Jeremiah (1-31) 29:30 Commentary and Bible Study

Here is the second letter of Jeremiah to the children of Judah in captivity, ‘Send to all them of the captivity, saying, ‘Thus saith the LORD concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite; Because that Shemaiah hath prophesied unto you, and I sent him not, and he caused you to trust in a lie … Behold, I will punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite, and his seed.’ It singles out the one who was the chief architect of the opposition to Jeremiah’s prophetic word. That came to pass, a punishment of the principal people who opposed the Lord. The punishment is not only on Shemaiah but on his seed, for the Lord may withdraw his restraining hand at any time on any man, with the inevitable consequence that they will sin against him and bring judgment on themselves. This man will be made childless and without descendants, and when God restores Israel from Babylon, his descendants will play no part in the restoration.