Jeremías 29

1 Carta a los desterrados
Jeremías escribió desde Jerusalén una carta a los ancianos, a los sacerdotes, a los profetas y a todos los que el rey Nabucodonosor había desterrado a Babilonia.

2 Esto sucedió luego de que el rey Joaquín,
la reina madre, los funcionarios de la corte, los demás funcionarios de Judá y todos los artífices y los artesanos fueran deportados de Jerusalén.

3 Envió la carta con Elasa, hijo de Safán, y Gemarías, hijo de Hilcías, cuando fueron a Babilonia como embajadores del rey Sedequías ante Nabucodonosor. Esto decía la carta de Jeremías:

4 «Esto dice el Señor
de los Ejércitos Celestiales, Dios de Israel, a los cautivos que él desterró de Jerusalén a Babilonia:

5 “Edifiquen casas y hagan planes para quedarse. Planten huertos y coman del fruto que produzcan.

6 Cásense y tengan hijos. Luego encuentren esposos y esposas para ellos para que tengan muchos nietos. ¡Multiplíquense! ¡No disminuyan!

7 Y trabajen por la paz y prosperidad de la ciudad donde los envié al destierro. Pidan al Señor
por la ciudad, porque del bienestar de la ciudad dependerá el bienestar de ustedes”.

8 »Esto dice el Señor
de los Ejércitos Celestiales, Dios de Israel: “No permitan que los engañen los profetas y los adivinos que están entre ustedes en la tierra de Babilonia. No presten atención a sus sueños,

9 porque les dicen mentiras en mi nombre. Yo no los envié”, dice el Señor
.

10 »Esto dice el Señor
: “Ustedes permanecerán en Babilonia durante setenta años; pero luego vendré y cumpliré todas las cosas buenas que les prometí, y los llevaré de regreso a casa.

11 Pues yo sé los planes que tengo para ustedes —dice el Señor
—. Son planes para lo bueno y no para lo malo, para darles un futuro y una esperanza.

12 En esos días, cuando oren, los escucharé.

13 Si me buscan de todo corazón, podrán encontrarme.

14 Sí, me encontrarán —dice el Señor
—. Pondré fin a su cautiverio y restableceré su bienestar. Los reuniré de las naciones adonde los envié y los llevaré a casa, de regreso a su propia tierra”.

15 »Ustedes afirman que el Señor
les ha levantado profetas en Babilonia;

16 pero esto dice el Señor
acerca del rey que se sienta en el trono de David y acerca de todos los que todavía viven aquí en Jerusalén, sus parientes que no fueron desterrados a Babilonia.

17 Esto dice el Señor
de los Ejércitos Celestiales: “Enviaré sobre ellos guerra, hambre y enfermedad, y haré que sean como higos podridos, tan podridos que no pueden comerse.

18 Sí, los perseguiré con guerra, hambre y enfermedad, y los esparciré por todo el mundo. En cada nación por donde los envíe los convertiré en objeto de condenación, horror, desprecio y burla.

19 Pues ellos rehusaron escucharme, a pesar de que les hablé repetidas veces por medio de los profetas que les envié. Y ustedes, que están en el destierro, tampoco han escuchado”, dice el Señor
.

20 »Por lo tanto, todos los cautivos en Babilonia, escuchen el mensaje del Señor
.

21 Esto dice el Señor
de los Ejércitos Celestiales, Dios de Israel, acerca de los profetas que tienen —Acab, hijo de Colaías y Sedequías, hijo de Maaseías— que les dicen mentiras en mi nombre: “Yo los entregaré a Nabucodonosor
para que los ejecute delante de sus ojos.

22 Su horrible final será conocido por todos, entonces cuando los desterrados judíos quieran maldecir a alguien, dirán: ‘¡Que el Señor
te haga como a Sedequías y a Acab, a quienes el rey de Babilonia quemó vivos!’.

23 Pues estos hombres han hecho cosas terribles entre mi pueblo. Han cometido adulterio con las esposas de sus vecinos y han mentido en mi nombre diciendo cosas que no les mandé decir. De esto soy testigo. Yo, el Señor
, he hablado”».

24 Mensaje a Semaías
El Señor
envió este mensaje a Semaías el nehelamita que estaba en Babilonia.

25 «Esto dice el Señor
de los Ejércitos Celestiales, Dios de Israel: escribiste una carta por tu propia cuenta a Sofonías, hijo de Maaseías, el sacerdote, y enviaste copias a los demás sacerdotes y al pueblo en Jerusalén. Le escribiste a Sofonías:

26 »“El Señor
te ha designado para que reemplaces a Joiada como sacerdote a cargo de la casa del Señor
. Eres responsable de poner en cepos y grilletes a cualquier loco que afirme ser profeta.

27 Así que, ¿por qué no has hecho nada para detener a Jeremías de Anatot, que se hace pasar por profeta entre ustedes?

28 Jeremías envió aquí, a Babilonia, una carta prediciendo que nuestro cautiverio será por largo tiempo. Dijo: ‘Edifiquen casas y hagan planes para quedarse. Planten huertos y coman del fruto que produzcan’”».

29 Ahora bien, cuando el sacerdote Sofonías recibió la carta de Semaías, la llevó a Jeremías y se la leyó.

30 Entonces el Señor
le dio a Jeremías este mensaje:

31 «Envía una carta abierta a todos los desterrados en Babilonia. Diles: “Esto dice el Señor
con relación a Semaías el nehelamita: ‘Como les ha profetizado a pesar de que yo no lo envié, y los ha engañado, haciéndolos creer sus mentiras,

32 lo castigaré a él y a su familia. Ninguno de sus descendientes verá las buenas cosas que haré para mi pueblo, porque él los ha incitado a rebelarse contra mí. ¡Yo, el Señor
, he hablado!’”».

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.