Jeremiah 40

1This is the wordH1697 thatH834 cameH1961 toH413 JeremiahH3414 fromH854 the LORDH3068 afterH310 NebuzaradanH5018 captainH7227 of the guardH2876 had releasedH7971 himH853 atH4480 RamahH7414, having foundH3947 himH1931 boundH631 in chainsH246 amongH8432 allH3605 the captivesH1546 of JerusalemH3389 and JudahH3063 who were being exiledH1540 to BabylonH894.

2The captainH7227 of the guardH2876 foundH3947 JeremiahH3414 and saidH559 to himH413, “The LORDH3068 your GodH430 decreedH1696 thisH2063 disasterH7451 onH413 thisH2088 placeH4725, 3and now the LORDH3068 has fulfilled itH935; He has doneH6213 just asH834 He saidH1696. BecauseH3588 you people have sinnedH2398 against the LORDH3068 and have notH3808 obeyedH8085 His voiceH6963, thisH2088 thingH1697 has happenedH1961 to you. 4But nowH6258, beholdH2009, I am freeingH6605 you todayH3117 fromH4480 the chainsH246 thatH834 were onH5921 your wristsH3027. IfH518 it pleasesH2896H5869 you to comeH935 with meH854 to BabylonH894, then comeH935, and I will take care ofH7760 youH5921. But ifH518 it seems wrongH7489H5869 to you to comeH935 with meH854 to BabylonH894, go no fartherH2308. LookH7200, the wholeH3605 landH776 is before youH6440H413. Wherever it seemsH5869 goodH2896H413 and right to youH3477, goH1980 thereH8033.”

5But before JeremiahH3808H5750 turned to goH7725, NebuzaradanH7725 addedH413, “Return to GedaliahH1436 sonH1121 of AhikamH296, the sonH1121 of ShaphanH8227, whomH834 the kingH4428 of BabylonH894 has appointedH6485 over the citiesH5892 of JudahH3063, and stayH3427 with himH854 amongH8432 the peopleH5971, orH176 goH1980 anywhere elseH413H3605 that seems rightH3477H5869H1980.” Then the captainH7227 of the guardH2876 gaveH5414 him a rationH737 and a giftH4864 and released himH7971.

6So JeremiahH3414 wentH935 toH413 GedaliahH1436 sonH1121 of AhikamH296 at MizpahH4709 and stayedH3427 with himH854 amongH8432 the peopleH5971 who were leftH7604 in the landH776.

Gedaliah Governs in Judah

(2 Kings 25:22–24)

7When allH3605 the commandersH8269 and menH582 of the armiesH2428 in the fieldH7704 heardH8085 thatH3588 the kingH4428 of BabylonH894 had appointedH6485 GedaliahH1436 sonH1121 of AhikamH296 over the landH776 and thatH3588 he had put him in chargeH6485H854 of the menH582, womenH802, and childrenH2945 who were the poorestH1803 of the landH776 and had notH3808 been exiledH1540 to BabylonH894, 8they cameH935 toH413 GedaliahH1436 at MizpahH4709—IshmaelH3458 sonH1121 of NethaniahH5418, JohananH3110 and JonathanH3129 the sonsH1121 of KareahH7143, SeraiahH8304 sonH1121 of TanhumethH8576, the sonsH1121 of EphaiH5778 the NetophathiteH5200, and JezaniahH29701 sonH1121 of the MaacathiteH4602—theyH1992 and their menH582.

9GedaliahH1436 sonH1121 of AhikamH296, the sonH1121 of ShaphanH8227, swore an oathH7650 to them and their menH582, assuring themH559, “Do notH408 be afraidH3372 to serveH5647 the ChaldeansH3778.2 LiveH3427 in the landH776 and serveH5647 the kingH4428 of BabylonH894, and it will go wellH3190 with you. 10As for meH589, I willH2005 stayH3427 in MizpahH4709 to representH5975 you beforeH6440 the ChaldeansH3778 whoH834 comeH935 to usH413. As for youH859, gatherH622 wineH3196 grapes, summer fruitH7019, and oilH8081, place themH7760 in your storage jarsH3627, and liveH3427 in the citiesH5892 you have takenH8610.”

11WhenH1571 allH3605 the JewsH3064 in MoabH4124, AmmonH1121H5983, EdomH123, and allH3605 the other landsH776 heardH8085 thatH3588 the kingH4428 of BabylonH894 had leftH5414 a remnantH7611 in JudahH3063H3588 and had appointedH6485 GedaliahH1436 sonH1121 of AhikamH296, the sonH1121 of ShaphanH8227, over themH5921, 12theyH3064 allH3605 returnedH7725 from allH3605 the placesH4725 to whichH834 they had been banishedH5080H8033 and cameH935 to the landH776 of JudahH3063, toH413 GedaliahH1436 at MizpahH4709. And they gatheredH622 an abundanceH7235H3966 of wineH3196 grapes and summer fruitH7019.

The Plot against Gedaliah

13Meanwhile, JohananH3110 sonH1121 of KareahH7143 and allH3605 the commandersH8269 of the armiesH2428 in the fieldH7704 cameH935 toH413 GedaliahH1436 at MizpahH4709 14and said to himH559H413, “Are you awareH3045 thatH3588 BaalisH1185 kingH4428 of the AmmonitesH1121H5983 has sentH7971 IshmaelH3458 sonH1121 of NethaniahH5418 to takeH5221 your lifeH5315?”

But GedaliahH1436 sonH1121 of AhikamH296 did notH3808 believeH539 them.

15Then JohananH3110 sonH1121 of KareahH7143 spokeH559 privatelyH5643 toH413 GedaliahH1436 at MizpahH4709. “Let me goH1980H4994 and killH5221 IshmaelH3458 sonH1121 of NethaniahH5418,” he saidH559. “NoH3808 oneH376 will know itH3045. WhyH4100 should he takeH5221 your lifeH5315 and scatterH6327 allH3605 the people of JudahH3063 who have gatheredH6908 to youH413, so that the remnantH7611 of JudahH3063 would perishH6?”

16But GedaliahH1436 sonH1121 of AhikamH296 saidH559 toH413 JohananH3110 sonH1121 of KareahH7143, “Do notH408 doH6213 such a thingH1697H2088H3588! What you areH859 sayingH1696 aboutH413 IshmaelH3458 is a lieH8267.”