Thomas Aquinas Commentary Jeremiah 29:1-16

"Now these are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem unto the residue of the elders of the captivity, and to the priests, and to the prophets, and to all the people, whom Nebuchadnezzar had carried away captive from Jerusalem to Babylon, (after that Jeconiah the king, and the queen-mother, and the eunuchs, [and] the princes of Judah and Jerusalem, and the craftsmen, and the smiths, were departed from Jerusalem,) by the hand of Elasah the son of Shaphan, and Gemariah the son of Hilkiah, (whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent unto Babylon to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon,) saying, Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, unto all the captivity, whom I have caused to be carried away captive from Jerusalem unto Babylon: Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them. Take ye 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 ye there, and be not diminished. And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray unto Jehovah for it; for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace. For thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel: Let not your prophets that are in the midst of you, and your diviners, deceive you; neither hearken ye to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed. For they prophesy falsely unto you in my name: I have not sent them, saith Jehovah. For thus saith Jehovah, After seventy years are accomplished for Babylon, I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith Jehovah, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you hope in your latter end. And ye shall call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, saith Jehovah, and I will turn again your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places wither I have driven you, saith Jehovah; and I will bring you again unto the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive. Because ye have said, Jehovah hath raised us up prophets in Babylon; thus saith Jehovah concerning the king that sitteth upon the throne of David, and concerning all the people that dwell in this city, your brethren that are not gone forth with you into captivity;" — Jeremiah 29:1-16 (ASV)

1. Here, he refutes the false consolations of the prophets who were consoling the captives in Babylonia.

1. He refutes their false consolations.
2. He denounces the false consolers themselves, at thus says the Lord (Jeremiah 29:21).

Regarding the first point, there are two parts.

First, he gives the title of the prophecy, in which he identifies three things.

Namely, the manner of the prophecy is that it is in the form of a letter: the words of the book, that is, of the letter. Now, therefore, go in and write upon a box, and note it diligently in a book, and it shall be on the last days as a testimony forever (Isaiah 30:8).

The time of the prophecy: after Jekoniah had gone forth; as in 2 Kings 24.Jekoniah, king of Judah, went forth (egressus) to the king of Babylon . . . and the king of Babylon received him in the eighth year of his reign. . . . And he carried away Jekoniah and the king’s mother and the king’s wives and his eunuchs into Babylon; and the judges of the land he carried into captivity from Jerusalem into Babylon. And all the strong men, seven thousand, and the artificers and a thousand smiths, all that were valiant men and fit for war: the king of Babylon also led them captives into Babylon (2 Kings 24:12, 15–16). Behold, the sovereign Lord of hosts shall take away from Jerusalem and from Judah, the valiant and the strong, every strength of bread, and every strength of water; and the strong man, and the man of war, the judge, and the prophet (Isaiah 3:1–2).

And the messenger of the prophecy: by the hand of Elasah, the son of Shaphan, and Gemariah, the son of Hilkiah, whom he sent to make peace with the Chaldeans, who were terrified by the death of the false comforter Hananiah and by the threat of Jeremiah. When the wicked man is scourged, the fool shall be wiser (Proverbs 19:25).

Second, he gives the content of the prophecy: thus says the Lord. Regarding this, there are two parts.

First, he gives them good and advantageous advice, that they should attend to the necessities of life: build houses, which they were neglecting to do, believing they would return quickly according to the promises of the false prophets. They have sown fields, and planted vineyards, and made the fruit of birth (Psalms 106:37).Heb. וַ֝יַּעֲשׂ֗וּ פְּרִ֣י תְבֽוּאָה: and they yield the fruit of increase.

Also, they should attend to the raising of families: take wives. Increase and multiply, and fill the earth (Genesis 1:22).

And they should attend to matters pertaining to the tranquility of peace: and seek peace. Pray for the life of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, and for the life of Balthasar his son . I ask first of all that prayers, supplications and thanksgivings be made for all men, for all kings, and for all who are established on high, that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life, in all piety and chastity (1 Timothy 2:1–2).

Second, he refutes their false and useless counsel: for thus says the Lord.

1. He refutes the vain confidence they had conceived from the prophets’ promises.
2. He rejects their foolish repentance, at for thus says the Lord (Jeremiah 29:16).

Regarding the first point, there are three parts.

First, he refutes the utterance of the prophets who were promising a swift liberation: do not let your prophets deceive you, who speak to you in the name of the Lord, and diviners, who provide the responses of demons. Woe to the foolish prophets, who follow their own spirit, and see nothing (Ezekiel 13:3).

Second, he speaks of the time of liberation. Regarding consolation, he says: for thus says the Lord, I shall visit you, meaning when I console you and afflict the enemy. As it says above: when the seventy years shall be accomplished, I shall visit upon the king of Babylon and upon that people, says the Lord, their iniquity (Jeremiah 25:12). And regarding their restoration to their native land: and stir up—meaning, I will fulfill. Stir up the prophecies, which the former prophets spoke in your name .

Third, he gives the manner of their liberation.

First, he promises they will enjoy their original state of prosperity regarding the tranquility of peace: for I know, as no other knows. The things which are of God no one knows except the Spirit of God (1 Corinthians 2:11). Eye has not seen, apart from you, what you have prepared for those who wait for you (Isaiah 64:4). This includes thoughts of peace, which I am preparing for you; an end to captivity; and endurance for hardships, so that you may bear them more easily. They speak peace with their neighbor, but evil is in their hearts (Psalms 27:3).

And regarding the hearing of prayer: you shall call with your mouth; and you shall go with your mind; you shall worship with your body. Or, you shall go to the temple. At the sound of your cry, as soon as he shall hear it, he shall answer you (Isaiah 30:19). Another text has: you shall call upon me, and you shall live; and you shall pray to me, and I will hear you. The meaning is plain.

And regarding the help of divine protection: you shall seek by desire and prayers, and you shall find me ready to help. It is as though he were saying, “I offer myself.” He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him, and I will reveal myself to him (John 14:21). Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near (Isaiah 55:6).

Second, he promises them their native land: and I shall bring back. I shall surely take you from the nations, and I shall gather you from all the lands, and I shall lead you to your own land (Ezekiel 36:24).

For you said—it is as though he were saying, “It was not necessary to write to you, because you trusted in false prophets.”