40
1 The
word which came
to Jeremiah from
the LORD, after
Nebuzaradan the
captain of the
guard had let
him go from
Ramah, when he
had taken him
being bound in chains
among all the
captives of
Jerusalem and
Judah who were
carried away
captive to Babylon.
2 The
captain of the
guard took
Jeremiah and said
to him, “The
LORD your God
pronounced this
evil on this
place;
3 and
the LORD has
brought it, and
done according as
he spoke. Because
you have sinned
against the LORD,
and have not
obeyed his voice,
therefore this
thing has come
on you.
4 Now,
behold, I release
you today from
the chains which
are on your
hand. If it
seems good to
you to come
with me
into Babylon, come,
and I will
take care of
you; but if
it seems bad
to you to
come with me
into Babylon, don’t. Behold,
all the land
is before you.
Where it seems
good and right
to you to
go, go there.”
5 Now
while he had
not yet gone
back, “Go back
then,” he said, “to
Gedaliah the son
of Ahikam, the son
of Shaphan, whom
the king of Babylon
has made governor
over the cities
of Judah, and
dwell with him
among the people;
or go wherever
it seems right
to you to
go.”
So the captain
of the guard
gave him food and
a present, and
let him go.
6 Then
Jeremiah went to
Gedaliah the son
of Ahikam to
Mizpah, and lived
with him among
the people who
were left in
the land.
7 Now
when all the
captains of the
forces who were
in the fields,
even they and
their men, heard
that the king
of Babylon had
made Gedaliah the
son of Ahikam
governor in the
land, and had
committed to him
men, women,
children, and of
the poorest of
the land, of
those who were
not carried away
captive to Babylon,
8 then
Ishmael the son
of Nethaniah, and
Johanan and
Jonathan the sons
of Kareah, and
Seraiah the son
of Tanhumeth, and
the sons of
Ephai the
Netophathite, and
Jezaniah the son
of the Maacathite,
they and their
men came to
Gedaliah to Mizpah.
9 Gedaliah
the son of Ahikam
the son of
Shaphan swore to
them and to
their men, saying, “Don’t
be afraid to
serve the
Chaldeans. Dwell
in the land, and
serve the king
of Babylon, and it
will be well
with you.
10 As
for me, behold,
I will dwell
at Mizpah, to
stand before the
Chaldeans who will
come to us; but
you, gather wine
and summer fruits
and oil, and
put them in
your vessels, and
dwell in your
cities that you
have taken.”
11 Likewise
when all the
Jews who were
in Moab, and
among the children
of Ammon, and
in Edom, and who
were in all
the countries, heard
that the king
of Babylon had
left a remnant
of Judah, and
that he had
set over them
Gedaliah the son
of Ahikam, the son
of Shaphan,
12 then
all the Jews
returned out of
all places where
they were driven,
and came to
the land of
Judah, to Gedaliah,
to Mizpah, and
gathered very much
wine and summer
fruits.
13 Moreover
Johanan the son
of Kareah, and
all the captains
of the forces
who were in
the fields, came
to Gedaliah to
Mizpah,
14 and said
to him, “Do you
know that Baalis
the king of
the children of
Ammon has sent
Ishmael the son
of Nethaniah to
take your life?”
But Gedaliah the
son of Ahikam didn’t believe
them.
15 Then
Johanan the son
of Kareah spoke to
Gedaliah in Mizpah
secretly, saying, “Please
let me go,
and I will
kill Ishmael the
son of Nethaniah,
and no man
will know it.
Why should he
take your life,
that all the
Jews who are
gathered to you
should be
scattered, and the
remnant of
Judah perish?”
16 But
Gedaliah the son
of Ahikam said to
Johanan the son
of Kareah, “You
shall not do
this thing, for
you speak falsely
of Ishmael.”