Shemaiah the Nehelamite (שְׁמַעְיָהוּ הַנֶּחֱלָמִי, shema'yahu hannechelamiy). A man who wrote a letter opposing Jeremiah’s message to the Jews in exile that they should settle down in Babylon and expect a long stay in exile (Jer 29:28). He is only mentioned in Jer 29 (29:24, 31–32). Shemaiah’s letter was sent to the priest Zephaniah, all the other priests, and the people of Jerusalem. Shemaiah implies that Jeremiah is a madman who should be rebuked and imprisoned for his message. The text only identifies Shemaiah as a “Nehelamite,” using a gentilic form derived from the name Nehelam, which could refer to the place where he is from (compare Shemaiah’s reference to Jeremiah as the “Anatothite” in Jer 29:27 with Jer 1:1). Jeremiah responds with another letter to the exiles informing them that Shemaiah prophesied without Yahweh’s authorization and will be judged for his rebellion against Yahweh.