CHAPTER 40
This is the word
that
came
to
Jeremiah
from
the LORD
after
Nebuzaradan
the captain
of the guard
had released
him
at Ramah,
having found
him
bound
in chains
among
all
the captives
of Jerusalem
and Judah
who were being exiled
to Babylon.
The captain
of the guard
found
Jeremiah
and said
to him,
“The LORD
your God
decreed
this
disaster
on
this
place,
and now the LORD
has fulfilled it;
He has done
just as
He said.
Because
you people have sinned
against the LORD
and have not
obeyed
His voice,
this
thing
has happened
to you.
But now,
behold,
I am freeing
you today
from
the chains
that
were on
your wrists.
If
it pleases
you to come
with
me to Babylon,
then come,
and I will take care of
you.
But if
it seems wrong
to you to come
with me
to Babylon,
go no farther.
Look,
the whole
land
is before you.
Wherever it seems
good
and right
for you to go,
go
there."
But before Jeremiah
turned to go,
Nebuzaradan
told him,
“Return to Gedaliah
son
of Ahikam,
the son
of Shaphan,
whom
the king
of Babylon
has appointed
over the cities
of Judah,
and stay
with
him among
the people,
or
go
anywhere else
that seems right."
Then the captain
of the guard
gave
him
a ration
and a gift
and released him.
So Jeremiah
went
to
Gedaliah
son
of Ahikam
at Mizpah
and stayed
with him
among
the people
who were left
in the land.
When all
the commanders
and men
of the armies
in the field
heard
that
the king
of Babylon
had appointed
Gedaliah
son
of Ahikam
over the land
and that
he had put him in charge
of the men,
women,
and children
who were the poorest
of the land
and
had not
been exiled
to Babylon,
they came
to
Gedaliah
at Mizpah—
Ishmael
son
of Nethaniah,
Johanan
and Jonathan
the sons
of Kareah,
Seraiah
son
of Tanhumeth,
the sons
of Ephai
the Netophathite,
and Jezaniah
son
of the Maacathite:
they
and their men.
Gedaliah
son
of Ahikam,
the son
of Shaphan,
swore an oath
to them
and their men,
assuring them,
“Do not
be afraid
to serve
the Chaldeans.
Live
in the land
and serve
the king
of Babylon,
and it will go well
for you.
As for me,
I will
stay
in Mizpah
to represent
you before
the Chaldeans
who
come
to us.
As for you,
gather in
wine,
summer fruit,
and oil,
place them
in your storage jars,
and live
in the cities
you have taken over."
When all
the Jews
in Moab,
Ammon,
Edom,
and all
the other lands
heard
that
the king
of Babylon
had left
a remnant
in Judah
and had appointed
Gedaliah
son
of Ahikam,
the son
of Shaphan,
over them,
they
all
returned
from all
the places
to which
they had been banished
and came
to the land
of Judah,
to
Gedaliah
at Mizpah.
And they gathered
an abundance
of wine
and summer fruit.
Meanwhile, Johanan
son
of Kareah
and all
the commanders
of the armies
in the field
came
to
Gedaliah
at Mizpah
and said to him,
“Are you aware
that
Baalis
king
of the Ammonites
has sent
Ishmael
son
of Nethaniah
to take
your life?”
But Gedaliah
son
of Ahikam
did not
believe them.
Then Johanan
son
of Kareah
spoke
privately
to
Gedaliah
at Mizpah.
“Let me go
and kill
Ishmael
son
of Nethaniah,”
he said.
“No
one
will know it.
Why
should he take
your life
and scatter
all
the Jews
who have gathered
to you,
so that the remnant
of Judah
would perish?”
But Gedaliah
son
of Ahikam
said
to
Johanan
son
of Kareah,
“Do not
do
such a thing!
What you are
saying
about
Ishmael
is a lie.”