Chapter 40

The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, after that Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had let him go¹⁵ from Ramah, when he had taken² him being bound⁷ in chains among all that were carried away captive of Jerusalem and Judah, which were carried away captive⁹⁴ unto Babylon.

And the captain of the guard took⁴ Jeremiah, and said⁴ unto him, The LORD thy God hath pronounced¹⁴ this evil upon this place.

Now the LORD hath brought⁵⁵ [it], and done⁴ according as he hath said:¹⁴ because ye have sinned¹ against the LORD, and have not obeyed¹ his voice, therefore this thing is come upon you.

And now, behold, I loose¹⁴ thee this day from the chains which [were] upon thine hand. If it seem good ⁵⁸⁶⁹ unto thee to come² with me into Babylon, come;³ and I will look well^{4 5869} unto thee: but if it seem ill^{1 5869} unto thee to come² with me into Babylon, forbear:³ behold,³ all the land [is] before thee: whither it seemeth good and convenient ⁵⁸⁶⁹ for thee to go,² thither go.³

Now while he was not yet gone back,⁴ [he said], Go back³ also to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon hath made governor⁵² over the cities of Judah, and dwell³ with him among the people: or go³ wheresoever it seemeth convenient ⁵⁸⁶⁹ unto thee to go.² So the captain of the guard gave⁴ him victuals and a reward, and let him go.¹⁷

Then went⁴ Jeremiah unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah; and dwelt⁴ with him among the people that were left¹² in the land.

Now when all the captains of the forces which [were] in the fields, [even] they and their men, heard⁴ that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam governor⁵² in the land, and had committed⁵² unto him men, and women, and children, and of the poor of the land, of them that were not carried away captive⁹⁰ to Babylon;

Then they came⁴ to Gedaliah to Mizpah, even 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 a Maachathite, they and their men.

And Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan sware¹¹ unto them and to their men, saying,² Fear⁴ not to serve² the Chaldeans: dwell³ in the land, and serve³ the king of Babylon, and it shall be well⁴ with you.

As for me, behold, I will dwell⁶ at Mizpah to serve^{2 6440} the Chaldeans, which will come⁴ unto us: but ye, gather³ ye wine, and summer fruits, and oil, and put³ [them] in your vessels, and dwell³ in your cities that ye have taken.¹

Likewise when all the Jews that [were] in Moab, and among the Ammonites, ⁵⁹⁸³ and in Edom, and that [were] in all the countries, heard¹ that the king of Babylon had left¹ a remnant of Judah, and that he had set⁵² over them Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan;

Even all the Jews returned⁴ out of all places whither they were driven,⁸ and came⁴ to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah, unto Mizpah, and gathered⁴ wine and summer fruits very much.⁵³

Moreover Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that [were] in the fields, came¹ to Gedaliah to Mizpah,

And said⁴ unto him, Dost thou certainly² know⁴ that Baalis the king of the Ammonites ⁵⁹⁸³ hath sent¹ Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to slay⁵³ thee? But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam believed⁵² them not.

Then Johanan the son of Kareah spake¹ to Gedaliah in Mizpah secretly, saying,² Let me go,⁴ I pray thee, and I will slay⁵⁵ Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and no man shall know⁴ [it]: wherefore should he slay⁵⁵ thee, that all the Jews which are gathered¹² unto thee should be scattered,⁸ and the remnant in Judah perish?¹

But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said⁴ unto Johanan the son of Kareah, Thou shalt not do⁴ this thing: for thou speakest⁶ falsely of Ishmael.