Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Jeremiah 29:24
[Thus] shalt thou also speak to Shemaiah the Nehelamite, saying,
24. concerning ] mg. unto. Cp. Jer 29:31.
the Nehelamite ] The place or family referred to is not otherwise known.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
24 32. Shemaiah the Nehelamite rebuked and threatened.
On the arrival at Babylon of Jeremiah’s letter, which ends with Jer 29:23, there is much indignation on the part of the false prophets, and one of them, Shemaiah by name, writes to Zephaniah the acting high-priest, urging upon him that he should take severe measures to silence Jeremiah as a madman. This suggestion, however, Zephaniah is so far from following that he shews the letter to the prophet, who writes again to Babylon, this time for the purpose of condemning Shemaiah’s conduct in the severest terms, and announcing its penalty.
The narrative forms an interesting supplement to the earlier part of the ch. Its form, it is true, leaves much to be desired, and Du. in fact describes it as exhibiting utter confusion, resulting from successive modifications. It is clearly one of the additions made by Baruch or by later hands. The charge brought by Jeremiah is introduced by the “Because” of Jer 29:25, and continuing to the end of Jer 29:28, remains incomplete. It is thus of the nature of the figure of speech called anacoluthon, and is taken up again by the “Because” of Jer 29:31, a sentence which is carried by the “therefore, etc.” of Jer 29:32 to its logical conclusion. The LXX fail, either from the defective condition of the Hebrew text or otherwise, to see that Jer 29:26-28 consist of Shemaiah’s letter from Babylon. Thus for “saying to Jerusalem” ( Jer 29:25) they substitute (suggested apparently by Jer 29:31) “I did not send thee in my name,” as though it were a Divine utterance addressed to Shemaiah. Moreover, they are obliged in Jer 29:27 both to omit the negative and to make Jeremiah speak of himself in the 3rd person. Lastly, there is in their rendering no clue to the contents of “the letter” of Jer 29:29.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
A narrative showing the effects of Jeremiahs letter. Shemaiah the leader of the false prophets wrote to Zephaniah, urging him to restrain the prophets zeal with the prison and the stocks.
Jer 29:24
To Shemaiah – Rather, concerning.
The Nehelamite – Not as in the margin; but one belonging to the village of Nehlam (unknown).
Jer 29:26
Officers – Deputy high priests who had the oversight of the temple.
Mad – See 2Ki 9:11 note. Many of the symbolic actions of the prophets, such as that of Jeremiah going about with a yoke on his neck, would be mocked at by the irreverent as passing the line between prophecy and madness.
Prisons – Rather, the stocks Jer 20:2.
The stocks – Rather, collar.
Jer 29:28
This captivity is long – Rather, It is long. Gods anger, their punishment, the exile, the time necessary for their repentance – all is long to men who will never live to see their country again.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 24. Speak to Shemaiah] Zephaniah was the second priest, sagan, or chief priest’s deputy, and Seraiah, high priest, when Jerusalem was taken. See Jer 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 Jerusalem, Zephaniah was put to death by Nebuchadnezzar at Riblah, see Jer 37:3. The history of Jehoiada may be seen 2Kg 11:3, &c.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
We have no guidance from any other scripture to teach us who this
Shemaiah was, but it is very probable that he was one of those who at this time were in the captivity of Babylon, and so came to the knowledge of Jeremiahs letter, mentioned in the beginning of the chapter, and wrote what followeth to Zephaniah, the son of Masseiah the priest, and the rest of the priests, to have Jeremiah punished; but why he is called the
Nehelamite is not so evident, for that the word is derived from a dreamer, is not very probable; we read of no such place in Judea as Nehelain or Halem, but we cannot imagine that the names of all the towns in Judah are to be found in Scripture: he is thrice in this chapter called the Nehelamite; so as it is probable that there was such a place as Nehelam, from whence he was.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
24-32. A second communicationwhich Jeremiah sent to Babylon, after the messenger who carried hisfirst letter had brought a letter from the false prophet Shemaiah toZephaniah, &c., condemning Jeremiah and reproving the authoritiesfor not having apprehended him.
Nehelamitea namederived either from his father or from a place: alluding at the sametime to the Hebrew meaning, “a dreamer” (compare Jer29:8).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
[Thus] shalt thou speak to Shemaiah the Nehelamite,…. Or, “the dreamer” h; 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, paraphrasing
“who was of Halem;”
he was, another of the false prophets in Babylon. This latter part of the chapter is of a later date than the former; and refers to what was done after the above letter of Jeremiah came to the captives in Babylon; and after, the return of the messengers from thence, who brought, account how it was received, and what umbrage it gave to the false prophets:
saying; as follows:
h “quasi” “somniator somniorum”, Kimchi and Ben Melech.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Threatening against the false prophet Shemaiah. – Jeremiah’s letter to the exiles (vv. 1-23) had excited great indignation among the false prophets in Babylon, who predicted speedy restoration. One of them, named Shemaiah, wrote accordingly letters to Jerusalem addressed to the people, and especially to the priest Zephaniah, who held the highest place in the management of the temple, insisting that he should immediately take steps to punish Jeremiah and check his labours (Jer 29:24-28). When Zephaniah read this letter to Jeremiah, the latter received from God the commission to tell the pseudo-prophet of the punishment awaiting him, that and his race should perish and not survive Israel’s liberation (Jer 29:29-32). – This threatening accordingly dates from a somewhat later time than the letter, vv. 1-23, since it was its arrival and influence upon the exiles that led Shemaiah to write to Jerusalem that letter, to which the threatening of the present verse is the reply. But on account of their historical connection, the letter of Jeremiah and that of Shemaiah were, at the publication of Jeremiah’s prophecies, placed the one after the other. – From the introductory clause of Jer 29:24: “And to Shemaiah the Nehelamite thou shalt speak thus,” we might conclude, with Graf, that what Jeremiah had to say was not addressed by letter to Shemaiah himself; and hold it to have sufficed that he should read it, like all the exiles, in the letter which doubtless found its way to Babylon. But this is incompatible with the command of God, Jer 29:31: Send to all the captives, saying, etc. For it was only by writing that Jeremiah could send to the exiles the sentence from God on Shemaiah that follows in Jer 29:31. The introductory clause is therefore interposed by the author of the book to form a link of connection between the two utterances regarding the pseudo-prophets at Babylon. We cannot make sure whether “the Nehelamite” refers the man to a family or to a place of which we know nothing else. Jer 29:25. Next the introduction to the divine sentence comes (from “Because thou” on) a statement of the occasion that called for it, which extends to Jer 29:28. Then in Jer 29:29-31 we are told that Zephaniah read to Jeremiah the letter he had received from Shemaiah in Babylon, and that Jeremiah was then commissioned by God to intimate to Shemaiah the punishment to be sent on him by God for his false and seducing prophecies. Then, again, attached to the preliminary statement by “therefore,” the introductory phrase “Thus saith Jahveh” is repeated, and what the Lord said follows.
Jer 29:25-28 “Because thou hast sent in thy name (without divine commission) letters to all the people in Jerusalem, and to Sephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest, and to all the priests, saying.” may be a single letter, cf. 2Ki 10:1-2; but since these were sent to the people, the priest Zephaniah, and all the people, the word doubtless means here letters in the plural. As to Zephaniah ben Maaseiah, see at Jer 21:1. – In Jer 29:26-28 follows the main substance of the letter: “Jahveh hath set thee to be priest in the stead of the priest Jehoiada, that there should be officers in the house of Jahveh for every man that is mad and prophesieth, that thou shouldest put him in the stocks and in neck-irons. Jer 29:27. And, now, why hast thou not restrained Jeremiah of Anathoth, that prophesieth to you? Jer 29:28. For therefore hath he sent to us to Babylon (a letter) to the effect: It will last long; build houses and dwell (therein), and plant gardens and eat the fruit of them.” Zephaniah occupied, acc. to Jer 29:26, the post of a chief officer of the temple, was a chief warden, as Pashur had been before him, Jer 21:1, who had charge of the police regulations of the temple.
In the stead of the priest Jehoiada. These words Grot., Hitz., and Gr. refer to the high priest Jehoiada under King Joash, 2Ki 11:18, who set up officers ( ) over the temple. But this view cannot be reconciled with the words of the text: “Jahveh hath set thee to be priest in Jehoiada’s stead, that there should be officers;” since from these ambiguous words, Zephaniah filled the same post as Jehoiada had done, and was his successor in office. The other well-known Jehoiada was high priest, who appointed officers; Zephaniah, on the other hand was only “the second priest,” and as such had charge of the temple arrangements and of public order there. Nor is there any hint here or elsewhere that Zephaniah was the immediate successor of Pashur in this office, nor any indication to make it unlikely that Jehoiada held the post after Pashur and that Zedekiah succeeded him. The plural “officers” is general: that at all times there should be officers. “For every man that is mad an prophesieth.” , the deranged or mad person, is here closely associated with , him that bears himself as prophet. The former word is used in the evil sense of the apparently deranged behaviour of the man on whom the Spirit of God has laid hold, 2Ki 9:11; Hos 9:7. The idea is not: for (or against) every prophet, but: for every madman that plays the prophet. The temple, i.e., the outer court of the temple, was the usual place for prophets to take their stand. Shemaiah accordingly means that it was the duty of the chief warden of the temple to repress attempts to speak in the temple on the part of pretended prophets, by putting such persons in stocks and irons. As to , see on Jer 20:2. is . . It certainly does not mean prison after , in Samaritan = clausit; but apparently neck-irons after Arab. znaq , necklace, ring. Since both words are used together here, and since the meaning is apparently that Jeremiah should be put into both instruments at once, Hitz. conjectures that both together were needed to make the stocks complete, but that each had its own proper name, because it was possible to fix in the neck, leaving hands and feet free, or conversely, as in Jer 20:2. – , rebuke, check by threats, restrain, cf. Rth 2:16; Mal 3:11, etc. “For therefore,” sc. just because thou hast not restrained him from prophesying he has sent to Babylon. with following, send to say, means: to send a message or letter as follows. Hitz. renders: for he thought: it (Babylon) is far away; Jeremiah’s meaning being, that in Jerusalem they would know nothing about his letter he was sending to Babylon. But such a hidden purpose is utterly foreign to the character of the prophet. He had publicly predicted in Jerusalem the long seventy years’ duration of the exile; and it was not likely to occur to him to wish to make a secret of the letter of like import which he sent to Babylon. Besides, Hitz.’s interpretation is forced. Since there is no before , the before can only be introductory to the contents of the letter. For used of duration in time, cf. 2Sa 3:1; Job 11:9. “Long-lasting it is,” sc. your sojourn in Babylon. These words give the burden of his prophecy, that on which he founded his counsel: build houses, etc.
Jer 29:29 Zephaniah read aloud to Jeremiah the letter he had received from Babylon. With what design, we are not told; probably simply to inform him of the proceedings of the pseudo-prophets in Babylon. If we may judge by Jer 21:1 and Jer 37:3, Zephaniah seems to have been friendly to Jeremiah.
Jer 29:30-32 In consequence of this, Jeremiah received from the Lord the commission to predict to Shemaiah his punishment at the hand of God, and to send the prediction to all that are in Babylon in banishment. With Jer 29:31, cf. Jer 28:15. The punishment is this: Shemaiah shall have no posterity among his people, i.e., of his children none shall be left amongst the people, nor shall he see, i.e., experience, have any share in the blessings which the Lord will yet bestow upon His people. The extinction of his race and his own exclusion from the privilege of seeing the day of Israel’s redemption are the punishment that is to fall on him for his rebellion against the commandment of the Lord. With ‘ cf. Jer 28:16.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
| The Malice of Shemaiah; The Doom of Shemaiah. | B. C. 596. |
24 Thus shalt thou also speak to Shemaiah the Nehelamite, saying, 25 Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, Because thou hast sent letters in thy name unto all the people that are at Jerusalem, and to Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest, and to all the priests, saying, 26 The LORD hath made thee priest in the stead of Jehoiada the priest, that ye should be officers in the house of the LORD, for every man that is mad, and maketh himself a prophet, that thou shouldest put him in prison, and in the stocks. 27 Now therefore why hast thou not reproved Jeremiah of Anathoth, which maketh himself a prophet to you? 28 For therefore he sent unto us in Babylon, saying, This captivity is long: build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them. 29 And Zephaniah the priest read this letter in the ears of Jeremiah the prophet. 30 Then came the word of the LORD unto Jeremiah, saying, 31 Send to all them of the captivity, saying, Thus saith the LORD concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite; Because that Shemaiah hath prophesied unto you, and I sent him not, and he caused you to trust in a lie: 32 Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite, and his seed: he shall not have a man to dwell among this people; neither shall he behold the good that I will do for my people, saith the LORD; because he hath taught rebellion against the LORD.
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 margin reads it), because all his prophecies he pretended to have received from God in a dream. He had got a copy of Jeremiah’s letter to the captives, or had heard it read, or information was given to him concerning it, and it nettled him exceedingly; and he will take pen in hand, and answer it, yea, that he will. But how? He does not write to Jeremiah in justification of his own mission, nor offer any rational arguments for the support of his prophecies concerning the speedy return of the captives; but he writes to the priests, those faithful patrons of the false prophets, and instigates them to persecute Jeremiah. He writes in his own name, not so much as pretending to have the people’s consent to it; but, as if he must be dictator to all mankind, he sends a circular letter (as it should seem) among the priests at Jerusalem and the rest of the people, probably by the same messengers that brought the letter from Jeremiah. But it is chiefly directed to Zephaniah, who was either the immediate son of Maaseiah, or of the 24th course of the priests, of which Maaseiah was the father and head. He was not the high priest, but sagan or suffragan to the high priest, or in some other considerable post of command in the temple, as Pashur, ch. xx. 1. Perhaps he was chairman of that committee of priests that was appointed in a particular manner to take cognizance of those that pretended to be prophets, of which there were very many at this time, and to give judgment concerning them. Now, 1. He puts him and the other priests in mind of the duty of their place (v. 26): The Lord hath made thee priest instead of Jehoiada the priest. Some think that he refers to the famous Jehoiada, that great reformer in the days of Joash; and (says Mr. Gataker) he would insinuate that this Zephaniah is for spirit and zeal such another as he, and raised up, as he was, for the glory of God and the good of the church; and therefore it was expected from him that he should proceed against Jeremiah. Thus (says he) there is no act so injurious or impious, but that wicked wretches and false prophets will not only attempt it, but colour it also with some specious pretence of piety and zeal for God’s glory, Isa 66:6; Joh 16:2. Or, rather, it was some other Jehoiada, his immediate predecessor in this office, who perhaps was carried to Babylon among the priests, v. 1. Zephaniah is advanced, sooner than he expected, to this place of trust and power, and Shemaiah would have him think that Providence had preferred him that he might persecute God’s prophets, that he had come to this government for such a time as this, and that he was unjust and ungrateful if he did not thus improve his power, or, rather, abuse it. Their hearts are wretchedly hardened who can justify the doing of mischief by their having a power to do it. These priests’ business was to examine every man that is mad and makes himself a prophet. God’s faithful prophets are here represented as prophets of their own making, usurpers of the office, and lay-intruders, as men that were mad, actuated by some demon, and not divinely inspired, or as distracted men and men in a frenzy. Thus the characters of the false prophets are thrown upon the true ones; and, if this had been indeed their character, they would have deserved to be bound as madmen and punished as pretenders, and therefore he concludes that Jeremiah must be so treated. He does not bid them examine whether Jeremiah could produce any proofs of his mission and could make it to appear that he was not mad. No; that is taken for granted, and, when once he has had a bad name given him, he must be run down of course. 2. He informs them of the letter which Jeremiah had written to the captives (v. 28): He sent unto us in Babylon, with the authority of a prophet, saying, This captivity is long, and therefore resolve to make the best of it. And what harm was there in this, that it should be objected to him as a crime? The false prophets had formerly said that the captivity would never come, ch. xiv. 13. Jeremiah had said that it would come, and the event had already proved him in the right, which obliged them to give credit to him who now said that it would be long, rather than to those who said that it would be short, but had once before been found liars. 3. He demands judgment against him, taking it for granted that he is mad, and makes himself a prophet. He expects that they will order him to be put in prison and in the stocks (v. 26), that they will thus punish him, and by putting him to disgrace possess the people with prejudices against him, ruin his reputation, and so prevent the giving of any credit to his prophecies at Jerusalem, hoping that, if they could gain that point, the captives in Babylon would not be influenced by him. Nay, he takes upon him to chide Zephaniah for his neglect (v. 27): Why hast thou not rebuked and restrained Jeremiah of Anathoth? See how insolent and imperious these false prophets had grown, that, though they were in captivity, they would give law to the priests who were not only at liberty, but in power. It is common for those that pretend to more knowledge than their neighbours to be thus assuming. Now here is a remarkable instance of the hardness of the hearts of sinners, and it is enough to make us all fear lest our hearts be at any time hardened. For here we find, (1.) That these sinners would not be convinced by the clearest evidence. God had confirmed his word in the mouth of Jeremiah; it had taken hold of them (Zech. i. 6); and yet, because he does not prophesy to them the smooth things they desired, they are resolved to look upon him as not duly called to the office of a prophet. None so blind as those that will not see. (2.) That they would not be reclaimed and reformed by the most severe chastisement. They were now sent into a miserable thraldom for mocking the messengers of the Lord and misusing his prophets. This was the sin for which God now contended with them; and yet in their distress they trespass yet more against the Lord, 2 Chron. xxviii. 22. This very sin they are notoriously guilty of in their captivity, which shows that afflictions will not of themselves cure men of their sins, unless the grace of God work with them, but will rather exasperate the corruptions they are intended to mortify; so true is that of Solomon (Prov. xxvii. 22), Though thou shouldst bray a fool in a mortar, yet will not his foolishness depart from him.
II. How Jeremiah came to the knowledge of this (v. 29): Zephaniah read this letter in the ears of Jeremiah. He did not design to do as Shemaiah would have him, but, as it should seem, had a respect for Jeremiah (for we find him employed in messages to him as a prophet,Jer 21:1; Jer 37:3), and therefore protected him. He that continued in his dignity and power stood more in awe of God and his judgments than he that was now a captive. Nay, he made Jeremiah acquainted with the contents of the letter, that he might see what enemies he had even among the captives. Note, It is kindness to our friends to let them know their foes.
III. What was the sentence passed upon Shemaiah for writing this letter. God sent him an answer, for to him Jeremiah committed his cause: it was ordered to be sent not to him, but to those of the captivity, who encouraged and countenanced him as if he had been a prophet of God’s raising up, Jer 29:31; Jer 29:32. Let them know, 1. That Shemaiah had made fools of them. He promised them peace in God’s name, but God did not send him; he forged a commission, and counterfeited the broad seal of Heaven to it, and made the people to trust in a lie, and by preaching false comfort to them deprived them of true comfort. Nay, he had not only made fools of them, but, which was worse, he had made traitors of them; he had taught rebellion against the Lord, as Hananiah had done, ch. xxviii. 16. And, if vengeance shall be taken on those that rebel, much more on those that teach rebellion by their doctrine and example. 2. That at his end he shall also be a fool (as the expression is, ch. xvii. 11); his name and family shall be extinct and shall be buried in oblivion; he shall leave no issue behind him to bear up his name; his pedigree shall end in him: He shall not have a man to dwell among this people; and neither he nor any that come from him shall behold the good that I will do for my people. Note, Those are unworthy to share in God’s favours to his church that are not willing to stay his time for them. Shemaiah was angry at Jeremiah’s advice to the captives to see to the building up of their families in Babylon, that they might be increased and not diminished, and therefore justly is he written childless there. Those that slight the blessings of God’s word deserve to lose the benefit of them. See Amo 7:16; Amo 7:17.
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary
Va. 24-32: A FALSE PROPHET REBUKED
1. Shemaiah the Nehelamite, a false prophet who had been taken captive to Babylon with the first group of exiles, was displeased with Jeremiah’s letter to the captives, (vs. 28).
2. Thus, he assumed the right to counteract this by sending letters to Jerusalem, which he claimed were in the name of Jehovah, (vs. 25-28).
a. These letters were addressed to: the citizens of Jerusalem, Zepaniah the son of Maaseiah, the priest, and to the priests, (vs. 25).
b. They gave orders for the replacement of certain men with whom Shemaiah was displeased – specifically directing that Jehoiada, the priest, be replaced by Zepaniah whom, he assumed, would be more likely to carry out his wishes.
c. He was particularly concerned to have officers in the temple who would carry out his scheme to imprison, and silence the voice of, such men as Jeremiah of Anathoth, (vs. 26-27); in fact, he cannot understand why this man has not ALREADY been put to silence!
3. Instead of implementing the plans of Shemaiah, Zepaniah read the letter to Jeremiah, (vs. 29).
4. Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah commanding him to send a second letter to his exiled brethren – exposing the pious pretender who was presuming to lead them astray. (vs. 25, 30-32).
a. The things that Shemaiah has prophesied to them are lies; he is NOT God’s man; nor has the Lord sent him! (remember, Jehovah is the One Who KNOWS and MAKES KNOWN!)
b. He has encouraged the exiles to trust in a lie.
c. The Lord will, therefore, punish his seed; there will not be one of them left to dwell among God’s people, (comp. Jer 22:30; 1Sa 2:30-34).
d. Neither will any of them behold the good that the Lord has purposed for those who are exiled in Babylon, (comp. vs. 10; 2Ki 7:2; 2Ki 7:19-20).
e. Thus, He manifests His unchanging attitude toward all who encourage rebellion among His people, (comp. Jer 28:16; Deu 13:5).
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
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 taken the former part only, even that Shemaiah had not only encouraged the people, as others did, to hope for a return, and to raise a commotion, but had also scattered his poison at Jerusalem, and had endeavored to load Jeremiah with ill-will, that he might be slain as a false prophet, and an enemy to the public good, as well as to the Law and the Temple.
Thou shalt then say to or of Shemaiah, for אל, al, may be taken in either sense. (222) His crime is now related, we shall hereafter see what his punishment was. His crime was, that he wrote in God’s name Had he only been a fanner of cruelty, he would have deserved no pardon; but his crime was doubled, for he dared to pretend the authority of God, and to boast that he was as it were his scribe, as though he had said that his letter had been dictated by the Holy Spirit, that he had not spoken his own thoughts, or presumptuously, but that God could not endure the liberty given to Jeremiah; for though he continually preached of long exile, yet the chief-priest suffered him, and no one of the whole priestly order opposed him; and at the same time he blames the people for their indulgence. That he did all this in God’s name was far more grievous than if he had written as a private individual. And it is said that he had written to the whole people, even in order that they might all in a body unite against Jeremiah. For, had he written only to the priests, they might have objected that they were not at liberty to act so violently against Jeremiah, as sedition might be raised. We hence see the craft of this base man; though he despised the people, yet that all of them, even the least, might help the priests to do this act of cruelty, and that there might be the union of all, he included the whole people in his letter.
(222) He is called the “Nehelamite.” Some render the word “a dreamer:” but, as Blayney observes, “the termination speaks it to be a patronymic.” It refers probably to the place of his birth. — Ed.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
B. A Letter from Babylon Jer. 29:24-29
TRANSLATION
(24) And concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite you shall say, Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Because you have sent in your name letters unto all the people which are in Jerusalem and unto Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah, the priest, and unto all the priests, saying, The LORD has made you priest instead of Jehoiada the priest, to be chief overseer of the house of the LORD for every mad man when he prophesies that you might place him in the stocks and the collar. (27) And now why have you not rebuked Jeremiah from Anathoth who is prophesying to you? (28) For he has sent unto us in Babylon, saying, It is long! Build houses and settle down and plant gardens that you may eat their fruit. (29) And Zephaniah the priest read this letter in the presence of Jeremiah the prophet.
COMMENTS
The letter of Jeremiah to the captives in Babylon stirred up a great deal of hostility. One of the false prophets there, Shemaiah by name, sent letters to Jerusalem in an attempt to have Jeremiah silenced. In one letter Shemaiah urged Zephaniah, a leading priest in Jerusalem, to imitate his illustrious predecessor Jehoiada who had taken bold action in executing the idolatrous prophets (2Ki. 11:1-20). Shemaiah feels that action should be taken against the frenzied, mad prophets who were roving around the Temple area. Of course he has Jeremiah particularly in mind (Jer. 29:27). Jeremiah is regarded as a madman simply because he held a minority opinion with regard to the duration of the captivity (Jer. 29:28). It is to the credit of Zephaniah that he did not yield to the pressure which Shemaiah tried to bring against him. He seems to have been sympathetic towards Jeremiah and actually showed him the letter (Jer. 29:29).
Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
(24) Thus shalt thou also speak to Shemaiah the Nehelamite.It is clear that this section (Jer. 29:24-32) is of the nature of a fragment attached to the Epistle to Babylon on account of its associations with it, but not forming part of it. It gives, in fact (as Jer. 29:28 shows), the sequence of events, and so far stands in the same relation to it as the Second Epistle to the Corinthians does to the First. Jeremiahs letter had naturally roused the indignation of the rival prophets at Babylon, and they organised a movement, of which Shemaiah was the chief instigator, for his destruction. Of Shemaiah himself we know nothing more than is here recorded. The description Nehelamite gives us no information, as the name Nehelam does not appear as belonging to any person or place in the Old Testament. It is just possible, as in the marginal reading, that there may be a play upon the Hebrew word (Halam) for dreamer.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
CONSEQUENCES OF THE LETTER, Jer 29:24-32.
24. This passage is separated from the preceding by sufficient time for Jeremiah’s letter to be carried to Babylon, and for this retaliatory letter of Shemaiah to reach Jerusalem. It is, of course, quite possible that the same men who took Jeremiah’s letter to the exiles in Babylon brought back this of Shemaiah. The close historical connexion of these two letters of Jeremiah fully vindicates the arrangement which brings them here side by side. Of this Shemaiah we know nothing but what we learn in this passage.
It is probable that his title, the Nehelamite, is derived from the place of his birth or former residence.
Zephaniah Not the high priest, but probably the governor of the temple, and hence one who had special facilities for punishing Jeremiah. See also Jer 21:1.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Postscript Concerning The Request From Shemaiah The Prophet In Babylon Calling For Jeremiah To Be Severely Disciplined As A False Prophet Because Of His Declarations That Deliverance Would Be Delayed, And What Resulted From It ( Jer 29:24-32 ).
This may be a postscript to the letter described above (in which case Jeremiah must have written previously), or more likely an indication of a later letter sent to Babylon once Shemaiah had written in response to this letter. It is interesting for a number of reasons:
Firstly it indicates that regular correspondence took place between Jerusalem and Babylon with a view to affecting affairs in both places.
Secondly it indicates that a prophet among the community in Babylon seriously expected to be able to affect affairs in Jerusalem, even to the extent of writing in his own name and rebuking a major figure in the Temple.
Thirdly it suggests the almost full unanimity between the prophets within Babylon itself. As we know Ezekiel was ministering away from Babylon and was clearly out of tune with the other prophets in the capital, his continual message being that Jerusalem must be destroyed.
Fourthly it brings out what authority the prophets saw themselves as having, and, at least in Shemaiah’s case, that he saw himself as a genuine prophet with prophetic authority from YHWH. Nor does Shemaiah appear to have seen himself as a minor functionary, but as a major player who had a right to be listened to at the highest level (almost on a par with Jeremiah himself).
Jer 29:24
“And concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite you shall speak, saying,”
We know nothing further about Shemaiah other than what we learn here, nor do we know what the fact that he was a Nehemalite specifically indicated. The old idea that it signified ‘dreamer’ is now rejected because of its ending which probably indicates that he was from Nehemal, an unknown town or clan in Judah.
Jer 29:25
“Thus speaks YHWH of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, Because you have sent letters in your own name to all the people who are at Jerusalem, and to Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah, the priest, and to all the priests, saying,”
Jeremiah’s words are scathing. Shemaiah would almost certainly have written in the Name of YHWH, but Jeremiah writes off his claims and makes clear to all that really he had ‘written in his own name’. In other words that he was not a genuine prophet of YHWH. Shemaiah, however, had such a high opinion of himself and his own authority that he had written to all the people of Jerusalem, Zephaniah, possibly as acting High Priest, (‘the Priest’ usually means the High Priest, but Zephaniah was the second priest) and the whole priesthood. Fortunately his opinion of himself does not appear to have been shared by Zephaniah.
It would appear that at this stage Zephaniah was standing in for the then High Priest Jehoiada, who may have been rendered unsuitable for some reason. Zephaniah was strictly the second priest, and was so at the time of the fall of Jerusalem (Jer 52:24; 2Ki 25:18; compare Jer 21:1; Jer 37:3), and possibly responsible for the oversight of prophets.
Jer 29:26-28
“YHWH has made you priest in the place of Jehoiada the priest, that there may be officers in the house of YHWH, for every man who is mad, and makes himself a prophet, that you should put him in the stocks and in shackles, now therefore, why have you not rebuked Jeremiah of Anathoth, who makes himself a prophet to you, forasmuch as he has sent to us in Babylon, saying, ‘It is long, Build yourselves houses, and dwell in them, and plant gardens, and eat the fruit from them’?”
“YHWH has made you priest in the place of Jehoiada the priest .” This may simply mean ‘appointed as second priest with specific responsibility for prophets’, but if so, in view of the wide nature of those addressed, why would Shemaiah have omitted also addressing the High Priest? Thus Zephaniah may actually have been temporarily standing in for the High Priest, possibly for political reasons, or because Jehoiada had for some reason been rendered incapable of acting, with Seraiah, the later High Priest (Jer 52:24), not yet of age.
Shemaiah’s point was that it was Zephaniah’s responsibility to control the prophets and that he should therefore be acting against false prophets (depicted as ‘mad’ on the grounds that only a madman would ‘make himself a prophet’. Thereby, without realising it, he was condemning himself). He should have been putting such madmen in the stocks and in shackles (the treatment for mad people). Why then had he not disciplined Jeremiah who had clearly ‘made himself a prophet’, as was evident from the fact that he disagreed with all the prophets of YHWH in Babylon? YHWH could not speak in two voices at once. His complaint was that Jeremiah had sent a letter to Babylon (presumably the letter described above) telling the exiles that their exile would last for a long time, and that they should therefore build permanent houses, dwell in them, plant gardens and eat their fruit (Jer 29:5). In other words he was denying that the prophecies of the prophets in Babylon were true.
Jer 29:29
‘And Zephaniah the priest read this letter in the ears of Jeremiah the prophet.’
Shemaiah had rather overestimated his own authority, for Zephaniah does not appear to have taken his letter too seriously. He appears to have been on reasonable terms with Jeremiah (Jer 21:1; Jer 37:3) and thus showed him the letter. Had the intent not been good we would have expected that he would be rebuked by YHWH along with Shemaiah. He may have intended Jeremiah to take warning from it, or may simply have done it out of interest, and so that Jeremiah might be aware of the opposition. But there is no suggestion that he followed up on the letter or had any vindictive idea in mind.
Jer 29:30-32
‘Then came the word of YHWH to Jeremiah, saying, “Send to all those of the captivity, saying, Thus says YHWH concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite. Because Shemaiah has prophesied to you, and I did not send him, and he has caused you to trust in a lie, therefore thus says YHWH, Behold, I will punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite, and his seed. He will not have a man to dwell among this people, nor will he behold the good that I will do to my people, the word of YHWH, because he has spoken rebellion against YHWH.”
YHWH provided Jeremiah with a reply to Shemaiah’s letter which was to be addressed to all the exiles who were apparently living together in a community. It informed the community that Shemaiah was a false prophet. Although he had prophesied he had not been sent by YHWH, and he had made them trust in a lie. Therefore YHWH would punish both him and his family. Any men in his close family would die, no more sons would be born to him, and he himself would not survive until the restoration. Thus basically his name would be blotted out of Israel. And this was on the sure prophetic word of YHWH. And the reason was because of his rebellion against YHWH. Thus while not suffering to the same extent as the previous two prophets, and as Hananiah in Jerusalem, he was to suffer in the long run.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
The Doom of Shemaiah Foretold
Jeremiah’s letter to the men in exile had evidently caused a great stir among the false prophets in Babylon, who had predicted a speedy termination of the exile. Accordingly, one of their number promptly sent letters to Jerusalem, in the endeavor to stir up the inhabitants of the capital against Jeremiah. But the Lord, in turn, gave His servant the command to proclaim His punishment upon the man who interfered with His commands.
v. 24. Thus shalt thou also speak to Shemaiah, the Nehelamite, v. 25. Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, Because thou hast sent letters in thy name, v. 26. The Lord hath made thee priest in the stead of Jehoiada, the priest, v. 27. Now, therefore, why hast thou not reproved Jeremiah of Anathoth, which maketh himself a prophet to you? v. 28. For therefore he sent unto us in Babylon, saying, This captivity is long; build ye houses and dwell in them; and plant gardens and eat the fruit of them. v. 29. And Zephaniah, the priest, read this letter in the ears of Jeremiah, the prophet, v. 30. Then came the word of the Lord unto Jeremiah, saying, v. 31. Send to all them of the captivity, v. 32. therefore thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will punish Shemaiah, the Nehela-mite, and his seed,
Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann
2. The Consequences of the Letter
Jer 29:24-32
24, 25Thus shalt thou also speak to Shemaiah the Nehelamite, saying, Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, Because thou hast sent letters in thy name unto all the people that are at Jerusalem, and to Zephaniah, the son of Maaseiah 26the priest, and to all the priests, saying, The Lord hath made thee priest in the stead of Jehoiada the priest, that ye should be officers in the house of the Lord, for every man that is mad10 and maketh himself a prophet, that thou shouldest put 27him in prison, and in the stocks.11 Now therefore why hast thou not reproved12 Jeremiah 28 of Anathoth, which maketh himself a prophet to you? For therefore13 he sent [a letter] unto us in Babylon, saying, this captivity is [will continue] long:14 build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them. 29And Zephaniah the priest read this letter in the ears of Jeremiah the prophet. 30, 31Then came the word of the Lord unto Jeremiah, saying, Send to all them of the captivity [a message] saying, Thus saith the Lord concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite; Because that Shemaiah hath prophesied unto you, and I sent him 32not [without my having sent him] and he caused you to trust15 in a lie: Therefore thus saith the Lord: Behold, I will punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite, and his seed: he shall not have a man to dwell among this people; neither shall he behold16 the good that I will do for my people, saith the Lord; because he hath taught rebellion against the Lord.
EXEGETICAL AND CRITICAL
The letter, Jer 29:4-23, caused great exasperation among the false prophets at Babylon. One of them, Shemaiah, complains to the overseer of the temple in Jerusalem that he did not interfere against the conduct of the mad Jeremiah. Jeremiah gets information of this letter and receives the command to announce to Shemaiah that his family shall become extinct, and that he himself will not see the salvation of Israel. The arrangement of the sentences in this passage is very irregular. In the first place all explanation concerning the proximate occasion of this utterance is passed over. Yet this may be accounted for by the fact that this may be learned from the tenor of the passage itself. The beginning will then be made with the command to make an announcement to Shemaiah. This announcement does begin in Jer 29:25, and takes its regular course to the close of Jer 29:28, so that in Jer 29:26-28 the letter is communicated verbatim, which gave the occasion for the announcement to Shemaiah. Here the address to Shemaiah breaks off without a conclusion. Instead of this, after the prophet has suddenly sprung back from the point of the communication by him to the point of the communication to him, the conclusion is given in the form of an address to the exiles, in which Shemaiah is spoken of in the third person (Jer 29:30-32). Here accordingly two announcements seem to have been made (comp. Jer 29:24-25 with Jer 29:30-31), which on account of their identical tenor the prophet allows to combine in the course of his narrative.
Jer 29:24-28. Thus shalt thou eat the fruit of them. We might indeed translate here, as in Jer 29:16; Jer 29:21, of [Shemaiah] instead of to, but Jer 29:25 contains a direct address to Shemaiah. Neither he nor his birth-place is mentioned elsewhere.The letter, communicated in Jer 29:26-28, is addressed specially to the priest Zephaniah. When notwithstanding, in Jer 29:25, letters are spoken of which were addressed to all the prophets and all the priests besides Zephaniah, this may be explained in two ways; either there really were letters with the three addresses mentioned, the principal letter only being communicated to Zephaniah; or this letter was the only one, but designated in Jer 29:25 as intended to be communicated to a wider circle. Both explanations are grammatically possible. For letters () may be a general plural. (Comp. , yokes, Jer 28:13 and Isa 37:14; Isa 39:1).Zephaniah, the son of Maaseiah, was , second priest, Jer 52:24. Comp. Jer 21:1 and Jer 37:3.Officers (). This also might in itself be a general plural, if the mention of the predecessor did not require us to refer it to both officers.That is mad. Here the expression involves an insult to Jeremiah. Zephaniah was not to restrain all those who prophesied, but only those who were deranged and presumed to prophesy, and Jeremiah is reckoned among these.In prison. Comp. Jer 30:2.This is long. By this the 70 years are meant (Jer 29:10), which, in comparison with the time predicted by the false prophets, would be a very long period.
Jer 29:29-32. And Zephaniah against Jehovah. The words of Jer 29:29 do not clearly indicate whether Zephaniah read the letter of Jeremiah alone or in the presence of others. We may conclude from the two embassies (Jer 21:1; Jer 37:3) that he was probably not personally hostile towards Jeremiah. We also find no indication that Shemaiahs letter was at that time of any injury to Jeremiah. It is indeed possible that Zephaniah, though unable to keep the purport of the letter altogether secret, yet acted with the utmost possible consideration toward the prophet. At any rate Jeremiah was not intimidated. Shemaiah receives a reproving answer from the Lords prophet: his race shall be extirpated (the phrase dwelling among his people signifies a peaceful, secure existence, 2Ki 4:13) and he himself will not have his eyes gladdened by the prosperity of his people.
Footnotes:
[10]Jer 29:26.. Only the Part. Pual and Part. and Inf. Hiphil of this word are found. The radical meaning is to be astray. (Comp. , , ). The Hiphil is used of raving in general, 1 Sam. 21:15,16; likewise in Deu 28:34 and 1 Sam. 21:16; elsewhere only of prophets and always in a bad sense; Hos 9:7; 2Ki 9:11.
[11]Jer 29:26.. The word is . . The root also does not occur elsewhere in Hebrew. From the dialects the most suitable comparison is afforded by the Arabic zing, collar, ring (Hitzig). According to the older Rabbis in Kimchi = , as = Symm.: lever, pole, bar. Ges. Thes., p. 1175. Hitzig rightly supposes that both instruments formed the complete instrument of torture, one serving to confine the neck, the other the hands and feet.
[12]Jer 29:27.. Properly to chide (comp. Gen 37:10) then to interfere, to stop any one (Rth 2:16; Mal 3:11).
[13]Jer 29:28. . In itself these particles might be taken in the most natural sense; for on this account (viz., on account of defective control); but elsewhere they always designate the reason supposed as the object or result; Jer 38:4; Gen 18:5; Gen 19:8; Gen 33:10; Gen 38:26. Comp. Redslob, lexical. Errterunyen. Stud. u. Krit., 1841, S 983 sqq.
[14]Jer 29:28., of extension in time (2Sa 3:1), and in space (Job 11:9). On the neuter significance of the feminine, comp. Naegelsb. Gr., 60, 6 b.
[15]Jer 29:31.On comp. Jer 28:15.
[16]Jer 29:32. with. Comp. Naegelsb. Gr., 112, 5, a; Ps. 37:34; 54:9; 118:7.
DOCTRINAL AND ETHICAL
1. On Jer 26:3. [See how God waits to be gracious, waits till we are duly qualified, till we are fit for Him to be gracious to, and in the meantime tries a variety of methods to bring us to be so. HenryS. R. A.]
2. On Jer 26:6. Deus nulli loco prcise alligatus est ita, ut ecclesiam suam et doctrinam clestem inde dimovere nequeat propter hominum ingratitudinem. Vehementer igitur errant Romanenses, dum ex auctoritate urbis Rom su ecclesi ac religionis auctoritatem evincere satagunt. Multo rectius Hieronymus in hoc memorabili dicto, quod etiam allegatur in Jure Canon. Dist. Jeremiah 19 : Non facile est stare loco Pauli et tenere gradum Petri cum Christo regnantium. Non enim Sanctorum filii sunt, qui tenent loca Sanctorum, sed qui exercent opera eorum. Frster.
3. On Jer 26:8 sqq. Scarcely has Jeremiah done speaking than they take him to task, and threaten his life. What does Jeremiah do? Instead of vindicating himself he says: Reform your life, and hearken to the voice of the Lord, and it will be better for you, Jer 26:13. You do not wish me to thunder away at you; reform then and I can let it alone. This preaching was seasonable, and produced an admirable effect. The priests and elders contradicted the priests, the parrhesia [free-spokenness, Act 4:13] of the man filled them with astonishment. He is not worthy of death, Jer 26:16. A brief illustration of the saying We need not our senses lose, when our enemies accuse. Jeremiah has to thank his honesty for this presence of mind, his profound meditation, his constrained calling, the necessity, the ardor, which urged him to preach, for no personal inclination had any share in it. I know in more recent times a man, who has unaffectedly practised Jeremiahs behavior, a pastor, a teacher, I might say a prophet of many thousand people. Whenever he had to vindicate himself (which happened now and then) he preached, he repeated to the commissioners the very things of which he was accused, confessed and denied not, but pressed them on their hearts, and showed aliud agendo his innocence, his mind, his steadfastness, and all at the same time so plainly that they always returned with full conviction and knew not whether they had gone forth to see a prophet or were sent to examine a culprit? Never man, they said, spake like this man. That cannot be counterfeited. One must be just as full of the matter, as absorbed in the subject, as pressed at heart, kindled with the same ardor in order to explain himself with the same indifference, repose and plainness, when there is a knife at his throat. Zinzendorf.
4. On Jer 26:12 sqq. Si injuriam deposueris penes Deum, ultor est; si damnum, restitutor est; si dolorem, medicus est; si mortem, resuscitator est. Tertullian. [Those that persecute Gods ministers hurt not them so much as themselves. Henry.S. R. A.]
5. On Jer 26:7-8; Jer 26:11; Jer 26:16. Auctores persecutionis plerumque esse solent ii, qui in ordine ecclesiastico eminent. Frster. Especially are the priests and men-pleasing prophets mad with Jeremiah, for if he is right they have lied. Diedrich.
6. On Jer 26:18 [By this it appears that a man may be a true prophet of the Lord and yet may prophesy the destruction of Zion and Jerusalem. When we threaten secure sinners with the taking away of the Spirit of God, and declining churches with the removal of the candle-stick, we say no more than what has been said many a time, and what we have warrant from the word of God to say. Henry.S. R. A.]
7. On Jer 26:20 sqq. Urias, a true prophet, preached like Jeremiah, therefore the king wished to kill him, so he fled to Egypt but could not escape. Jeremiah did not flee and was spared Our running and anxiety are of no use. The wickedness of the world must for its judgment be displayed on Gods servants, and these must yield to it; but on whom it is to come first God has in His own hand; and we may spare ourselves all our care and flight. Diedrich. [Nothing more is known of Urijah than is here related; but this incident suggests that God mercifully strove with His people by the ministry of many prophets whom He sent, rising up early and sending them (Jer 26:5) whose names are written in the Book of Life and are canonized in Gods Martyrology, but do not appear in the pages of any earthly history. Wordsworth.S. R. A.]
8. On Jer 26:24. Monemur hic, Deum servis suis fidelibus subinde largiri quosdam patronos, ut Jeremi hic Achikamum et infra cap. 38 Ebedmelechum, Eli et prophetis Obadiam 1 Reg. 18, Luthero Electores Saxoni Fridericum sapientem, Johannem pium, Johannem-Fridericum constantem. Frster.
9. On Jer 27:2-11. Historical times are preceded by a long series of centuries which present themselves to us as altogether obscure or only in the dubious twilight of tradition. Accredited history also comprises only a relatively small portion of the human race, for the nations which are added as ciphers to the factors of history form the majority. A universal ruler in the biblical sense is not one whose dominion actually extends over the entire globefor there is none suchbut he who represents the leader in the concert of history. This part is here given to Nebuchadnezzar. Among all the universal monarchies that represented by him appears richest in noble capacity. It is therefore compared to the golden head of the image in Daniel 2. Comp. Auberlen, der Prophet Daniel, S. 41 sqq.
10. On Jer 27:5 sqq. [The things of the world are not the best things, for God often gives the largest share of them to bad men, that are rivals with him and rebels against him. Dominion is not founded in grace. Those that have not any colorable title to eternal happiness may yet have a justifiable title to their temporal good things. Henry.S. R. A.] Great lords sit indeed on high thrones, but not firmly, for they are only Gods vassals. And when they do not please Him and act accordingly, he can easily transfer the fief to another; Dan 2:21; Dan 4:14; Dan 4:22. Cramer.
11. On Jer 27:12. [The conduct of Jeremiah, counselling Zedekiah and Jerusalem to submit to Nebuchadnezzar, has been represented as an act of political prudence to be imitated by Statesmen and Ecclesiastics, who are thereby justified in making large concessions of national rights and national independence in times of public emergency (Stanley, Lect. 534).
But was it not rather one of religious duty?
God had revealed to the prophet that He had given the Nation into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, His servant, on account of their sins, and they must submit to Him as the Minister and Vicegerent of God. Wordsworth. Many might have prevented destroying providences by humbling themselves under humbling providences. It is better to take up a lighter cross in our way, than pull a heavier on our own head. Henry.S. R. A.]
12. On Jer 27:14. It is one sign of our depraved nature that we are more ready to believe lies than the truth. For when Jeremiah and his colleagues preached, no one believed. But no sooner did the false prophet come and open their mouths, than all their discourses must be spoken directly from heaven, and what they said, must pass current on earth (Psa 73:9). But not what Jeremiah said. Take for example our mother Eve; what God said was of no account, but what the serpent said was something purely excellent. Cramer.
13. On Jer 27:18. True prayer is a certain sign of Godliness and a fruit of faith and the Holy Ghost, which cries in our hearts: Abba, dear Father. Therefore he who cannot or will not pray is not a good Christian. Cramer.
14. On Jer 27:18. If they be prophets let them supplicate the Lord. This was the great demonstration of Elias, to which Jeremiah adheres. It is infallibly the case that a false teacher has no heart for the Saviour, and goes out of His way. A heretic, who has a heart to pray (and that too in secret) is certainly not far from the truth. Zinzendorf.
15. On Jer 27:22. [We are apt to set our clock before Gods dial, and then to quarrel because they do not agree, but the Lord is a God of judgment, and it is fit that we should wait for Him. Henry.S. R. A.]
16. On Jer 28:1 sqq. Wherever the dear lord builds His church, the devil has a chapel near by. Cramer. This Hananiah (comp. Jer 28:2; Jer 28:11) shows us plainly what it is to lie or deceive in the name of God.
O Lord, and must Thy glorious name
Thus be a cover to their shame? Frster.
17. On Jer 28:6. Amen! the Lord do so. Quite a different attitude of the prophet from the preceding. A false prophet, a miserable comforter disputes with him, brings good news and appeals to an oracle, a voice which he had perhaps heard more lately than Jeremiah. Jeremiah without getting warm about it, says I shall be heartily glad if it be so: but take care that you have understood it correctly. His opponent is encouraged and goes further, he breaks off the prophetic yoke from Jeremiahs neck. Jeremiah, with the same indifference, which he has shown from the beginning, goes his way I dare not speak of anything, says Paul, which Christ hath not wrought by me (Rom 15:18). Zinzendorf.
18. On Jer 28:10-11. Chananias hic prbet exemplum impudenti Jesuwilic, cujus magistrum non abs re appellaveris Eumundum Campianum (1580) qui epistola quadum Theologos Angli provocare non erubuit, ponens inter alia verba hc fere thrasonica: Si prstitero clos esse, divos esse, Christum esse, fidem esse, causam obtinui: hic non animosus ero? Occidi quidem possum, superari non possum. Pari impudentia Jesuwitas ante Colloquium Ratisbonense scriplitasse legimus: The Prdicantes should come, if they had a heart in their body, they would catch them alive: if they would bring a syllogism, which is in Bocardo, they would throw it at ones head and say it was in Bocallo. Frster.
19. On Jer 29:7. Monemur hic, orandum esse pro magistratibus et non tantum iis, qui nostr religioni addicti et ver ecclesi membra, sed etiam pro iis, qui extra ecclesiam adeoque gentiles ut Nebuchadnezzar et Nero tyrannus (2Ti 2:2). Nam ex salute reipublic etiam salus et incolumitas ecclesi constat. Et Lutherus pereleganter: Politia, inquit, servit ecclesi, ecclesia servat politiam. Frster. Quod pastori hoc et ovibus. The symbol of the Emperor Charles the Bald.
20. On Jer 29:11. God always has compassion, and His heart breaks for us (Jer 31:20), for he exercises guardianship over His elect (Wis 4:15). And he knows how, in all that he does, to mitigate His justice with His mercy, so that we may see how richly His mercy is diffused over all His works; that even when He punishes, He straightway has mercy again according to His great goodness, and causes His mercy to be the more richly dispensed, because He knows our frame (Psa 103:14), viz., that we are flesh, a wind which passeth away and returneth not again (Psa 78:40). Cramer.
21. On Jer 29:10-11. The waiting of the righteous has always something to depend upon, namely, the promise, and it is a duty to God to believe the promises, but an insult and dishonor to the name of the Lord when no faith is put in them. Is it not enough that ye injure men, will ye also insult the Lord my God? (Isa 7:13). Zinzendorf.
22. On Jer 29:11. God gives a happy ending; He also tells us beforehand, that we may honor Him by hoping; but He deals with us according to His wisdom and His righteousness, so that He chastens us as long as we need it. We cannot, therefore, do otherwise than place ourselves in His hands. Diedrich.
23. On Jer 29:12. Let this be firmly established among the brethren, that there is no sham about the hearing of prayer. I remember that once a great minister said across the table: My pastor wrote me that he had settled it with the dear Lord that my wife should live; I should be comforted. My wife died. Now my pastor congratulates me and says, I could now indeed see that she lived. No wonder. The Bible has a nose or wax; and gentlemen also can explain their own words. Is it then to be in vain that the Lord Jesus has said; whatever ye ask believing that ye shall receive, shall be given unto you (Mar 11:24; Joh 16:23; Mat 7:7; Jam 4:4)? Test it as often as it is necessary; ask however in faith, and doubt not. I know most assuredly that you will be heard. But I regard it as a matter for consideration, whether one is to ask. Zinzendorf.
24. On Jer 29:15-16. A heavy cross often frees us from a heavier, which would otherwise have come upon us. The best way, therefore, is to be satisfied with Gods ways, who can bring good out of evil (1Pe 4:19; Gen 50:20). Starke.
25. On Jer 29:24-32. Those who seek their own consolation without God must be eternally deprived of the true consolation, which God grants to those who at this time humble themselves under Him. Those who preach false consolation confirm the resistance of men to the divine guidance and thus preach revolt, though intending to act conservatively. But in their blindness they do not see what sort of a time it is. Diedrich.
HOMILETICAL AND PRACTICAL
1. On Jer 26:1-24. A sermon in rebuke of the corruptions of Zion. 1. Its purport (Jer 26:4-6); 2. How it is received (Jer 26:7-11); 3. How the preacher must defend himself (Jer 26:12-15); 4. What the fate of the preacher will be (a), in the most favorable case (Jer 26:16-19; Jer 26:24) (b), in the most unfavorable case (Jer 26:20-23).
2. On Jer 27:1-22. How the Lords servants are to treat Politics.1. They are to point out to the people that it is the Lord who raises and overthrows the kingdoms of this world (Jer 27:2-8). 2. They are to admonish the people to do what the Lord commands (Jer 27:12-13). 3. They are to warn against those who speak their own thoughts to the people (Jer 27:9-11; Jer 27:14-17). 4. They are to admonish to prayer and intercession (Jer 27:18 sqq).
3. On Jer 28:1-17. Of false and true prophets. 1. False prophets, (a) publish on their own responsibility what the people like to hear (Jer 28:2-4); (b) boldly contradict the true word of God (Jer 28:10-11); (c) come to shame, by the non-fulfilment of their predictions (Jer 28:8-9) and by their personal destruction (Jer 28:15-17). 2. True prophets (a) proclaim faithfully the true word of God, (b) fearlessly oppose the lusts of men and the lies of the false prophets; (c) They are honored () by the fulfilment of their prophecies, () by martyrdom, i.e., honor with God and posterity.
4. On 28. [This year thou shalt die. Dwight:A Sermon on the New Year.S. R. A.]
5. On Jer 29:7. The best Christians the best citizens: 1. They know that the prosperity of the whole is their own prosperity (they do not, therefore, seek selfishly their own personal advantage); 2. They actually labor with all diligence for the furtherance of the common good; 3. They employ for this end the power of Christian prayer. [A. Fuller:Christian patriotism, or the duty of religious people towards their country. Christianity a religion of peace.S. R. A.]
6. On Jer 29:11. The thoughts of the Lord concerning us. 1. They are thoughts of peace and not of evil; 2, we must wait for their realization, for the Lord delays this, but he does not forget it.
7. On Jer 29:11. Sermon at the funeral service of the Grand Hereditary Prince of Russia, delivered by Prof. Christiani, in Dorpat, 14 April, 1865: 1. Of the thoughts of peace which the Lord has had in this death; 2. Of the fruits and effects of these thoughts of peace.
8. On Jer 29:11-14. Whereupon is our hope of peace based? 1. Objectively upon this, that the Lord Himself has thoughts of peace concerning us. 2. Subjectively on this, that we (a) call upon and seek the Lord with all our hearts, (b) patiently wait for the time of hearing.
Fuente: A Commentary on the Holy Scriptures, Critical, Doctrinal, and Homiletical by Lange
I cannot help admiring the gracious providence of God over the Church, in that the events which took place in one age, so exactly corresponds to what takes place in another: as if to prove to God’s faithful ones, that in all ages they must and shall suffer persecution. Reader! do not fail to remark, how the faithful writings of Jeremiah is opposed by the lying writings of Shemaiah and his fellows. And doth not every generation bring forth the same? But oh! behold how the Lord himself interposeth! And thus depend upon it, in all ages the Lord is still looking on and will uphold his servants, and silence all their opposers. Oh! it is blessed to be on the Lord’s side, and to be found in his truth.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Jer 29:24
Ver. 24. Thus shalt thou also speak to Shemaiah the Nehelamite. ] Or, Dreamer, dream wright, enthusiast; such as were the Messalanian heretics of old, and some of the same stamp, loaves of the same leaven, today.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Jer 29:24-28
24To Shemaiah the Nehelamite you shall speak, saying, 25Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, ‘Because you have sent letters in your own name to all the people who are in Jerusalem, and to Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah, the priest, and to all the priests, saying, 26The LORD has made you priest instead of Jehoiada the priest, to be the overseer in the house of the LORD over every madman who prophesies, to put him in the stocks and in the iron collar, 27now then, why have you not rebuked Jeremiah of Anathoth who prophesies to you? 28For he has sent to us in Babylon, saying, ‘The exile will be long; build houses and live in them and plant gardens and eat their produce.”
Jer 29:24 Shemaiah This is a reference to another false prophet in exile who apparently wrote letters to the priestly leaders in Jerusalem encouraging them to judge and punish Jeremiah for his treasonous statements (cf. Jer 29:27).
the Nehelamite This refers either to the name of a city whose site is unknown or it is a form of the root to dream (Niphal PARTICIPLE), which may refer to his being a prophet.
Jer 29:25 Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah, the priest This man is referred to in Jer 21:1; Jer 37:3; Jer 52:24; 2Ki 25:18.
Jer 29:26 Jehoiada This is possibly the person left in charge of the temple police (cf. 2 Kings 11).
every madman The term madman, alluding to Jeremiah, BDB 993, was originally used of animal sounds (i.e., pigeon, camel), but came to denote humans in a deranged sense of howling or anger. It is true that the prophets of the older sections of the OT had these kinds of actions (i.e., 1Sa 10:9-13). It was used of prophets in
1. 2Ki 9:11
2. Hos 9:7
It was a slur to discredit the actions and words of a speaker for YHWH, here Jeremiah (i.e., in stocks in Jer 20:2). It disregarded the message because of the way in which it was delivered. Even though part of Jeremiah’s prophecy had come true, the vast majority of the leaders of Judah still thought that Jeremiah was a treasonous, insane person.
Jer 29:28 This is a reference to Jeremiah’s message recorded in Jer 29:5-6
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
Nehelamite: or, dreamer.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Jer 29:24-32
Jer 29:24-28
And concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite thou shalt speak, saying, Thus speaketh Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, Because thou hast sent letters in thine own name unto all the people that are at Jerusalem, and to Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah, the priest, and to all the priests, saying, Jehovah hath made thee priest in the stead of Jehoiada the priest, that there may be officers in the house of Jehovah, for every man that is mad, and maketh himself a prophet, that thou shouldest put him in the stocks and in shackles. Now therefore, why hast thou not rebuked Jeremiah of Anathoth, who maketh himself a prophet to you, forasmuch as he hath sent unto us in Babylon, saying, [The captivity] is long: build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them?
The usual explanation of this passage is that, “These words are a second communication from Jeremiah to Babylon, sent after Shemaiah had sent Jeremiah the letter mentioned in Jer 29:25.” This may well be the case; and if this is right, it would indicate that the false prophets in Babylon were really infuriated by Jeremiah’s letter, and that they promptly mounted a campaign to get Jeremiah silenced. In that case, this letter has been added to “the letter” mentioned in Jer 29:1, because of the similarity between them.
Smith explained this and the verses to the end of the chapter as being, “Appended to Jeremiah’s letter without any introduction, that it might tell its own tale, showing the effects of the letter. The Zephaniah mentioned here was the deputy high priest.”
The whole account here is abbreviated, because Shemaiah’s letter stated that Jeremiah had prophesied a “long captivity,” but the letter as recorded here omits the word “long.” In such a condensation as we evidently have here, it is impossible to fill in all the details accurately.
Smith also noted that the letter which Shemaiah wrote to the deputy High Priest was manifestly different from the one written to “all the people,” indicating that Shemaiah wrote a lot of letters (note that they are mentioned in the plural); and that one of those had, in fact, triggered what is here called “the letter” and that this paragraph addressed to Shemaiah was actually a part of it. The whole question is of no major importance.
The captivity is long…
(Jer 29:28). The literal text here is, It is long. The omission of the noun here is far more forcible than its inclusion would have been. What is long? God’s anger is long; their punishment is long; the time necessary for their repentance is long; the exile is long; the seventy years are long; everything is indeed long for men who are homesick, and who will never live to see their native land again.
Jer 29:29-32
And Zephaniah the priest read this letter in the ears of Jeremiah the prophet. Then came the word of Jehovah unto Jeremiah, saying, Send to all them of the captivity, saying, Thus saith Jehovah concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite: Because that Shemaiah hath prophesied unto you, and I sent him not, and he hath caused you to trust in a lie; therefore thus saith Jehovah, Behold, I will punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite, and his seed; he shall not have a man to dwell among this people, neither shall he behold the good that I will do unto my people, saith Jehovah, because he hath spoken rebellion against Jehovah.
This paragraph might well indeed have been included as a fitting introduction to this whole chapter. The chronological sequence of events in Jeremiah is very difficult to know with any certainty.
Zephaniah. read this letter in the ears of Jeremiah …..
(Jer 29:29). Evidently the deputy High Priest honored and trusted Jeremiah as the true prophet of God; and instead of placing Jeremiah in the stocks and shackles as Shemaiah had requested, he informed the prophet of all that was going on. Note that God here commanded Jeremiah to write not merely Shemaiah but, to all of them of the captivity, (Jer 29:31). Thus the words to Shemaiah were to be included in the letter to all the captives, as it appears in this chapter.
A Letter from Babylon Jer 29:24-29
The letter of Jeremiah to the captives in Babylon stirred up a great deal of hostility. One of the false prophets there, Shemaiah by name, sent letters to Jerusalem in an attempt to have Jeremiah silenced. In one letter Shemaiah urged Zephaniah, a leading priest in Jerusalem, to imitate his illustrious predecessor Jehoiada who had taken bold action in executing the idolatrous prophets (2Ki 11:1-20). Shemaiah feels that action should be taken against the frenzied, mad prophets who were roving around the Temple area. Of course he has Jeremiah particularly in mind (Jer 29:27). Jeremiah is regarded as a madman simply because he held a minority opinion with regard to the duration of the captivity (Jer 29:28). It is to the credit of Zephaniah that he did not yield to the pressure which Shemaiah tried to bring against him. He seems to have been sympathetic towards Jeremiah and actually showed him the letter (Jer 29:29).
A Second Letter to Babylon Jer 29:30-32
Jeremiah received an oracle from the Lord concerning Shemaiah and proceeded to send a second letter to the captives. In it he affirms that the Lord will punish Shemaiah for perpetuating the delusion of a short captivity and encouraging the Jews there to rebel against Babylon. The punishment is two-fold: (1) Shemaiah would be deprived of descendants to carry on his name, and (2) he would not live to see the restoration of the people to their own land at the end of the seventy years of captivity (Jer 29:32).
A Letter to the Exiles – Jer 29:1-32
Open It
1. How do you respond when someone who is supposed to speak for you expresses an opinion or idea that is not your own?
2. What kinds of things would you do differently if you moved to a new community but only expected to stay for a year?
Explore It
3. To whom did Jeremiah, living in Jerusalem, send a letter? (Jer 29:1-2)
4. Who was able to carry a letter to the exiles? (Jer 29:3)
5. What specific commands did God give the exiles regarding how they should settle down? (Jer 29:4-6)
6. How did God want the Israelites to think about and react to the foreign country in which they lived? (Jer 29:7)
7. By whom were the exiles in danger of being deceived? (Jer 29:8-9)
8. After what period of time did God promise to bring the people back to the land? (Jer 29:10)
9. What was the nature of Gods plans for Israel? (Jer 29:11)
10. Why would Judahs seeking for God be fruitful after this period of exile? (Jer 29:12-13)
11. How would the people of Israel be “reconstituted” after seventy years of exile? (Jer 29:14)
12. What did Jeremiahs letter inform the exiles about Gods judgment of those who remained behind? (Jer 29:15-19)
13. What did God have in store for two specific false prophets who were telling the exiles they would soon be home? (Jer 29:20-21)
14. What deeds of the false prophets had not escaped Gods all-seeing eye? (Jer 29:22-23)
15. What did Shemaiahs letter to Zephaniah the priest in Jerusalem contain? (Jer 29:24-28)
16. How did Jeremiah learn about the letter encouraging his imprisonment? (Jer 29:29)
17. What was Gods judgment on Shemaiah for his treachery against Jeremiah? (Jer 29:31-32)
Get It
18. Why was it important for the exiles to know that God planned to prosper them and not to harm them?
19. What kind of prophet (false or true) told the people what they wanted to hear while requiring nothing of them in return?
20. What emotional reaction would most people have if asked to pray for the prosperity of their captors?
21. How do you think God would have us pray for our country?
22. Why does God want us to seek Him with our whole heart?
23. What does it mean to you to seek God with your whole heart?
24. Why is back-stabbing a risky way of trying to get rid of your enemies?
25. How should we react whenever someone promises us something for nothing in spiritual matters?
Apply It
26. How can you maintain a healthy skepticism toward people who promise too much for God?
27. How does Gods promise of a hope for the future enable you to persevere through the current difficulties in your life?
Questions On Jeremiah Chapter Twenty-Nine
By Brent Kercheville
1 Who did Jeremiah send his letter to (Jer 29:1-9)?
Who are some of the people that would be included in this group?
What was the message to these people?
2 What will happen after the 70 years (Jer 29:10-14)? Why did these people need this information?
3 What is Gods message in Jer 29:15-23? Why is it important for these people to understand this message?
4 What was the false message Shemaiah was declaring (Jer 29:24-28)?
5 What was Gods message to the exiles regarding Shemaiah (Jer 29:29-32)?
TRANSFORMATION:
How does this relationship change your relationship with God?
What did you learn about him?
What will you do differently in your life?
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
Shemaiah: Jer 29:31, Jer 29:32
Nehelamite: or, dreamer, Jer 29:8
Reciprocal: Deu 13:1 – a dreamer Act 13:8 – withstood
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jer 29:24. Shemaiah was a false prophet in Babylon who sent rebellious letters to certain ones back in Jerusalem, and Jeremiah’s letter was addressed to him in part.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Jer 29:24-28. Thus shalt thou speak to Shemaiah the Nehelamite Or, the dreamer, as the word , is rendered in the margin: see Jer 29:8. The termination, however, rather shows it to be a word expressing Shemaiahs family or country, and we find such a place as Helam mentioned, 2Sa 10:16-17. The prophet, it seems, was commanded to send this message to Shemaiah after the messengers who delivered the forementioned writing to the captives at Babylon were returned home, who brought along with them Shemaiahs letter, mentioned in the following verse. Because thou hast sent letters to Zephaniah, (see Jer 21:1,) saying, The Lord hath made thee priest Shemaiah directs his letter to Zephaniah in the first place, as being next in order to the high-priest, and therefore called the second priest, Jer 52:24, and tells him that God has appointed him to supply the place of the high- priest, being probably absent at that time, who was either Azariah, or Seraiah his son. But who then, it may be asked, was Jehoiada? Perhaps, says Blaney, he was one that had been superseded in his office of second priest, for being remiss in his duty; and therefore Zephaniah may have been here reminded of him, by way of intimation that, as they had been both appointed for the same purposes, so Zephaniah might expect the same fate as his predecessor, if he copied the example of his negligence. The second priest officiated as substitute of the high-priest, in case of absence or indisposition, and perhaps was always invested with subordinate authority. That ye should be officers, &c., for every man that is mad, &c. The prophets and inspired persons were often accused of madness, or of being possessed with an evil spirit, by their enemies. See the margin. For therefore, rather, because, he sent unto us in Babylon See Jer 29:5.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Jeremiah’s letter to Shemaiah in Babylon 29:24-28
Jeremiah wrote another letter, this time in response to a letter that the false prophet Shemaiah in Babylon wrote to Zephaniah the priest and the Judahites still in Jerusalem. Jeremiah quoted Shemaiah’s letter, and it fills most of this section (Jer 29:26-28). Shemaiah’s letter was a response to Jeremiah’s first letter to the exiles (Jer 29:1-23).
Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)
The Lord had a message for Shemaiah the Nehelamite, too. There are no other references to this man in the Bible. "Nehelamite" may come from the Hebrew word halam, meaning "to dream." Thus this may be a nickname for him: the dreamer (cf. Jer 29:8; Jer 27:9). [Note: Thompson, p. 549.] This word could also be the name of his family or birthplace, though no other families or places of that name are known.