Charles Ellicott Commentary Jeremiah 29:24

"And concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite thou shalt speak, saying," — Jeremiah 29:24 (ASV)

Thus shalt thou also speak to Shemaiah the Nehelamite. — It is clear that this section (Jeremiah 29:24–32) is in the nature of a fragment attached to the Epistle to Babylon because of its associations with it, but not forming part of it. It gives, in fact (as Jeremiah 29:28 shows), the sequence of events, and in this respect stands in the same relation to it as the Second Epistle to the Corinthians does to the First.

Jeremiah’s 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. We know nothing more about Shemaiah himself than is recorded here. 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 on the Hebrew word (Halam) for “dreamer.”