Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Jeremiah 29:4
Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, unto all that are carried away captives, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem unto Babylon;
4 9. See introd. note to section. Instead of looking for an immediate return to Palestine, which would cause the exiles to sit loose to the country where they found themselves, they were to be interested in its welfare and to make homes for themselves. Otherwise they would not only fail to obtain any influence, but would soon dwindle away.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
As the exile was Gods doing for their good, they were to make the best of their position, and acquire wealth and influence; whereas if they were always restlessly looking out for the opportunity of returning home, they would rapidly fall into poverty and dwindle away.
Jer 29:7
Seek the peace of the city … – Not only because their welfare for seventy years was bound up with that of Babylon, but because it would have degraded their whole moral nature to have lived as conspirators, banded together against the country that was for the time their home.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 4. Thus saith the Lord of hosts] This was the commencement of the letter.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
So as this letter was not wrote from himself, advising them charitably, but he had commission from God, by whom he mindeth them, as the principal efficient cause they were ordered to be carried away by, though their own sins were the meritorious cause, and Nebuchadnezzar with his captains and soldiers where the instrumental cause.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel,…. For the letter was written by the order of the Lord, was endited by him, and was sent in his name, the prophet was only his amanuensis; and the titles which the Lord here takes are worthy of notice: “the Lord of hosts”: of the armies above and below, that does according to his pleasure in heaven and in earth, with whom nothing is impossible; who could easily destroy the enemies of his people, and deliver them, either immediately by his power, or mediately by means of armies on earth, whom he could assemble, and send at pleasure; or by legions of angels at his command: “the God of Israel”; their covenant God; who still continued to be so, notwithstanding their sins and transgressions, and though in captivity in a foreign land; and a good him this, to preserve them from the idolatry of the country they were in, and to observe unto them that he only was to be worshipped by them:
unto all that are carried away captives: or, “to all of the captivity”; or, “to the whole captivity” r; high and low, rich and poor; this letter was an interesting one to them all:
whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem unto Babylon; for though their sins and iniquities were the moving, meritorious, and procuring causes of their captivity; and Nebuchadnezzar and his army the instruments; yet God was the efficient cause: the Chaldeans could never have carried them captive, if the Lord had not willed it, or had not done it by them; for there is no “evil [of this kind] in a city, and the Lord hath not done it”, Am 3:6.
r “universae migrationi”, Schmidt; “omni transmigrationi”, Pagninus, Montanus.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
At Jer 29:4 the contents of the letter begin. Jeremiah warns the people to prepare for a lengthened sojourn in Babylonia, and exhorts them to settle down there. Jer 29:5. “Build houses and dwell (therein), and plant gardens and eat the fruit of them. Jer 29:6. Take wives and beget sons and daughters, and take for your sons wives and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; and increase there and not diminish. Jer 29:7. And seek the safety of the city whither I have carried you captive, and pray for it to Jahveh, and in its safety shall be safety to you.” The imperatives “increase and not diminish” give the consequence of what has been said just before. “The city whither I have carried you captive” is not precisely Babylon, but every place whither separate companies of the exiles have been transported. And pray for the city whither you are come, because in this you further your own welfare, instead of looking for advantage to yourselves from the fall of the Chaldean empire, from the calamity of your heathen fellow-citizens. – With this is suitably joined immediately the warning against putting trust in the delusive hopes held out by the false prophets. “For thus saith Jahve of hosts, the God of Israel: Let not your prophets, that are in the midst of you, and your soothsayers, deceive you, and hearken not to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed; for falsely they prophesy to you in my name; I have not sent them, saith Jahveh.” is somewhat singular, since we have no other example of the Hiph. of in its sig. dream (in Isa 38:16 the Hiph. of the same root means to preserve in good health); but the Hiph. may here express the people’s spontaneity in the matter of dreams: which ye cause to be dreamed for you (Hitz.). Thus there would be no need to alter the reading into ; a precedent for the defective spelling being found in , 2Ch 28:23. What the false prophets gave out is not expressly intimated, but may be gathered from the context Jer 29:10, namely, that the yoke of Babylon would soon be broken and captivity come to an end. – This warning is justified in Jer 29:10-14, where God’s decree is set forth. The deliverance will not come about till after seventy years; but then the Lord will fulfil to His people His promise of grace. Jer 29:10. “For thus saith Jahveh: When as seventy years are fulfilled for Babylon, I will visit you, and perform to you my good word, to bring you back to this place. Jer 29:11. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith Jahveh, thoughts of peace and not for evil, to give you (a) destiny and hope. Jer 29:12. And ye will call upon me, and go and pray unto me, and I will hear you. Jer 29:13. And ye will seek me, and find me, if ye search for me with all your heart. Jer 29:14. And I will let myself be found of you, saith Jahve, and will turn your captivity, and gather you out of all the peoples and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith Jahveh, and will bring you again to the place whence I have carried you away.” – , according to the measure of the fulfilment of seventy years for Babel. These words point back to Jer 25:11., and we must reckon from the date of that prediction. c. accus. sig. to visit in a good sense, to look favourably on one and take his part. “My good word” is expounded by the following infinitive clause. Jer 29:11. “I know my thoughts” is not to be taken, as by Jerome, J. D. Mich., etc., as in contrast with the false prophets: I know, but they do not. This antithesis is not in keeping with what follows. The meaning is rather: Although I appoint so long a term for the fulfilment of the plan of redemption, yet fear not that I have utterly rejected you; I know well what my design is in your regard. My thoughts toward you are thoughts of God, not of evil. Although now I inflict lengthened sufferings on you, yet this chastisement but serves to bring about your welfare in the future (Chr. B. Mich., Graf, etc.). – To give you , lit., last, i.e., issue or future, and hope. For this sig. cf. Job 8:7; Pro 5:4, etc. This future destiny and hope can, however, only be realized if by the sorrows of exile you permit yourselves to be brought to a knowledge of your sins, and return penitent to me. Then ye will call on me and pray, and I will hear you. “And ye will go,” Jer 29:12, is not the apodosis to “ye will call,” since there is no further explanation of it, and since the simple can neither mean to go away satisfied nor to have success. “Go” must be taken with what follows: go to the place of prayer (Ew., Umbr., Gr. Ng. ). In Jer 29:13 is to be repeated after “find.” Jer 29:12 and Jer 29:13 are a renewal of the promise, Deu 4:29-30; and Jer 29:14 is a brief summary of the promise, Deu 30:3-5, whence is taken the graphic expression ; see on that passage. – Thereafter in
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
(4) Thus saith the Lord of hosts . . .We have here the nearest parallel in the Old Testament to the Epistles which make up so large a portion of the New, the very text of a written letter sent to those with whom the teacher was no longer able to hold personal communication. It obviously furnished the type which was followed by the writer of the apocryphal letter from Jeremiah in Baruch 6.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
4. Whom I have caused to be carried away Thus laying the firm foundation for their faith and contentment with their providential allotment. In any place where God sends his people they ought to be content.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
The Call For The Exiles To Settle Down In Babylon And Pay No Heed To The False Prophets ( Jer 29:4-9 ).
Jer 29:4
“Thus says YHWH of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the captivity, whom I have caused to be carried away captive from Jerusalem to Babylon,’
The letter is written as from YHWH, giving His full title as found elsewhere. Notice the deliberate implication that the exile is YHWH’s doing. The indication is that they must not rebel against what He has brought about. It would appear from what follows that many had high hopes of a quick return to Judah. This was partly because among them were some prophets who were proclaiming such a return, possibly connected with stirrings of trouble in Babylonia, and partly resulting from man’s eternal optimism, especially as concerning their conviction that YHWH must, at some stage, step in as their God, just as He had delivered them from Egypt so long ago. How could He allow His house to continue to be denuded because of the vessels stolen by Nebuchadnezzar, they would have asked, and how could he allow the true ‘son of David’ not to be on the throne in Jerusalem? The thought would therefore be that ‘God had to act’.
Jer 29:5
“Build you houses, and dwell in them, and plant gardens, and eat the fruit from them.”
But Jeremiah assures them that there would be no quick return. Thus they are to make the best of the situation, building permanent houses, living in them with a sense of permanency, planting gardens and eating the resultant fruit (which in some cases would not be available for four years). There is an indication here that, having suffered the undoubted hardship of the journey to Babylon, conditions there were not too bad for them. Indeed they were good enough for many not to want to return home when the opportunity arose (Ezr 8:15). They appear to have been free to do whatever they desired, apart from return to Judah. Compare the similar picture presented in Ezekiel of an established and relatively free community (Daniel was presumably still governing Babylonia – Dan 2:48-49).
Jer 29:6
“Take you wives, and beget sons and daughters, and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters, and multiply yourselves there, and do not be diminished.”
They were to make their home in Babylonia with the longer term future in mind, marrying, having children who would also marry, and ensuring that rather than their numbers diminishing they multiplied. (He might have added, just as they had in Egypt so long ago. There is a genuine parallel between the two situations which would not go unnoticed).
Jer 29:7
“And seek the peace of the city to which I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to YHWH for it, for in its peace you will have peace.”
And they were also to pray to YHWH for the peace and well-being of Babylon, so that thereby they too would enjoy peace. This remarkable command, unparalleled elsewhere in the Old Testament, demonstrated quite clearly that His favour and blessing were not to be seen as tied to ‘the promised land’. The hunger for them to return would not be His, but theirs. He was content for them to worship Him in Babylonia and to pray for peace and wellbeing for Babylon.
It was also a reminder that their presence there was His doing and His will. It was He, not Nebuchadnezzar, Who had ‘caused you to be carried away captive’. They should therefore not rebel against His will, but rather pray along with it. He wanted them ‘in whatever state they were, to be content’. They would remain there until they had learned their lesson, and until their idolatrous attitudes had been purged from them. (Many would continue in idolatry. For them there would be no return).
Jer 29:8
“For thus says YHWH of hosts, the God of Israel, Do not let your prophets who are in the midst of you, and your diviners, deceive you, nor listen you to your dreams which you cause to be dreamed.”
In consequence of this, on the word of YHWH of hosts, the God of Israel, they were not to pay any heed to any prophets, diviners/fortune-tellers, or dreamers who stated anything else. ‘Dreams which you cause to be dreamed’ indicates that they expected their prophets to ‘dream’ on their behalf, and encouraged them to do so, listening eagerly to the results of what were probably drug-induced dreams.
Jer 29:9
“For they prophesy falsely to you in my name. I have not sent them, the word of YHWH.”
And YHWH gave them His solemn guarantee (neum YHWH) that such prophets were prophesying falsely in His Name and that He had not sent them.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
He first endeavours to reconcile their minds to the Lord’s determination. Seventy years were appointed for their captivity: and therefore, he recommends the people to live and act as persons who were not travellers, that turned in to tarry for a night. The Lord’s will must be accomplished. Here is a gracious lesson to the people of God, to be gathered from hence in all ages. In a nation’s peace, the Church of God shall have peace. See that ye pray for it therefore, and promote it by all the lawful means in your power. 1Ti 2:1-2 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Jer 29:4 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, unto all that are carried away captives, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem unto Babylon;
Ver. 4. Thus saith the Lord of hosts. ] It was God, then, that dictated this letter to the prophet; neither is it of private, that is, of human interpretation, but the holy man wrote it as he was moved thereunto by the Holy Ghost. 2Pe 1:20-21
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
whom: Jer 24:5, Isa 5:5, Isa 10:5, Isa 10:6, Isa 45:7, Isa 59:1, Isa 59:2, Amo 3:6
Reciprocal: Lam 1:6 – her princes Eze 17:9 – shall he
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jer 29:4. The Jews In Babylon should have been impressed with the letter of Jeremiah since it was dictated by the Lord. Also by the fact that He was the one who had caused them to be taken into captivity. With the assurance that God always has an important purpose for everything he does, then profound attention should have been given to any message sent to them by His direction.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Jer 29:4-7. Thus saith the Lord, Build ye houses, and plant gardens, &c. It appears by the advice which the prophet here gives, that many of the captive Jews neglected to cultivate and plant the places allotted to them about Babylon; because they were not willing to bestow cost and pains for the advantage of others; since they flattered themselves that they were soon to return into Judea: and therefore, Jeremiah here admonishes them that their continuance in their captivity would be long enough for them, their sons and their grandsons, to enjoy the fruit of their labours there; and that, therefore, if they regarded their own ease and accommodation, they should set about making the places of their captivity as convenient and agreeable to them as they could. And seek the peace of the city, &c.
Pray and desire, and do all that lies in your power, that Babylon may enjoy peace, and remain in safety, because you yourselves must be partakers of its prosperity or adversity, as it is appointed by God for you to remain there seventy years. The word peace here, as elsewhere, signifies safety and plenty of all things. Observe here, reader, it is the duty of all private persons to submit to the government that protects them, and to pray for the prosperity of it: see Ezr 6:10; 1Ti 2:1-2. And if the governing powers are persecutors or enemies to the truth, it must be left to God to execute upon them the judgments he has denounced against tyrants and oppressors; which judgments the Jews expected that God would execute upon Babylon in due time, Psa 137:8-9.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
29:4 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all that are carried away captives, whom I have {d} caused to be carried away from Jerusalem to Babylon;
(d) That is, the Lord whose work this was.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
The letter was really a message from Yahweh Almighty, Israel’s God. The exiles needed to recognize that He had sent them to Babylon; they were not there primarily because of Nebuchadnezzar. This reminder would have assured them of His sovereign control over the affairs of their lives.