Speak to Shemaiah - Zephaniah was the second priest, sagan, or chief priest's deputy, and Seraiah, high priest, when Jerusalem was taken. See Jeremiah 52:24. Shemaiah directs his letter to the former, and tells him that God had appointed him to supply the place of the high priest, who was probably then absent. His name was either Azariah or Seraiah his son, but called Jehoiada from the remarkable zeal and courage of that pontiff. See the passages in the margin. - Dodd. After the taking of Jerusalem, Zephaniah was put to death by Nebuchadnezzar at Riblah, see Jeremiah 37:3. The history of Jehoiada may be seen 2 Kings 11:3, etc.
A narrative showing the effects of Jeremiah‘s letter. Shemaiah the leader of the false prophets wrote to Zephaniah, urging him to restrain the prophet‘s zeal with the prison and the stocks.
Jeremiah 29:24
To Shemaiah - Rather, concerning.
The Nehelamite - Not as in the margin; but one belonging to the village of Nehlam (unknown).
Jeremiah 29:26
Officers - Deputy high priests who had the oversight of the temple.
Mad - See 2 Kings 9:11 note. Many of the symbolic actions of the prophets, such as that of Jeremiah going about with a yoke on his neck, would be mocked at by the irreverent as passing the line between prophecy and madness.
Prisons - Rather, the stocks Jeremiah 20:2.
The stocks - Rather, collar.
Jeremiah 29:28
This captivity is long - Rather, It is long. God‘s anger, their punishment, the exile, the time necessary for their repentance - all is long to men who will never live to see their country again.