ירמיהו, פרק כ״ט, פסוק ט״ו

The exiled Israelites faced a harsh reality that clashed with their desperate hopes for a quick return home. They clung to the comforting words of local figures who promised an immediate end to their suffering, directly contradicting the warning of a long, seventy-year exile. The primary approach among commentators is that the exiles argued God had established local prophets for them right there in Babylon [מצודת ציון]. These figures guaranteed a different, much brighter future, assuring the people of a swift return to the Land of Israel. Although the exact message of these local prophets is not explicitly detailed, their promise of a quick return is clearly understood from the context [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

Jeremiah confronts this claim directly to prove it wrong. He warns the people not to be deceived by these false assurances. Instead, he insists that his prophecy of a lengthy exile is the truth, urging them to settle down and plan for a prolonged life in Babylon for themselves and their children [רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Interestingly, the Aramaic translation views these local figures not as prophets, but simply as teachers and instructors who guided the people [רד״ק].

However, an entirely different perspective shifts the timeline of these events based on the directional phrasing of the destination. Because the language implies motion toward Babylon rather than being located within it, this thought is seen as a parenthetical interruption. The mention of Babylon actually connects backward to complete the previous thought about where God had sent the exiles. Consequently, the claim about God establishing prophets is understood not as a present argument made by the people, but as the very reason for the exile itself. The nation was banished to Babylon precisely because they had placed their faith in false prophets who led them astray [מלבי״ם].