Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Jeremiah 29:2
(After that Jeconiah the king, and the queen, and the eunuchs, the princes of Judah and Jerusalem, and the carpenters, and the smiths, were departed from Jerusalem;)
2. The letter appears to have been later than ch. 24, to which it plainly alludes more than once. Cp. Jer 29:17 with Jer 24:2; Jer 24:8, and Jer 29:18 with Jer 24:9.
the queen-mother ] Nehushta. See on ch. Jer 13:18.
the princes of Judah and Jerusalem, and the craftsmen, and the smiths ] Cp. ch. Jer 24:1, with note on “smiths.”
were departed ] not merely, had surrendered, as the same verb in the Heb. means in the parallel passage, 2Ki 24:12, but, as the amplification “the craftsmen and the smiths” here indicates, had gone into exile.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The queen – The queen-mother.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
After this captivity.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
2. queenNehushta, the queenmother, daughter of Elnathan (2Ki 24:8;2Ki 24:15). (Elnathan, herfather, is perhaps the same as the one mentioned in Jer26:22). She reigned jointly with her son.
princesAll the men ofauthority were taken away lest they should organize a rebellion.Jeremiah wrote his letter while the calamity was still recent, toconsole the captives under it.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
After that Jeconiah the king,…. Of Judah; the same with Jehoiachin, who was carried captive into Babylon when he had reigned but three months:
and the queen; not Jeconiah’s wife, for he had none; but his mother, whose name was Nehushta, and who was carried captive with him,
2Ki 24:8;
and the eunuchs; or “chamberlains” to the queen; the Targum calls them princes; these were of the king’s household, his courtiers; and such persons have been everywhere, and in all ages, court favourites:
and the princes of Judah and Jerusalem; the noblemen and grandees of the nation:
and the carpenters, and the smiths, were departed from Jerusalem; whom Nebuchadnezzar took with him, partly for his own use in his own country; and partly that the Jews might be deprived of such artificers, that could assist in fortifying their city, and providing them with military weapons; [See comments on Jer 24:1].
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
He mentions the time when the book was sent, even after the calamity which had happened, when King Jeconiah and his mother were driven into exile, and Zedekiah, his successor, was made governor in his place, as we shall presently see. It was then during these beginnings of a change that Jeremiah wrote. All things were then in such a ferment, that some feared more than what was necessary, and others entertained vain hopes, as the case usually is in a disordered state of things. It was then after this fresh calamity that Jeremiah wrote, as his words most especially shew. He might indeed, as in other instances, have mentioned the year; but as he plainly declares that this happened after the departure of Jeconiah, his purpose is sufficiently evident, even that he wished in due time to give some relief to their sorrow, who might have succumbed under it, had not God in a manner stretched forth his hand to them. For we know that fresh grief is difficult to be borne; and hence it is that it is called a bitter grief; for it was a grievous novelty, when they were violently and suddenly dragged out of their quiet nests. It was then Jeremiah’s object at that time to give them some comfort; he also saw that those who were left in Judea were greatly disturbed and continually agitating new schemes; for Zedekiah’s kingdom was not as yet established, and they despised him and were ever looking for their own king. As, then, things were thus in disorder at home, and as the miserable exiles especially, were at first very grievously afflicted, Jeremiah set before them a seasonable remedy. This then is the reason why he points out the time.
The mother of Jeconiah, we know, was led away with him into captivity; and she is called, הגבירה, egebire; (205) for though she was not properly the queen, she yet ruled in connection with her son. Some render סריסים, sarisim, eunuchs; (206) but I prefer the word “chiefs;” and hence is added the word שרי, shari, princes, that is, the courtiers, who governed the people, not only in Jerusalem, but through the whole of Judea. He also adds the artificers and sculptors, (207) for Nebuchadnezzar had chosen the best of them; he had deprived the city of its nobles, that there might be none of authority among the Jews to venture on any new attempt; and then he had taken away those who were useful and ingenious, so that he left them no sculptors nor artificers. It now follows, —
(205) Rendered “governess” or lady — “domina,” by the Vulg.; but “queen” by the Sept., the Syr., and the Targ. It was a title most commonly given to the queen-mother. — Ed.
(206) The Versions have “eunuchs,” but the Targ., “princes.” The word means an officer or an attendant on a sovereign. It is rendered “officer” in Gen 37:36; and “chamberlain” in Est 2:3. That such officers were often eunuchs there can be no doubt, but the word does not designate such a thing. — Ed.
(207) See note on Chapter 24:1
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(2) The queen.This was probably the queen-mother, Nehushta, the daughter of Elnathan (2Ki. 24:8). The name probably indicates a connection with the Elnathan the son of Achbor, of Jer. 26:22, but we cannot assert with any confidence the identity of the one with the other.
The carpenters, and the smiths.See Note on Jer. 24:1. Among the exiles thus referred to as princes we have to think of Daniel, and those who are best known to us by their Babylonian names as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego (Dan. 1:6-7). The conduct, we may well believe, was in accordance with Jeremiahs teaching.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
2, 3. The queen Rather, the queen-mother, Nehushta, daughter of Elnathan. See Jer 13:18, and 2Ki 24:8; 2Ki 24:15.
The eunuchs, the princes The absence of the conjunction between these nouns would seem to imply that they are in apposition. If so, instead of “eunuchs” we ought to read officers, a sense which, according to Furst, but not to Gesenius, the original word has in several places: e,g., Jer 20:7; Jer 41:16; 2Ki 24:12 ; 2Ki 25:19. But it is possible that Keil’s conception of this sentence is correct, in that he finds here enumerated three general classes: 1) The court class, namely, the king, queen, and eunuchs. 2) The official class the princes of Judah and Jerusalem. 3) The artisan class carpenters and smiths; and, hence, the copula is omitted, marking the transition from the first to the second.
Elasah the son of Shaphan In chap. Jer 26:24, Ahikam is so called, indicating that they were brothers. One of Ahikam’s sons was made governor by the Chaldeans. Jer 39:14. It would hence appear that this was an influential family, and one sympathizing with Jeremiah. Of Gemriah we know nothing outside of this passage. But we must not confound him with that Gemariah, “son of Shaphan,” out of the window of whose room Jeremiah read Jehoiakim’s roll. Jer 39:14.
Whom Zedekiah sent Zedekiah himself went to Babylon in the fourth year of his reign. That he should also, on this occasion, have sent a formal embassy but illustrates how completely dependent he felt himself on the king of Babylon. As to the time of this embassy we have no knowledge.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Jer 29:2 (After that Jeconiah the king, and the queen, and the eunuchs, the princes of Judah and Jerusalem, and the carpenters, and the smiths, were departed from Jerusalem;)
Ver. 2. After that Jeconiah the king, and the queen, and the eunuchs. ] Angusta et eunuchi. These eunuchs were chamberlains to queens; but not always so bold with them as Stephen the Persian presumed to be with the queen mother of the emperor Justinian II: quam flagellis sicuti servam castigavit whom he corrceted with a whip just as a servant. a See Jer 24:1-2 .
a Func.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Jeconiah: i.e. Jehoiachin.
the queen = the queen-mother, Nehushta, the wife of Jehoiakim. Compare Jer 13:18. See 2Ki 24:12, 2Ki 24:15.
eunuchs = chamberlains.
carpenters = artificers, smiths. Compare Jer 24:1.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Jeconiah: Jer 22:24-28, Coniah, Jer 27:20, Jer 28:4, 2Ki 24:12-16, 2Ch 36:9, 2Ch 36:10, Jehoiachin
eunuchs: or, chamberlains, 2Ki 9:32, *marg. 2Ki 20:18, Dan 1:3-21
Reciprocal: 2Ki 24:16 – seven thousand Jer 24:1 – after Jer 34:19 – the eunuchs Jer 38:7 – eunuchs Jer 51:61 – read Eze 17:13 – he hath also
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jer 29:2, The capture of Jeconiah and his family marked the second captivity and Jeremiah sent his letter to his brethren in Babylon after that event. The prophet was under the authority of the Babylonian Empire, but was not required to leave Palestine due to the respect the captain had for him (Jer 40:1-6). Jeremiah wished bis brethren in Babylon to be like a “model prisoner while in captivity and sent the letter for that purpose which was for their own advantage.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Jer 29:2-3. After that Jeconiah and the queen, &c. By the queen is meant Jeconiahs mother: see 2Ki 24:12-15, where an account is given of this captivity. And the eunuchs Or court-officers, as Dr. Waterland renders it; and the princes of Judah and Jerusalem Men of authority and influence among the people. By the hand of Elasah, &c. Zedekiah having some occasion to send two messengers to Babylon, Jeremiah, knowing that as there were false prophets at Jerusalem who fed the people with hopes of a speedy return, so there were some with them in Babylon, writes and sends the following prophecy by these two messengers, to quiet the peoples minds, disturbed by these false prophets, and excited to vain hopes, for which there was no ground at all.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
29:2 (After Jeconiah the king, and the {b} queen, and the eunuchs, the princes of Judah and Jerusalem, and the craftsmen, and the smiths, had departed from Jerusalem;)
(b) Meaning Jeconiah’s mother.