Jo’s Place

​ Jeremiah’s Letter to the Exiles Jeremiah wrote a letter from Jerusalem to the elders, priests, prophets, and all the people who had been exiled to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar.  This was after King Jehoiachin, the queen mother, the court officials, the other officials of Judah, and all the craftsmen and artisans had been deported from Jerusalem.  Jeremiah sent the letter with Elasah son of Shaphan and Gemariah son of Hilkiah when they went to Babylon as King Zedekiah’s ambassadors to Nebuchadnezzar.  This is what Jeremiah’s letter said:  This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says to all the captives (whom) He has exiled to Babylon from Jerusalem:  “Build homes, and plan to stay. Plant gardens, and eat the food they produce. Marry and have children. Then find spouses for them so that you may have many grandchildren.  Multiply! Do not dwindle away!  And work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile....

​ Jeremiah Remains in Judah King Nebuchadnezzar had told Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, to find Jeremiah.  “See that he isn’t hurt,” he said. “Look after him well, and give him anything he wants.”  So Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard; Nebushazban, a chief officer; Nergal-sharezer, the king’s adviser; and the other officers of Babylon’s king, sent messengers to bring Jeremiah out of the prison.  They put him under the care of Gedaliah son of Ahikam and grandson of Shaphan, who took him back to his home.  So Jeremiah stayed in Judah among his own people.  The Lord had given the following message to Jeremiah while he was still in prison:  “Say to Ebed-melech the Ethiopian,  ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says:  I will do to this city everything I have threatened.  I will send disaster, not prosperity.  You will see its destruction,  but I will rescue you from those you fear so much.  Bec...