Jeremiah 40

Jeremiah Released

1 The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD after Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, released him at Ramah. Jeremiah had been taken in chains among all the captives of Jerusalem and Judah who were being carried into exile to Babylon.

2 The captain of the guard took Jeremiah aside and said to him, “The LORD your God announced this disaster against this place.”

3 “And now the LORD has brought it about. He has done exactly what He said He would do, Because you people sinned against the LORD and did not obey His voice. That is why this has happened to you.”

4 “Now look, today I am freeing you from the chains on your hands. If you want to come with me to Babylon, come, and I will take care of you. But if you do not want to go to Babylon, do not come.”

5 “Look, the whole land is before you. Go wherever you think is good and right.”

6 Then the captain of the guard gave him provisions and a gift and let him go.

Jeremiah Stays in the Land

7 So Jeremiah went to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, at Mizpah, And lived with him among the people who were left in the land.

Gedaliah Appointed Governor

8 All the commanders of the forces in the open country, they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam as governor over the land and put him in charge of the men, women, and children, the poorest of the land who had not been taken into exile.

9 Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, swore an oath to them and their men, saying, “Do not be afraid to serve the Chaldeans. Live in the land, serve the king of Babylon, and it will go well with you.”

10 “As for me, I will stay at Mizpah to represent you before the Chaldeans who come to us. You harvest the wine, summer fruit, and oil, put them in storage, and live in the cities you have taken.”

The Remnant Gathers

11 Also all the Jews who were in Moab, Ammon, Edom, and all the other lands heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant in Judah and appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam as governor over them.

12 So all these Jews returned from all the places they had been scattered and came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah at Mizpah. They gathered a great amount of wine and summer fruit.

A Warning Ignored

13 Now Johanan son of Kareah and all the commanders of the forces in the open country came to Gedaliah at Mizpah

14 And said to him, “Do you not know 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.

15 Then Johanan son of Kareah said privately to Gedaliah at Mizpah, “Let me go and strike down Ishmael son of Nethaniah, no one will know. Why should he kill you and cause all the Jews gathered around you to scatter, so the remnant of Judah perishes?”

16 But Gedaliah son of Ahikam said to Johanan son of Kareah, “Do not do this thing, For what you are saying about Ishmael is a lie.”