“Because of the sins
That you have committed
Before God,
You will be taken
To Babylon
As exiles
By King Nebuchadnezzar,
The king of the Babylonians.
Therefore
When you have come
To Babylon,
You will remain there
For many years,
For a long time,
Up to seven generations.
After that,
I will bring you
Away from there
In peace.”
This letter presents the traditional view that they were being sent into exile because of the sins that they had committed. King Nebuchadnezzar, the king of the Babylonians was going to take them to Babylon where they might stay for a long time, many years, possibly 7 generations, and not 70 years as in Jeremiah, chapter 29. After that they would leave in peace.