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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Jeremiah 29:24-32

We have perused the contents of Jeremiah's letter to the captives in Babylon, who had reason, with a great deal of thanks to God and him, to acknowledge the receipt of it, and lay it up among their treasures. But we cannot wonder if the false prophets they had among them were enraged at it; for it gave them their true character. Now here we are told concerning one of them, I. How he manifested his malice against Jeremiah. This busy fellow is called Shemaiah the Nehelamite, the dreamer (so the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 29:24

Thus shalt thou speak to Shemaiah the Nehelamite ,.... Or, "the dreamer" F8 הנחלמי "quasi" חולם "somniator somniorum", Kimchi and Ben Melech. ; because he pretended to have dreams from the Lord; or because what he delivered as prophecies were mere dreams; as that the captives should quickly return to their own land; so Kimchi: but Jarchi takes it to be the name of a place, from whence he was so called; perhaps the place of his birth, or habitation formerly; so the Targum,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 29:24

Speak to Shemaiah - Zephaniah was the second priest, sagan, or chief priest's deputy, and Seraiah, high priest, when Jerusalem was taken. See Jeremiah 52:24 . Shemaiah directs his letter to the former, and tells him that God had appointed him to supply the place of the high priest, who was probably then absent. His name was either Azariah or Seraiah his son, but called Jehoiada from the remarkable zeal and courage of that pontiff. See the passages in the margin. - Dodd. After the taking of... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 29:24

Verse 24 Here Jeremiah prophesies respecting a third person, who had written a letter to the priests and to the whole people against himself, and had expostulated with the chief priest and with others, because Jeremiah had, with impunity, long exhorted the people to bear their long exile. This is the import of the passage; but as to his punishment we shall see what it was at the end of the chapter. I did not wish to give the whole, because I cannot finish this prophecy today. I have therefore... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 29:20-32

Shemaiah. I. HIS ACTION . 1. He is irritated at the letter of Jeremiah. From Babylon he writes back in a rage. It is foolish to be thus angry with those who tell us unpleasant truths, but it is very common. 2. He describes Jeremiah as mad. People often depreciate the intelligence of those who differ from them. Weak men set down strong words to the excitement of the speaker because they have not the imagination or the nerve to receive them as true. 3. He urges the temple... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 29:20-32

The punishment of false prophets. The opposition between Jeremiah and the false prophets is one of the most interesting phenomena of the period to which these prophecies belong. It is a real battle, albeit not with earthly weapons. The question between them could not be suffered to remain doubtful, as it involved immense consequences. A striking correspondence is discovered in the antagonism to the labors of the apostles. There is the same barefaced, fearless lying and dishonesty, the same... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 29:24

To Shemaiah ; or, of , concerning (as the same preposition is rendered in Jeremiah 29:16 , Jeremiah 29:21 , Jeremiah 29:31 ). The oracle itself speaks of Shemaiah in the third person ( Jeremiah 29:31 , Jeremiah 29:32 ). The Authorized Version, however, can be defended by its accordance with Jeremiah 29:25 . The Nehelamite . This is evidently a patronymic, but whether of the family or the locality of the bearer cannot be decided. The analogy of "Jeremiah of Anathoth" (verse... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 29:24-32

A threatening oracle against the false prophet Shemaiah. Great excitement had been caused among the so-called prophets in Babylon by the emphatic language of Jeremiah. Accordingly one of them, named Shemaiah, wrote letters to the Jews at home, and especially to a high official called Zephaniah (see on verse 26) to put a stop to Jeremiah's bold agitation. Zephaniah, however, was not the man for whom Shemaiah took him, and read the letter to the intended victim. Upon this, Jeremiah received a... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Jeremiah 29:24-29

A narrative showing the effects of Jeremiah’s letter. Shemaiah the leader of the false prophets wrote to Zephaniah, urging him to restrain the prophet’s zeal with the prison and the stocks.Jeremiah 29:24To Shemaiah - Rather, concerning.The Nehelamite - Not as in the margin; but one belonging to the village of Nehlam (unknown).Jeremiah 29:26Officers - Deputy high priests who had the oversight of the temple.Mad - See 2 Kings 9:11 note. Many of the symbolic actions of the prophets, such as that of... read more

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