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What advice did Jeremiah give to the Judaean exiles in Babylonia?

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Painting by Rembrandt van Rijn showing Jeremiah sitting in a dimly lit cave, head resting on his hand in sorrow, with Jerusalem burning in the background. — Jeremiah *Jeremiah Lamenting the Destruction of Jerusalem*, oil on panel by Rembrandt, 1630: in the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

Early in the reign of King Zedekiah, the prophet Jeremiah sent a letter to the Judaean exiles in Babylonia to provide them with guidance during their displacement.1

His primary advice to the exiles included the following points:

Avoid false expectations: He warned them not to believe the false prophets who were encouraging them to expect an immediate return to their homeland.1
Settle peaceably: He advised the exiles to settle down and live peaceably in their place of exile.1
Seek the welfare of their captors: He instructed them to seek the welfare of the society in which they were living, even though they were under Babylonian rule.1

This message was intended to help the community maintain its religious and national identity while navigating the reality of their long-term exile.21