When the Babylonians under Nebuchadnezzar conquered the kingdom of Judah, they took captives in three different campaigns. After the second one (2 Ki 24:10-16), which took place in about 597 BC, Jeremiah wrote a letter to encourage those in exile in Babylon.
There were false prophets in Judah who were predicting that the exiles would be able to return soon. One of them, Hananiah the son of Azzur, said that they would be back in two years. Hananiah was soon struck dead (Jer 28). Jeremiah wanted the exiles to know that they were going to be in Babylon for awhile---seventy years, in fact (Jer 29:8-10).
In the meantime, God wanted the exiles to settle down and make a home in Babylon (vv 5-6). They were to pray for their captors (v 7).
In Jewish tradition, praying for rulers became the standard practice for living under foreign domination. This also became the practice for Christians (1 Tim 2:1-4).
Jeremiah wanted to make sure the exiles knew God had not abandoned them. In verses 12-13, he echoed Deuteronomy 4:29, a promise that God would not abandon his people in exile.
Verse 11 is a familiar one: "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." This verse has been plucked out of context and taken on a life of its own. It has often been appropriated as a kind of promise that God wants to help individuals fulfill their dreams. Year after year, Jeremiah 29:11 has been ranked number two (after John 3:16) among Bible verses in number of searches on Bible Gateway. In context, the verse is directed to a particular group of people and is not meant as a blanket promise to all individuals in all times.
In context, Jeremiah's letter does have good news for us, though. God is faithful to his people, those with whom he is in covenant.
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