Jeremiah 29:28

28 because he has sent to us in Bavel, saying, [The captivity] is long: build you houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them?

Jeremiah 29:28 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 29:28

For therefore he sent unto us [in] Babylon, saying
That is, Jeremiah the prophet; and this was the reason, because his mouth was not stopped, and he restrained from prophesying; so that Shemaiah lays all the blame on Zephaniah, and his brethren the priests; who, had they done their duty, would have prevented Jeremiah's letter to the captives, as he suggests; the purport of which was, this [captivity] is long;
so Kimchi, Abarbinel, and Ben Melech, supply it; or, "it [is] long" ^F13; it will be a long time before the captives shall return to their own land; and therefore they should not think of it, or provide for it; but, on the contrary, for their continuance in Babylon; giving the following advice: build ye houses, and dwell [in them]; and plant gardens, and eat the
fruit of them;
referring to Jeremiah's letter; (See Gill on Jeremiah 29:5).

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FOOTNOTES:

F13 (ayh hkra) "longum est", Pagninus, Cocceius, Schmidt.

Jeremiah 29:28 In-Context

26 The LORD has made you Kohen in the place of Yehoiada the Kohen, that there may be officers in the house of the LORD, for every man who is mad, and makes himself a prophet, that you should put him in the stocks and in shackles.

27 Now therefore, why have you not rebuked Yirmeyahu of `Anatot, who makes himself a prophet to you,

28 because he has sent to us in Bavel, saying, [The captivity] is long: build you houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them?

29 Tzefanyah the Kohen read this letter in the ears of Yirmeyahu the prophet.

30 Then came the word of the LORD to Yirmeyahu, saying,