Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible
Jeremiah 29:10-14
YHWH Promises That Once Seventy Years Have Passed His People Will Have The Opportunity To Return To Their Own Land (Jeremiah 29:10).
“For thus says YHWH, After seventy years are accomplished for Babylon, I will visit you, and perform my good word towards you, in causing you to return to this place.”
For the true situation was that Babylon had been granted seventy years of rule by YHWH, and that time had to be accomplished (Jeremiah 25:11). However, once that seventy years was accomplished, and only then, He would visit them again, and fulfil His promise to them that they would return to ‘this place' (Jerusalem, Judah). He would perform ‘His good word' (the word that promised what they sought, the word of hope) towards them.
We should note that ‘seventy years' was not only to be seen as a time note, but also as an indication that it would happen within YHWH's ‘divinely perfect time' (seven intensified). Everything would happen within God's chosen timing. It would not come to an end on the basis of the calendar, but on the basis of God's purposes. It was not a prognosticator's forecast, but YHWH's determination.
In the event we may see it as beginning in c. 605 BC, when Egypt were decisively beaten by Babylon and Nebuchadnezzar gained control of Palestine (or 609 BC when the Assyrian yoke was broken and Babylon finally ruled an empire) and ending in 539 BC when Cyrus conquered Babylon, or a year or two later when the exiles actually began to return. As the period covered both the period of Babylonian supremacy (609 BC to 539 BC) and the period of exile (605 BC for the first exiles, to a year or two after 539 BC) it has to be seen as flexible.
“For I know the thoughts that I think towards you, the word of YHWH, thoughts of wellbeing, and not of evil, to give you hope and a latter end (a future).”
But the important implication was of what it revealed about YHWH's purpose towards them. His thoughts towards them (and this was on the sure word of YHWH) were thoughts of wellbeing (shalom - peace, wellbeing) and not of evil. His aim was to give them ‘hope and a latter end', that is, once they had passed through the sufficient period of their captivity, and had truly repented.
“And you will call on me, and you will go and pray to me, and I will listen to you.”
And then they would ‘call on Him, and go, and pray to Him' (the common threefold pattern) and He would listen to them'. Note that there could be no return without repentance and a seeking of His face as a repentant people, which were essential elements in their return.
(How different was the return of Jews to Israel in 20th century AD. Then it was in the arrogance of nationhood, not in repentance and seeking after God. It was of a nation still in unbelief. It was man-determined, not God-determined. It was the very opposite of what is in mind here).
“And you will seek me, and find me, when you shall search for me with all your heart.”
For one purpose of their exile was so that they might learn to ‘seek Him, and find Him, and search for Him with all their hearts'. All idolatry would be thrust away. All rivals to His complete pre-eminence would be cast aside. All hindrances to His supremacy would be dealt with. He would be all in all to them. These were all pre-conditions to their return.
“And I will be found of you, the word of YHWH, and I will turn again your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places where I have driven you, the word of YHWH, and I will bring you again to the place from which I caused you to be carried away captive.”
Then He would be found of them (the guaranteed word of YHWH) and He would restore their captivity, and would gather them from all nations, and from all the place where He had driven them, (the guaranteed word of YHWH), and He would bring them again to the place from which He had caused them to be carried away captive. (Compare Deuteronomy 30:2)
So the order is clear. First exile, then repentance, then a seeking of Him with all their hearts, then a return in belief and obedience, and this not only for those in Babylon but for those around the world. And this was undoubtedly what happened during the inter-testamental years, for by the time of Jesus people of all tribes (and of none) had returned to Palestine and settled once again in the land, both north and south, Galilee and Judea. We know only a little of the history of that return, mainly as portrayed in Ezra-Nehemiah, and the later prophets, but that was only a small part of the future, the initial movement. It was like the seed growing secretly. Through the years those of His people who had been purged and who believed came from all parts and were once again planted in the land. Judah/Israel was restored, and at one time even became an independent nation.