Jeremiah 29:3

3 by the hand of El`asah the son of Shafan, and Gemaryah the son of Hilkiyah, (whom Tzidkiyahu king of Yehudah sent to Bavel to Nevukhadnetztzar king of Bavel,) saying,

Jeremiah 29:3 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 29:3

By the hand of Elasah the son of Shaphan
Perhaps the brother of Ahikam, and of Jaazaniah, ( Jeremiah 26:24 ) ( Ezekiel 8:11 ) ; and Gemariah the son of Hilkiah;
to distinguish him from Gemariah the son of Shaphan the scribe, ( Jeremiah 36:10 ) ; whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent unto Babylon, to Nebuchadnezzar king
of Babylon;
as his ambassadors, on what account it is not certain; perhaps to pay the tribute money to him; or to treat with him about the restoration of some of the captives; or to cultivate friendship, and promise submission, and that he would faithfully keep the covenant he had made with him: and perhaps he might be jealous of Jeconiah using his interest with the king of Babylon for his restoration, which could not be acceptable to Zedekiah; and this might be one reason why he admitted his messengers to carry Jeremiah's letter to the captives, if he knew of it, or saw it; since it exhorted them not to think of a returns, but provide for a long continuance where they were; however, by the hand of these messengers Jeremiah sent his letter to them: saying;
as follows:

Jeremiah 29:3 In-Context

1 Now these are the words of the letter that Yirmeyahu the prophet sent from Yerushalayim to the residue of the Zakenim of the captivity, and to the Kohanim, and to the prophets, and to all the people, whom Nevukhadnetztzar had carried away captive from Yerushalayim to Bavel,

2 (after that Yekhonyah the king, and the queen-mother, and the eunuchs, [and] the princes of Yehudah and Yerushalayim, and the craftsmen, and the smiths, were departed from Yerushalayim,)

3 by the hand of El`asah the son of Shafan, and Gemaryah the son of Hilkiyah, (whom Tzidkiyahu king of Yehudah sent to Bavel to Nevukhadnetztzar king of Bavel,) saying,

4 Thus says the LORD of Hosts, the God of Yisra'el, to all the captivity, whom I have caused to be carried away captive from Yerushalayim to Bavel:

5 Build you houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them.