Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Jeremiah 29:3
By the hand of Elasah the son of Shaphan, and Gemariah the son of Hilkiah, (whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent unto Babylon to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon) saying,
3. Elasah ] As the son of Shaphan he was probably brother of Ahikam (Jer 26:24) who, taking Jeremiah’s side in political matters, would be well received at Babylon.
Gemariah ] Perhaps his father was identical with the chief priest (2Ki 22:4).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Elasah – Probably brother of Ahikam Jer 26:24, and therefore an acceptable person at the Chaldaean court. As Zedekiah had to go in person to Babylon in his fourth year Jer 51:59, this embassy was probably sent two or three years earlier. Its date, however, was subsequent to the vision in Jer 24:1-10. It is appended therefore to Jer. 28, not as later in point of time, but because of the similarity of subject.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Zedekiah the king of Judah having some occasion to send two messengers, named Elasah and Gemariah, to Babylon, whether to carry his tribute money or upon what other errand is not expressed; Jeremiah, knowing that as there were some false prophets at Jerusalem, who fed people with hopes of a speedy return, so there were some with them in Babylon who did the like, (two of which he afterwards in this chapter reflecteth upon,) writeth the following letter, and sends it by these two messengers, to quiet the peoples minds, and to help to compose their spirits, disturbed by these false prophets, and raised up to vain and idle hopes, for which there was no ground at all.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
3. Zedekiah . . . sent untoBabylonIn Jer 51:59,Zedekiah himself goes to Babylon; here he sendsambassadors. Whatever was the object of the embassy, it shows thatZedekiah only reigned at the pleasure of the king of Babylon, whomight have restored Jeconiah, had he pleased. Hence, Zedekiahpermitted Jeremiah’s letter to be sent, not only as being led byHananiah’s death to attach greater credit to the prophet’s words, butalso as the letter accorded with his own wish that the Jews shouldremain in Chaldea till Jeconiah’s death.
Hilkiahthe high priestwho found the book of the law in the house of the Lord, and showed itto “Shaphan” the scribe (the same Shaphan probably ashere), who showed it to King Josiah (2Ki22:8, &c.). The sons of Hilkiah and Shaphan inherited fromtheir fathers some respect for sacred things. So in Jer36:25, “Gemariah” interceded with King Jehoiakim thatthe prophet’s roll should not be burned.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
By the hand of Elasah the son of Shaphan,…. Perhaps the brother of Ahikam, and of Jaazaniah, Jer 26:24;
and Gemariah the son of Hilkiah; to distinguish him from Gemariah the son of Shaphan the scribe, Jer 36:10;
whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent unto Babylon, to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; as his ambassadors, on what account it is not certain; perhaps to pay the tribute money to him; or to treat with him about the restoration of some of the captives; or to cultivate friendship, and promise submission, and that he would faithfully keep the covenant he had made with him: and perhaps he might be jealous of Jeconiah using his interest with the king of Babylon for his restoration, which could not be acceptable to Zedekiah; and this might be one reason why he admitted his messengers to carry Jeremiah’s letter to the captives, if he knew of it, or saw it; since it exhorted them not to think of a returns, but provide for a long continuance where they were; however, by the hand of these messengers Jeremiah sent his letter to them:
saying; as follows:
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
This is the substance of the message, which the Prophet, no doubt, explained to them at large; but here he touches but briefly on what he wrote to the captives, even that they were patiently to endure their exile until the time of their deliverance, which was not to be such as many imagined, but such as God had fixed. Well known indeed at that time was Jeremiah’s prophecy, not only in Judea, but also to the captives, that their exile could not be completed in a shorter time than seventy years.
It is said that he sent his letter by the hand of the king’s ambassadors. It is probable that this was done by the permission of Zedekiah; for there is no doubt but that in sending his ambassadors he intended to obtain favor with King Nebuchadnezzar, by whose nod he had come to the throne; for he was not of such dignity as to be made king, though of the royal seed, had not Nebuchadnezzar thought that it would be more advantageous to himself. For had he appointed any other governor over the Jews, a sedition might have been easily raised; he therefore intended in a measure to pacify them, for he knew that they were a very refractory people. However, Zedekiah ruled only by permission, not through his own power, nor on account of his wealth, but through the good pleasure of a conqueror. He then sent his ambassadors to promise all kinds of homage, and to know what was to be done in future. As, then, he did not wish the return of Jeconiah, he permitted his ambassadors to carry the letter of Jeremiah, not indeed that he wished to obey God. It was not, then, owing to any sincere regard for religion, but because he thought that it would be advantageous to him, that the Jews should remain in Chaldea till the death of Jeconiah; for he thus hoped that his kingdom would be confirmed, for Jeconiah was, as it were, his rival. Nor is there a doubt, but that Nebuchadnezzar wished to hold Zedekiah bound by this fetter; for he could any day restore Jeconiah, who was his captive, to his former state.
Now, then, we understand why Zedekiah did not prohibit Jeremiah’s letter to be carried to the captives: he thought that it would serve to tranquilize his kingdom. But the holy Prophet had another thing in view; for his anxious object was, not to gain the favor of the king, but to shew, as God had commanded him, how long the captivity would be. Zedekiah indeed might have wished that a permission should be given to the exiles to return; for those who remained in Judea were only the dregs and offscourings of society; it was not an honorable state of things: and it may be that he had also this in view, in sending ambassadors to Nebuchadnezzar, that Jerusalem might not remain desolate, but that a portion at least of the exiles might return, and that there might also be some to cultivate the land which had been nearly stripped of its inhabitants. But Jeremiah declared what he knew was by no means acceptable to the king, that a return was in vain expected before the termination of seventy years. We hence see that he spoke nothing to gain the favor of the king; and yet the king did not regard with displeasure, that the letter was sent to allay all commotions, and to restrain all the violence of those who would have been otherwise too prone to make some new attempts. This accounts for the circumstance, that the letter was sent by the hand of Elasah and Gemariah
He adds, at the same time, that they were sent by Zedekiah to Babylon, that is, to gain the favor of King Nebuchadnezzar, or, at least, to secure his friendship. I now come to the message itself:
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(3) By the hand of Elasah . . .The names of the messengers are of some interest. Elasah, the son of Shaphan, was the brother of Jeremiahs protector. Ahikam (Jer. 26:24). Gemariah (to be distinguished from his namesake the son of Shaphan in Jer. 36:12) was probably the son of Hilkiah, the high-priest under Josiah who found the lost Book of the Law (2Ki. 22:4), and took a prominent part in the work of reformation. Each would therefore naturally take his place among the prophets friends and supporters. They carried his letter as well as the diplomatic missive of the king. That they had been sent as envoys by Zedekiah indicates that the policy of the weak and vacillating king had been to some extent affected by the counsels of Jeremiah, and that he had at least half abandoned the idea of revolt, and had sent to acknowledge the suzerainty of Nebuchadnezzar. It is hardly likely, at least, that the letter from the prophet, of which they were the bearers, should have been in flagrant antagonism with their mission as envoys from the king. The embassy was probably prior to the personal visit of Zechariah recorded in Jer. 51:59.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
‘By the hand of Elasah the son of Shaphan, and Gemariah the son of Hilkiah, (whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent to Babylon to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon), saying,’
His letter was sent by the hand of messengers who were going in Zedekiah’s name to Nebuchadnezzar, no doubt with other more official correspondence. It is very probable that part of the aim was to renew Zedekiah’s submission and assure Nebuchadnezzar of his loyalty, no doubt also delivering tribute. These would be prominent men, and may even have been the sons of Shaphan the Scribe (2Ki 22:8), and Hilkiah the High Priest (2Ki 22:4), although this is not certain. Elasah may have been brother to Ahikam who had aided Jeremiah (Jer 26:24). This probably took place not long after the exile had begun in c.597 BC, at a time when Zedekiah had no thought of rebellion, and thus earlier than the previous chapter.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Jer 29:3 By the hand of Elasah the son of Shaphan, and Gemariah the son of Hilkiah, (whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent unto Babylon to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon) saying,
Ver. 3. By the hand of Elasah the son of Shaphan, &c. ] Zedekiah, having heard by Hananiah the prophet, that within two full years Jeconiah and the captives should come back to Jerusalem, and knowing that if that should be so, he must give place and part with his royal dignity, sendeth an embassy to Nebuchadnezzar to show his obsequiousness, and is content that his messenger should carry Jeremiah’s letters (of whom, haply, he had a better conceit after the death of Hananiah) to those of the captivity, to persuade them to live quietly in Babylon, and not yet to think of returning to his disturbance. a
a Calvin.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Shaphan. See note on 2Ki 22:3.
Zedekiah . . . sent. Compare Jer 51:59.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Shaphan: Jer 26:24, Jer 39:14, 2Ki 22:8, Eze 8:11
Gemariah: Jer 36:25, 2Ki 22:12, 2Ch 34:20
Reciprocal: 2Ki 22:9 – Shaphan 1Ch 2:39 – General 2Ch 34:8 – sent Shaphan Jer 29:16 – General Jer 36:10 – Shaphan
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jer 29:3. The men named were the bearers of Jeremiah’s letter to the Jews in Babylon. They went by the authority of Zedekiah, king of Judah, and hence their mission had the dignity of an official one.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
29:3 By the hand of Elasah the son of Shaphan, and Gemariah the son of Hilkiah, (whom Zedekiah king of Judah {c} sent to Babylon to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon) saying,
(c) To entreat of some equal condition.