Jeremiah 29

17. vile figs--Hebrew, "horrible," or nauseous, from a root, "to regard with loathing" (see Jeremiah 24:8 Jeremiah 24:10 ).

18. removed to all . . . kingdoms--( Jeremiah 15:4 , Deuteronomy 28:25 ).
curse, &c.--( Jeremiah 29:6 , 18:16 , 19:8 ).

21. Zedekiah--brother of Zephaniah ( Jeremiah 29:25 ), both being sons of Maaseiah; probably of the same family as the false prophet under Ahab in Israel ( 1 Kings 22:11 1 Kings 22:24 ).

22. shall be taken . . . a curse--that is, a formula of imprecation.
Lord make thee like Zedekiah--(Compare Genesis 48:20 , Isaiah 65:15 ).
roasted in the fire--a Chaldean punishment ( Daniel 3:6 ).

23. villainy--literally, "sinful folly" ( Isaiah 32:6 ).

24-32. A second communication which Jeremiah sent to Babylon, after the messenger who carried his first letter had brought a letter from the false prophet Shemaiah to Zephaniah, &c., condemning Jeremiah and reproving the authorities for not having apprehended him.
Nehelamite--a name derived either from his father or from a place: alluding at the same time to the Hebrew meaning, "a dreamer" (compare Jeremiah 29:8 ).

25. in thy name--without sanction of "the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel," which words stand in antithesis to "thy name" ( John 5:43 ).
Zephaniah--the second priest, or substitute (Sagan) of the high priest. He was one of those sent to consult Jeremiah by Zedekiah ( Jeremiah 21:1 ). Slain by Nebuchadnezzar at the capture of Jerusalem ( 2 Kings 25:18-21 ). Zephaniah was in particular addressed, as being likely to take up against Jeremiah the prophet's prediction against his brother Zedekiah at Babylon ( Jeremiah 29:21 ). Zephaniah was to read it to the priests, and in the presence of all the people, in the temple.

26. thee . . . in the stead of Jehoiada--Zephaniah's promotion as second priest, owing to Jehoiada's being then in exile, was unexpected. Shemaiah thus accuses him of ingratitude towards God, who had so highly exalted him before his regular time.
ye should be officers . . . for every man--Ye should, as bearing rule like Jeremiah.
mad--Inspired prophets were often so called by the ungodly ( 2 Kings 9:11 , Acts 26:24 , Acts 2:13 Acts 2:15 Acts 2:17 Acts 2:18 ). Jeremiah is in this a type of Christ, against whom the same charge was brought ( John 10:20 ).
prison--rather, "the stocks"
stocks--from a root, "to confine"; hence rather, "a narrow dungeon." According to Deuteronomy 17:8 Deuteronomy 17:9 , the priest was judge in such cases, but had no right to put into the stocks; this right he had assumed to himself in the troubled state of the times.

27. of Anathoth--said contemptuously, as "Jesus of Nazareth."
maketh himself--as if God had not made him one, but he himself had done so.

28. Referring to Jeremiah's first letter to Babylon ( Jeremiah 29:5 ).

29. Zephaniah . . . read . . . in the ears of Jeremiah--He seems to have been less prejudiced against Jeremiah than the others; hence he reads the charge to the prophet, that he should not be condemned without a hearing. This accords with Shemaiah's imputation against Zephaniah for want of zeal against Jeremiah ( Jeremiah 29:26 Jeremiah 29:27 ). Hence the latter was chosen by King Zedekiah as one of the deputation to Jeremiah ( Jeremiah 21:1 , 37:3 ).

30. This resumes the thread of the sentence which began at Jeremiah 29:25 , but was left there not completed. Here, in this thirtieth verse, it is completed, not however in continuity, but by a new period. The same construction occurs in Romans 5:12-15 .

32. not . . . a man to dwell--( Deuteronomy 28:18 ).
not . . . behold the good--As he despised the lawful time and wished to return before the time God had expressly announced, in just retribution he should not share in the restoration from Babylon at all.
rebellion--going against God's revealed will as to the time ( Jeremiah 28:16 ).