Jeremiah 29

Jeremiah's Letter to the Exiles

1 This is the text of the letter^[a] that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem to the rest of the elders of the exiles, the priests, the prophets, and all the people Nebuchadnezzar^[b] had deported from Jerusalem to Babylon.

2 [This was] after King Jeconiah,^[c][d]the queen mother, the court officials, the officials of Judah and Jerusalem, the craftsmen, and the metalsmiths had left Jerusalem.

3 [The letter was sent] by Elasah son of Shaphan and Gemariah son of Hilkiah whom Zedekiah king of Judah had sent to Babylon to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. [The letter] stated:

4 This is what the Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel, says to all the exiles I deported from Jerusalem to Babylon:

5 "Build houses and live [in them]. Plant gardens and eat their produce.

6 Take wives and have sons and daughters. Take wives for your sons and give your daughters to men [in marriage] so that they may bear sons and daughters. Multiply there; do not decrease.

7 Seek the welfare of the city I have deported you to. Pray to the Lord on its behalf, for when it has prosperity, you will prosper."

8 For this is what the Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: "Don't let your prophets who are among you and your diviners deceive you, and don't listen to the dreams you elicit from them,

9 for they are prophesying falsely to you in My name. I have not sent them." [This is] the Lord's declaration.

10 For this is what the Lord says: "When 70 years for Babylon are complete,^[e] I will attend to you and will confirm My promise concerning you to restore you to this place.

11 For I know the plans I have for you"^[f]-[this is] the Lord's declaration-"plans for [your] welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

12 You will call to Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.^[g]

13 You will seek Me^[h] and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

14 I will be found by you"-the Lord's declaration-"and I will restore your fortunes^[i][j]and gather you from all the nations and places where I banished you"-the Lord's declaration. "I will restore you to the place I deported you from."

15 You have said, "The Lord has raised up prophets for us in Babylon!"

16 But this is what the Lord says concerning the king sitting on David's throne and concerning all the people living in this city-that is, concerning your brothers who did not go with you into exile.

17 This is what the Lord of Hosts says: "I am about to send against them sword, famine, and plague^[k] and will make them like rotten figs that are inedible because they are so bad.

18 I will pursue them with sword, famine, and plague. I will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth-a curse and a desolation, an object of scorn and a disgrace among all the nations where I will have banished them.^[l]

19 [I will do this] because they have not listened to My words"-[this is] the Lord's declaration-"that I sent to them with My servants the prophets time and time again.^[m][n]And you too have not listened." [This is] the Lord's declaration.

20 Hear the word of the Lord, all you exiles I have sent from Jerusalem to Babylon.

21 This is what the Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel, says to Ahab son of Kolaiah and to Zedekiah son of Maaseiah, the ones prophesying a lie to you in My name: "I am about to hand them over to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he will kill them before your very eyes.

22 Based on [what happens to] them, all the exiles of Judah who are in Babylon will create a curse that says: May the Lord make you like Zedekiah and Ahab, whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire!

23 because they have committed an outrage^[o] in Israel by committing adultery with their neighbors' wives and have spoken a lie in My name, which I did not command them. I am He who knows, and I am a witness." [This is] the Lord's declaration.

24 To Shemaiah the Nehelamite you are to say,

25 "This is what the Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: You^[p] in your own name have sent out letters to all the people of Jerusalem, to the priest Zephaniah^[q] son of Maaseiah, and to all the priests, saying:

26 The Lord has appointed you priest in place of Jehoiada the priest to be the chief officer^[r] in the temple of the Lord, responsible for every madman^[s] who acts like a prophet. You must confine him in stocks^[t] and an iron collar.

27 So now, why have you not rebuked Jeremiah of Anathoth who has been acting like a prophet among you?

28 For he has sent [word] to us in Babylon, claiming: The exile will be long. Build houses and settle down. Plant gardens and eat their produce."^[u]

29 Zephaniah the priest read this letter in the hearing of Jeremiah the prophet.

A Message about Shemaiah

30 Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah:

31 "Send [a message] to all the exiles, saying: This is what the Lord says concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite. Because Shemaiah prophesied to you, though I did not send him, and made you trust a lie,^[v]

32 this is what the Lord says: I am about to punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite and his descendants. There will not be even one of his [descendants] living among these people, nor will any ever see the good that I will bring to My people"-[this is] the Lord's declaration-"for he has preached rebellion against the Lord."

Jeremiah 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. 2 Sm 11:14-15; 1 Kg 21:8-11
• [b]. 2 Kg 24:11; 25:22; 2 Ch 36:6-13
• [c]. Jehoiachin
• [d]. Jr 24:1; 27:20; 28:4
• [e]. Jr 25:12; Dn 9:2
• [f]. Jr 26:3; 36:3; Ps 33:10
• [g]. Jr 3:12; Dt 30:1-10
• [h]. Dt 4:29; 1 Ch 28:9; 2 Ch 15:2
• [i]. Or will end your captivity
• [j]. Jr 30:3; 32:44; Jb 42:10
• [k]. Jr 14:12; 21:9; 24:10
• [l]. Jr 8:3; 16:15; Dt 30:1
• [m]. Lit prophets, rising up early and sending
• [n]. Jr 26:5
• [o]. Gn 34:7; Dt 22:21; Jos 7:15
• [p]. Lit Because you
• [q]. Jr 21:1; 37:3; 52:24-27
• [r]. Jr 20:1; 2 Ch 31:13
• [s]. 2 Kg 9:11; Hs 9:7
• [t]. Jr 20:2; 2 Ch 16:10
• [u]. Jr 29:5
• [v]. Jr 27:10,14-16; 28:15; 29:9,21,23

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.