Jeremiah 40
40
Jeremiah Returns to Judah
1The word which came to Jeremiah from Adonai, after Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had released him from Ramah. He had taken him bound in chains among all the captives of Jerusalem and Judah, who were being exiled to Babylon.
2Now the captain of the guard had taken Jeremiah and said to him: “Adonai your God pronounced this evil against this place,
3and Adonai brought it about and did just as He said. Because you have sinned against Adonai and have not listened to His voice, this thing has happened to you.
4But now behold, I am freeing you this day from the chains that are on your hand. If it is good in your eyes to come with me to Babylon, come, and I will look after you. But if it is evil in your eyes to come with me to Babylon, stop. Look, the whole land is before you—wherever it seems good and right to you to go, there go.”
5But he would not turn back. “Go back then to Gedaliah son of Ahikam 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 anywhere it seems right in your eyes to go.” Then the captain of the guard gave him a ration and a gift, and let him go.
6So Jeremiah went to the son of Ahikam to Mizpah, and dwelt with him among the people that were left in the land.
Gedaliah Appointed Governor
7Now all the commanders of the forces that were in the field—they and their men—heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam over the land, and had put him in charge of the men, and women and children, the poorest of the land who were not carried away captive to Babylon.
8So they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah—including Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan and Jonathan sons of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth, the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniah son of the Maacathite—they and their men.
9Then Gedaliah son of Ahikam son of Shaphan swore to them and to their men, saying: “Do not be afraid to serve the Chaldeans. Stay in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it will go well for you.
10As for me, look, I will dwell at Mizpah, to stand before the Chaldeans who come to us. But as for you, gather wine, summer fruit and oil, and put them in your jars, and dwell in your cities that you have taken over.”
11Also when all the Jews who were in Moab, among Ammon’s children, in Edom, and in all the countries, heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant of Judah, and that he had appointed over them Gedaliah son of Ahikam son of Shaphan,
12then all the Jews returned out of all places where they had been driven, and came back to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah at Mizpah, and gathered wine and summer fruit in great abundance.
13Then Johanan son of Kareah and all the commanders of the forces that were in the field came to Gedaliah to Mizpah
14and said to him, “Are you aware that Baalis the king of Ammon’s children has sent Ishmael son of Nethaniah to take your life?” But Gedaliah son of Ahikam did not believe them.
15Then Johanan son of Kareah spoke privately to Gedaliah at Mizpah, saying, “Let me go now, and I will slay Ishmael son of Nethaniah, and no one will know it. Why should he take your life, so that all the Jews that are gathered to you would be scattered, and the remnant of Judah perish?’
16But Gedaliah son of Ahikam said to Johanan son of Kareah, “Don’t do this thing! For what you are saying about Ishmael is a lie.”
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Copyright © 2014 - Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society
Jeremiah 40
40
Jeremiah Stays in Judah
1This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord after Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard, released him at Ramah. # 1Kg 15:17-22; 2Ch 16:1-6 When he found him, he was bound in chains with all the exiles of Jerusalem and Judah who were being exiled to Babylon. 2The captain of the guard took Jeremiah and said to him, “The Lord your God decreed this disaster on this place, # Dt 29:24-28 3and the Lord has fulfilled it. He has done just what He decreed. Because you people have sinned against the Lord # Dn 9:10-12 and have not obeyed Him, this thing has happened. 4Now pay attention: Today I am setting you free from the chains that were on your hands. # Jr 39:12 If it pleases you to come with me to Babylon, come, and I will take care of you. But if it seems wrong to you to come with me to Babylon, go no farther. # Lit Babylon, stop Look — the whole land is in front of you. # Gn 20:15 Wherever it seems good and right for you to go, go there.” 5When Jeremiah had not yet turned to go, Nebuzaradan said to him: “Return # LXX reads But if not, run, return ; Hb obscure to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon has appointed over the cities of Judah, and stay with him among the people or go wherever you want to go.” So the captain of the guard gave him a ration # 2Kg 25:30; Jr 52:34 and a gift # 2Sm 11:8 and released him. 6Jeremiah therefore went to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah, # Jdg 20:1-3; 1Sm 7:5-16; Jr 41:1-16 and he stayed with him among the people who remained in the land.
Gedaliah Advises Peace
7When all the commanders of the armies in the field — they and their men — 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 from the poorest of the land who had not been deported to Babylon, 8they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah. The commanders included Ishmael # Jr 41:1,9 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.
9Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, swore an oath to them and their men, assuring them, “Don’t be afraid to serve the Chaldeans. Live in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it will go well for you. # 2Kg 25:22-24 10As for me, I am going to live in Mizpah to represent # Lit to stand you before the Chaldeans # Dt 1:38 who come to us. As for you, gather wine, summer fruit, and oil, place them in your storage jars, and live in the cities you have captured.”
11When all the Judeans in Moab # Nm 22:1 and among the Ammonites and in # 1Sm 11:1; 12:12 Edom and in all the other lands # Gn 36:8 also heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant in Judah and had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, over them, 12they all returned from all the places where they had been banished # Jr 23:3,8; 29:14; 32:37 and came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah at Mizpah, and harvested a great amount of wine and summer fruit.
13Meanwhile, Johanan son of Kareah and all the commanders of the armies in the field came to Gedaliah at Mizpah 14and warned him, “Don’t you realize that Baalis, king of the Ammonites, has sent Ishmael # Jr 40:13-16 son of Nethaniah # Jr 41:10 to kill you? ” But Gedaliah son of Ahikam would not believe them. 15Then Johanan son of Kareah suggested to Gedaliah in private at Mizpah, “Let me go kill Ishmael son of Nethaniah. No one will know it. Why should he kill you and scatter all of Judah that has gathered to you so that the remnant of Judah would perish? ” # Jr 42:2
16But Gedaliah son of Ahikam responded to Johanan son of Kareah, “Don’t do that! What you’re saying about Ishmael is a lie.”
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