1Und dies sind die Worte des Briefes, welchen der Prophet Jeremia von Jerusalem an die übriggebliebenen Ältesten der Weggeführten und an die Priester und an die Propheten und an das ganze Volk sandte, welches Nebukadnezar von Jerusalem nach Babel weggeführt hatte 2(nachdem der König Jekonja und die Königin, und die Kämmerer, die Fürsten von Juda und Jerusalem, und die Werkleute und die Schlosser aus Jerusalem weggezogen waren), 3durch Eleasar, den Sohn Schaphans, und Gemarja, den Sohn Hilkijas, welche Zedekia, der König von Juda, nach Babel zu Nebukadnezar, dem König von Babel, sandte: 4So spricht Jehova der Heerscharen, der Gott Israels, zu allen Weggeführten, die ich von Jerusalem nach Babel weggeführt habe: 5Bauet Häuser und bewohnet sie, und pflanzet Gärten und esset ihre Frucht. 6Nehmet Weiber und zeuget Söhne und Töchter, und nehmet Weiber für eure Söhne, und eure Töchter gebet Männern, damit sie Söhne und Töchter gebären; und mehret euch daselbst, und mindert euch nicht. 7Und suchet den Frieden der Stadt, wohin ich euch weggeführt habe, und betet für sie zu Jehova; denn in ihrem Frieden werdet ihr Frieden haben. 8Denn so spricht Jehova der Heerscharen, der Gott Israels: Laßt euch von euren Propheten, die in eurer Mitte sind, und von euren Wahrsagern nicht täuschen; und höret nicht auf eure Träume, die ihr euch träumen lasset. 9Denn sie weissagen euch falsch in meinem Namen; ich habe sie nicht gesandt, spricht Jehova. 10Denn so spricht Jehova: Sobald siebzig Jahre für Babel voll sind , werde ich mich eurer annehmen und mein gutes Wort an euch erfüllen, euch an diesen Ort zurückzubringen. 11Denn ich weiß ja die Gedanken, die ich über euch denke, spricht Jehova, Gedanken des Friedens und nicht zum Unglück, um euch Ausgang und Hoffnung zu gewähren. 12Und ihr werdet mich anrufen und hingehen und zu mir beten, und ich werde auf euch hören. 13Und ihr werdet mich suchen und finden, denn ihr werdet nach mir fragen mit eurem ganzen Herzen ; 14und ich werde mich von euch finden lassen, spricht Jehova. Und ich werde eure Gefangenschaft wenden und euch sammeln aus allen Nationen und aus allen Orten, wohin ich euch vertrieben habe, spricht Jehova; und ich werde euch an den Ort zurückbringen, von wo ich euch weggeführt habe. 15Wenn ihr saget: Jehova hat uns in Babel Propheten erweckt, 16ja, so spricht Jehova von dem König, der auf dem Throne Davids sitzt, und von dem ganzen Volke, das in dieser Stadt wohnt, euren Brüdern, welche nicht mit euch in die Gefangenschaft weggezogen sind, 17so spricht Jehova der Heerscharen: Siehe, ich sende unter sie das Schwert, den Hunger und die Pest, und will sie machen wie die abscheulichen Feigen, die vor Schlechtigkeit nicht gegessen werden können . 18Und ich will ihnen nachjagen mit dem Schwerte, mit dem Hunger und mit der Pest; und ich will sie zur Mißhandlung hingeben allen Königreichen der Erde, zum Fluch und zum Entsetzen und zum Gezisch und zum Hohn unter allen Nationen, wohin ich sie vertrieben habe: 19darum, daß sie auf meine Worte nicht gehört haben, spricht Jehova, womit ich meine Knechte, die Propheten, zu ihnen sandte, früh mich aufmachend und sendend. Und auch ihr habt nicht gehört, spricht Jehova. 20Ihr nun, höret das Wort Jehovas, ihr Weggeführten alle, die ich von Jerusalem nach Babel weggeschickt habe! 21So spricht Jehova der Heerscharen, der Gott Israels, von Ahab, dem Sohne Kolajas, und von Zedekia, dem Sohne Maasejas, die euch Lügen weissagen in meinem Namen: Siehe, ich gebe sie in die Hand Nebukadrezars, des Königs von Babel, damit er sie vor euren Augen erschlage. 22Und von ihnen wird ein Fluch entnommen werden seitens aller Weggeführten Judas, die in Babel sind, so daß man sagen wird: Jehova mache dich wie Zedekia und wie Ahab, welche der König von Babel im Feuer braten ließ! 23Weil sie eine Ruchlosigkeit begangen in Israel und Ehebruch getrieben haben mit den Weibern ihrer Nächsten, und in meinem Namen Lügenworte geredet haben, was ich ihnen nicht geboten hatte; und ich, ich weiß es und bin Zeuge, spricht Jehova. - 24Und zu Schemaja, dem Nechelamiter, sollst du sprechen und sagen: 25So spricht Jehova der Heerscharen, der Gott Israels, und sagt: Weil du in deinem Namen Briefe gesandt hast an alles Volk, das in Jerusalem ist, und an den Priester Zephanja, den Sohn Maasejas, und an alle die Priester, und gesagt: 26"Jehova hat dich zum Priester gesetzt anstatt des Priesters Jojada, damit Aufseher seien im Hause Jehovas betreffs jedes Rasenden und Weissagenden, damit du ihn in den Stock und in das Halseisen legest. 27Und nun, warum hast du Jeremia, den Anathothiter, nicht gescholten, der euch weissagt? 28da er ja zu uns nach Babel gesandt und gesagt hat : Es wird lange dauern; bauet Häuser und bewohnet sie, und pflanzet Gärten und esset ihre Frucht." ... 29(Und der Priester Zephanja hatte diesen Brief vor den Ohren des Propheten Jeremia gelesen.) 30Und das Wort Jehovas geschah zu Jeremia also: 31Sende hin zu allen Weggeführten und sprich: Also spricht Jehova von Schemaja, dem Nechelamiter: Weil Schemaja euch geweissagt, und ich ihn doch nicht gesandt habe, und er euch auf Lügen hat vertrauen lassen, 32darum spricht Jehova also: Siehe, ich will Schemaja, den Nechelamiter, und seinen Samen heimsuchen: Er soll niemanden haben, der inmitten dieses Volkes wohne, und er soll das Gute nicht sehen, welches ich meinem Volke tun werde, spricht Jehova; denn er hat Abfall geredet wider Jehova.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 LETTER OF JEREMIAH TO THE CAPTIVES IN BABYLON, TO COUNTERACT THE ASSURANCES GIVEN BY THE FALSE PROPHETS OF A SPEEDY RESTORATION. (Jer. 29:1-32)
residue of the elders--those still surviving from the time when they were carried to Babylon with Jeconiah; the other elders of the captives had died by either a natural or a violent death.
2 queen--Nehushta, the queen mother, daughter of Elnathan (
2Kgs 24:8,
2Kgs 24:15). (Elnathan, her father, is perhaps the same as the one mentioned in
Jer 26:22). She reigned jointly with her son.
princes--All the men of authority were taken away lest they should organize a rebellion. Jeremiah wrote his letter while the calamity was still recent, to console the captives under it.
3 Zedekiah . . . sent unto Babylon--In
Jer 51:59, Zedekiah himself goes to Babylon; here he sends ambassadors. Whatever was the object of the embassy, it shows that Zedekiah only reigned at the pleasure of the king of Babylon, who might have restored Jeconiah, had he pleased. Hence, Zedekiah permitted Jeremiah's letter to be sent, not only as being led by Hananiah's death to attach greater credit to the prophet's words, but also as the letter accorded with his own wish that the Jews should remain in Chaldea till Jeconiah's death.
Hilkiah--the high priest who found the book of the law in the house of the Lord, and showed it to "Shaphan" the scribe (the same Shaphan probably as here), who showed it to King Josiah (
2Kgs 22:8, &c.). The sons of Hilkiah and Shaphan inherited from their fathers some respect for sacred things. So in
Jer 36:25, "Gemariah" interceded with King Jehoiakim that the prophet's roll should not be burned.
5 Build . . . houses--In opposition to the false prophets' suggestions, who told the captives that their captivity would soon cease, Jeremiah tells them that it will be of long duration, and that therefore they should build houses, as Babylon is to be for long their home.
6 that ye . . . be . . . not diminished--It was God's will that the seed of Abraham should not fail; thus consolation is given them, and the hope, though not of an immediate, yet of an ultimate, return.
7 (
Ezra 6:10;
Rom 13:1;
1Tim 2:2). Not only bear the Babylonian yoke patiently, but pray for your masters, that is, while the captivity lasts. God's good time was to come when they were to pray for Babylon's downfall (
Jer 51:35;
Ps 137:8). They were not to forestall that time. True religion teaches patient submission, not sedition, even though the prince be an unbeliever. In all states of life let us not throw away the comfort we may have, because we have not all we would have. There is here a foretaste of gospel love towards enemies (
Matt 5:44).
8 your dreams which ye caused to be dreamed--The Latin adage says, "The people wish to be deceived, so let them be deceived." Not mere credulity misleads men, but their own perverse "love of darkness rather than light." It was not priests who originated priestcraft, but the people's own morbid appetite to be deceived; for example, Aaron and the golden calf (
Exod 32:1-
Exod 32:4). So the Jews caused or made the prophets to tell them encouraging dreams (
Jer 23:25-
Jer 23:26;
Eccl 5:7;
Zech 10:2;
John 3:19-
John 3:21).
10 (See on
Jer 25:11;
Jer 25:12;
Dan 9:2). This proves that the seventy years date from Jeconiah's captivity, not from the last captivity. The specification of time was to curb the impatience of the Jews lest they should hasten before God's time.
good word--promise of a return.
11 I know--I alone; not the false prophets who know nothing of My purposes, though they pretend to know.
thoughts . . . I think-- (
Isa 55:9). Glancing at the Jews who had no "thoughts of peace," but only of "evil" (misfortune), because they could not conceive how deliverance could come to them. The moral malady of man is twofold--at one time vain confidence; then, when that is disappointed, despair. So the Jews first laughed at God's threats, confident that they should speedily return; then, when cast down from that confidence, they sank in inconsolable despondency.
expected end--literally, "end and expectation," that is, an end, and that such an end as you wish for. Two nouns joined by "and," standing for a noun and adjective. So in
Jer 36:27, "the roll and the words," that is, the roll of words;
Gen 3:16, "sorrow and conception," that is, sorrow in conception. Compare
Pro 23:18, where, as here "end" means "a happy issue."
12 Fulfilled (
Dan 9:3, &c.). When God designs mercy, He puts it into the hearts of His people to pray for the mercy designed. When such a spirit of prayer is poured out, it is a sure sign of coming mercy.
go--to the temple and other places of prayer: contrasted with their previous sloth as to going to seek God.
13 (
Lev 26:40-
Lev 26:42,
Lev 26:44-
Lev 26:45).
14 to be found-- (
Ps 32:6;
Isa 55:6).
turn . . . captivity--play upon sounds, shabti . . . shebith.
15 Because--referring not to the preceding words, but to
Jer 29:10-
Jer 29:11, "Jehovah saith this to you" (that is, the prophecy of the continuance of the captivity seventy years), "because ye have said, The Lord hath raised us up prophets in Babylon," namely, foretelling our speedy deliverance (this their prophecy is supposed, not expressed; accordingly,
Jer 29:16-
Jer 29:19 contradict this false hope again,
Jer 29:8-
Jer 29:9,
Jer 29:21). He, in this fifteenth verse, turns his address from the godly (
Jer 29:12-
Jer 29:14) to the ungodly listeners, to false prophets.
16 people . . . in this city . . . not gone forth--So far from your returning to Jerusalem soon, even your brethren still left dwelling there shall themselves also be cast into exile. He mentions "the throne of David," lest they should think that, because David's kingdom was to be perpetual, no severe, though temporary, chastisements could interpose (
Ps 89:29-
Ps 89:36).
17 vile figs--Hebrew, "horrible," or nauseous, from a root, "to regard with loathing" (see
Jer 24:8,
Jer 24:10).
18 removed to all . . . kingdoms-- (
Jer 15:4;
Deut 28:25).
curse, &c.-- (
Jer 29:6;
Jer 18:16;
Jer 19:8).
21 Zedekiah--brother of Zephaniah (
Jer 29:25), both being sons of Maaseiah; probably of the same family as the false prophet under Ahab in Israel (
1Kgs 22:11,
1Kgs 22:24).
22 shall be taken . . . a curse--that is, a formula of imprecation.
Lord make thee like Zedekiah--(Compare
Gen 48:20;
Isa 65:15).
roasted in the fire--a Chaldean punishment (
Dan 3:6).
23 villainy--literally, "sinful folly" (
Isa 32:6).
24 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
Jer 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 (
Jer 21:1). Slain by Nebuchadnezzar at the capture of Jerusalem (
2Kgs 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 (
Jer 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 in the temple (see on
Jer 20:1), apprehend every false prophet like Jeremiah.
mad--Inspired prophets were often so called by the ungodly (
2Kgs 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" (see on
Jer 20:2).
stocks--from a root, "to confine"; hence rather, "a narrow dungeon." According to
Deut 17:8-
Deut 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 (
Jer 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 (
Jer 29:26-
Jer 29:27). Hence the latter was chosen by King Zedekiah as one of the deputation to Jeremiah (
Jer 21:1;
Jer 37:3).
30 This resumes the thread of the sentence which began at
Jer 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
Rom 5:12-
Rom 5:15.
32 not . . . a man to dwell-- (
Deut 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 (
Jer 28:16).