72 was carried away, and placed with a colony of Jews on the banks of the river Chebar. Jeremiah and Isaiah, another prophet who lived before him, had often propresied that Jerusalem would be finally destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar; but the people did not believe them. Many of the people who had been carried away to Babylon, were expecting soon to go back, and resettle quietly at Jerusalem. They were encouraged to expect this by two false prophets, who pretended to be ser:t by God to inform their brethren that they should soon return to their own country. The people were pleased with this expectation, and neglected to make themselves as comfortable in Babylon as they might have done. The second year aster Zedekiah became king, he seńt two ambassadors to Nebuchaduezzar. Jere miah took this opportunity to write a letter to the Jews at Babylon, directing them to build houses and plant gardens, and become peaceable subjects of king Nebuchadnezzar, since God had determined that they should remain in Babylon seventy years. This is a part of the letter.
