ירמיהו, פרק כ״ט, פסוק א׳

Following the death of the false prophet Hananiah and the unmasking of his lies, a crucial message is sent to establish a clear new reality for the exiles in Babylon [אברבנאל]. The prophet Jeremiah dispatches a prophetic letter addressed specifically to the surviving elders and individuals of high status who endured the journey into exile [מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. While this is the primary understanding, another perspective suggests that the instructions within the letter are actually directed at the people who remained behind in Jerusalem [מצודת דוד].

The instructions delivered to the exiles are practical and grounding. They are told to settle permanently in Babylon by building houses, planting gardens, marrying, and raising children. Contrary to the popular but empty promises of a quick return, they must accept their current situation. They are even instructed to pray for the peace and prosperity of Babylon, as their personal safety and well-being are directly tied to the welfare of the empire. Above all, they must guard against believing false prophets and deceptive dreams that promise a swift rescue [אברבנאל].

The central theme of the message clarifies the true timeline for their future redemption. The return will only occur after the Babylonian empire completes exactly seventy years of absolute rule and success. Importantly, these seventy years are not counted from the destruction of Jerusalem. Instead, they strictly measure the lifespan of Babylonian dominance. This era of power began the day Nebuchadnezzar rebelled against the king of Assyria, leading to his forty-five-year reign. The timeline continued through the twenty-two-year rule of his son, Evil-Merodach, and finally ended with the three-year reign of Belshazzar [אברבנאל].

Once Babylon's seventy years of power conclude and new leaders like Cyrus and Darius rise, the designated time for remembrance arrives. It is then that God awakens the spirit of Cyrus, moving him to allow the exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple. Ultimately, this promised return unfolds in reality about fifty years after the city's destruction [אברבנאל].