them, not the expectations of their fears, or the expectations of their fancies, but the expectations of their faith; the end he has promised, which will be the best for them. When the Lord pours out an especial spirit of prayer, it is a good sign that he is coming toward us in mercy. Promises are given to quicken and encourage prayer. He never said, Seek ye me in vain. Those who remained at Jerusalem would be utterly destroyed, notwithstanding what the false prophets said to the contrary. The reason has often been given, and it justifies the eternal ruin of impenitent sinners; Because they have not hearkened to my words; I called, but they refused.

Verses 20-32 Jeremiah foretells judgments upon the false prophets, who deceived the Jews in Babylon. Lying was bad; lying to the people of the Lord, to delude them into a false hope, was worse; but pretending to rest their own lies upon the God of truth, was worst of all. They flattered others in their sins, because they could not reprove them without condemning themselves. The most secret sins are known to God; and there is a day coming when he will bring to light all the hidden works of darkness. Shemaiah urges the priests to persecute Jeremiah. Their hearts are wretchedly hardened who justify doing mischief by having power to do it. They were in a miserable thraldom for mocking the messengers of the Lord, and misusing his prophets; yet in their distress they trespass still more against the Lord. Afflictions will not of themselves cure men of their sins, unless the grace of God works with them. Those who slight the blessings, deserve to lose the benefit of God's word, like Shemaiah. The accusations against many active Christians in all ages, amount to no more than this, that they earnestly counsel men to attend to their true interest and duties, and to wait for the performance of God's promises in his appointed way.

Chapter Summary

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.