The socio-political situation, that followed the events of the capture of Jerusalem and the deportation of Israelites to Babylonian territories (597 and 597 B.C.), gave Jeremiah the opportunity to address the exiled with a letter. The document includes verses 4-7.10-14 of chapter 29 of the book of Jeremiah. This paper deals with the above mentioned texts in a double perspective. The first section introduces some exegetical matters, such as the historical background, the plan of chapter 29, the identity of those addressed by the biblical writer, the literary genre of the text, and the detailed analysis of each verse. The second section offers a theological interpretation and synthesis of the main themes of the biblical document, namely the constant presence of God in human history and his leadership, even among the tragedy of exile; the deportation may be understood as a new creation made by God, which leads to a renewed hope for the future; integration and co-operation in building up the society; conversion and the realisation of hope. The paper offers some insights into the Bible, particularly into the message delivered by the prophets to the Israelites in exile far from their country. The biblical people were facing a very demanding situation, involving a painful loss of the sense of life, of future, of God. Jeremiah's aim is that of encouraging his hopeless fellow-people. He stresses the opportunity for them to settle down in the foreign country and to seek the welfare of that country. It seems to Jeremiah that the exiled have been given the possibility to acknowledge the will of God: God is going to give šālôm to his people, but they have to co-operate through deeds and prayers.

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historical perspective