Jeremiah 29:1-32

Jeremiah 29. The Future of the Exiles in Babylon ( c. 595).— Jeremiah sends a letter by royal messengers to tell the exiles in Babylon to settle down there for a lengthy stay, and not to be deceived by those who say otherwise ( Jeremiah 29:1-1 Samuel :). After seventy years (see on Jeremiah 25:11), they shall be restored in accordance with Yahweh’ s declared purpose ( Jeremiah 24:4-Judges :) and goodwill ( Jeremiah 29:1-1 Chronicles :). At this point, an insertion seems to have been made in the original letter. Most of 14 (after “ I will be found of you” ) is rightly omitted in LXX; the reference to “ all the nations” does not suit the destination of this particular letter. LXX also omits Jeremiah 29:16-Proverbs :, threatening Zedekiah (“ the king” ), and those left in Jerusalem ( Jeremiah 24:8, f.); this passage also has been added to the Hebrew text. Jeremiah 29:15, which is quite disconnected from its context where it now stands, will then fitly precede Jeremiah 29:21-Isaiah :, its first word being rendered “ because” instead of “ for” ; the sequel names two of these Babylonian prophets for condemnation. The remaining verses of the chapter ( Jeremiah 29:24-Jonah :) are in some confusion. They begin as prophecy in a message to Shemaiah ( Jeremiah 29:24 mg.) , then pass ( Jeremiah 29:26 ff.) into the quotation of a letter from him to Zephaniah, then break off abruptly into narrative in Jeremiah 29:29, and become prophecy again in Jeremiah 29:30. Shemaiah’ s letter, evidently prompted by Jeremiah’ s, urges Zephaniah to treat Jeremiah as Pashhur had done ( Jeremiah 20:1 ff.), i.e. as a mad prophesier ( cf. 2 Kings 9:11; Hosea 9:7, 1 Samuel 10:10 ff; 1 Samuel 19:20 ff.); but Zephaniah simply informs Jeremiah of this advice, with the result that a prophecy is uttered against Shemaiah and his descendants, in accordance with Hebrew ideas of “ corporate” personality ( cf., e.g., 2 Kings 5:27).

Jeremiah 29:3 . Elasah: brother of Ahikam ( Jeremiah 26:24) and of a Gemariah ( Jeremiah 36:10) distinct from his present companion.

Jeremiah 29:18 as mg.; cf. Jeremiah 24:9.

Jeremiah 29:19 . Read “ they” for “ ye” , as in LXX of Lucian.

Jeremiah 29:22 . Nothing further is known of these men or their fate, presumably assigned for treason.

Jeremiah 29:23 . folly: “ senselessness” (Driver); cf. 2 Samuel 13:12.

Jeremiah 29:25 . Zephaniah: cf. Jeremiah 21:1, Jeremiah 37:3, Jeremiah 52:24. Omit, with LXX, “ unto all the people that are at Jerusalem” and “ and to all the priests” .

Jeremiah 29:26 . officers: read singular with VSS.

Jeremiah 29:32 . After “ seed” , we should probably continue, with LXX, “ there shall not be a man of them in the midst of you to see the good” , etc. (omitting last clause).