Jeremiah 29:24

OLBHeb;

We have no guidance from any other scripture to teach us who this Shemaiah was, but it is very probable that he was one of those who at this time were in the captivity of Babylon, and so came to the knowledge of Jeremiah's letter, mentioned in the beginning of the chapter, and wrote what followeth to Zephaniah, the son of Masseiah the priest, and the rest of the priests, to have Jeremiah punished; but why he is called the Nehelamite is not so evident, for that the word is derived from Mlwx a dreamer, is not very probable; we read of no such place in Judea as Nehelain or Halem, but we cannot imagine that the names of all the towns in Judah are to be found in Scripture: he is thrice in this chapter called the Nehelamite; so as it is probable that there was such a place as Nehelam, from whence he was.