(2) The major surprise in the letter comes in verse 7 where the exiles are told to “seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare”. Although there is an element of self-interest in this—your shalom is bound up with its shalom—the command to pray to the Lord on behalf of Babylon, and to “seek” its shalom, is unexpected and startling. Jeremiah was writing to people who had been accustomed to gather