Daily Tanach Tuesday 5th Kisleiv Sefer Yirmiyah Chapter 29: A Letter to the Exiles—Hope and Warning

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Chapter 29: A Letter to the Exiles—Hope and Warning

Overview

Yermiyahu sends a scroll from Jerusalem to the Jewish exiles in Babylon, offering guidance for life in captivity and exposing false prophets. The chapter blends practical advice, divine promises, and stern warnings against deception.

  1. The Letter’s Recipients and Context
  • Addressed to elders, priests, prophets, and all exiles taken by Nebuchadnezzar after Jeconiah’s deportation.
  • Delivered through Elasah and Gemariah, envoys of King Tzidkiyahu to Babylon.

  1. Instructions for Life in Exile

Hashem’s message:

  • Build homes and settle down.
  • Plant gardens and enjoy their produce.
  • Marry, raise families, and seek the welfare of Babylon—pray for its peace, for your peace depends on it.

  1. Warning Against False Prophets
  • Do not listen to prophets, diviners, or dreamers among you—they speak lies in Hashem’s name.
  • Hashem did not send them; their words will lead to false hope.

  1. The Promise of Restoration
  • After 70 years, Hashem will fulfill His word and bring the exiles back.
  • His plans are for peace, not harm—to give a future and hope.
  • Seek Him wholeheartedly, and He will be found.
  • Hashem will gather His people from all nations and restore them to their land.

  1. Judgment on Those Remaining in Jerusalem
  • Those who stayed behind will face sword, famine, and plague.
  • They will become like rotten figs—despised and cursed among nations—because they ignored Hashem’s prophets.

  1. Condemnation of False Prophets in Babylon
  • Ahab and Zedekiah, who prophesy lies and commit immorality, will be handed to Nebuchadnezzar and burned.
  • Their names will become a curse among exiles: “May Hashem make you like Ahab and Zedekiah.”

  1. Shemaiah’s Rebellion
  • Shemaiah sends letters urging priests to silence Yermiyahu.
  • Hashem responds: Shemaiah will have no descendants among the people and will not see the good Hashem brings—because he spoke rebellion against Hashem.

  1. Takeaway

Chapter 29 teaches:

  • Exile is not the end—live, grow, and seek peace where you are.
  • False prophets offer quick fixes, but Hashem’s plan unfolds in His time.
  • Hope rests in wholehearted seeking and trust in Hashem’s promises.

Key message:

“I know the plans I have for you—plans for peace and hope.” (v.11)

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.