Jeremiah 40

Jeremiah Remains in Judah

1The wordH1697 that cameH1961 to JeremiahH3414 from the LordH3068 afterH310 1NebuzaradanH5018 captainH7227 of the bodyguardH2876 had releasedH7971 him from 2RamahH7414, when he had takenH3947 him boundH631 in 3chainsH246 amongH8432 allH3605 the exilesH1546 of JerusalemH3389 and JudahH3063 who were being exiledH1540 to BabylonH894. 2Now the captainH7227 of the bodyguardH2876 had takenH3947 JeremiahH3414 and saidH559 to him, “The 4LordH3068 your GodH430 promisedH1696 thisH2088 disasterH7463 againstH413 thisH2088 placeH4725; 3and the LordH3068 has broughtH935 it and doneH6213 justH3512 asH3512 He promisedH1696. BecauseH3588 you people 5sinnedH2398 against the LordH3068 and did not listenH8085 to His voiceH6963, thisH2088 thingH1697 has happenedH1961 to you. 4But nowH6258, beholdH2009, I am 6settingH6605 you freeH6605 todayH3117 from the chainsH246 that are on your handsH3027. IfH518 7you would preferH2896H5869 to comeH935 with me to BabylonH894, comeH935 along, and I will 8lookH7760H5869 afterH5921 you; but ifH518 9you would preferH7489H5869 notH7489 to comeH935 with me to BabylonH894, 10doH2308 notH2308 come. LookH7200, the 11wholeH3605 landH776 is beforeH6440 you; goH1980 whereverH8033 it seems goodH2896 and rightH3477 for you to goH1980.” 5As 12Jeremiah was stillH5750 not goingH7725 backH7725, 13he said, “GoH7725 on backH7725 then to 14GedaliahH1436 the sonH1121 of AhikamH296, the sonH1121 of ShaphanH8227, whomH834 the kingH4428 of BabylonH894 has 15appointedH6485 over the citiesH5892 of JudahH3063, and stayH3427 with him amongH8432 the peopleH5971; orH176 else goH1980 anywhereH3605 it seems rightH3477 for you to goH1980.” So the captainH7227 of the bodyguardH2876 gaveH5414 him a 16rationH737 and a 17giftH4864, and letH7971 him goH7971. 6Then JeremiahH3414 wentH935 to 18MizpahH4709 to 19GedaliahH1436 the sonH1121 of AhikamH296 and stayedH3427 with him amongH8432 the peopleH5971 who were leftH7604 in the landH776.

720Now allH3605 the commandersH8269 of the forcesH2428 that were in the fieldH7704, they and their menH376, heardH8085 that the kingH4428 of BabylonH894 had appointedH6485 GedaliahH1436 the sonH1121 of AhikamH296 over the landH776, and that he had putH6485 him inH6485 chargeH6485 of the menH376, womenH802, and 21childrenH2945, those of the 22poorestH1803 of the landH776 whoH834 had not been exiledH1540 to BabylonH894. 8So they cameH935 to GedaliahH1436 at MizpahH4709, along with 23IshmaelH3458 the sonH1121 of NethaniahH5418, 24JohananH3076 and JonathanH3083 the sonsH1121 of KareahH7143, SeraiahH8304 the sonH1121 of TanhumethH8576, the sonsH1121 of EphaiH5778 the 25NetophathiteH5200, and 26JezaniahH3153 the sonH1121 of the 27MaacathiteH4602, both they and their menH376. 9Then GedaliahH1436 the sonH1121 of AhikamH296, the sonH1121 of ShaphanH8227, 28sworeH7650 to them and to their menH376, sayingH559, “29Do not beH3372 afraidH3372 of servingH5647 the ChaldeansH3778; stayH3427 in the landH776 and serveH5647 the kingH4428 of BabylonH894, so that it may goH3190 wellH3190 for you. 10Now as for me, beholdH2009, I am going to stayH3427 in MizpahH4709 to 30standH5975 for you beforeH6440 the ChaldeansH3778 whoH834 comeH935 to us; but as for you, 31gatherH622 wineH3196, 32summerH7019 fruitH7019, and oilH8081, and putH7760 them in your storage vesselsH3627, and liveH3427 in your citiesH5892 that you have takenH8610 overH8610.” 11Likewise, alsoH1571 allH3605 the JewsH3064 whoH834 were in 33MoabH4124 and among the sonsH1121 of 34AmmonH5983 and in 35EdomH112, and whoH834 were in allH3605 the other countriesH776, heardH8085 that the kingH4428 of BabylonH894 had 36leftH5414 a remnantH7611 for JudahH3063, and that he had appointedH6485 overH5921 them GedaliahH1436 the sonH1121 of AhikamH296, the sonH1121 of ShaphanH8227. 12Then allH3605 the JewsH3064 37returnedH7725 from allH3605 the placesH4725 to whichH834 they had been scatteredH5080 and cameH935 to the landH776 of JudahH3063, to GedaliahH1436 at MizpahH4709, and gatheredH622 wineH3196 and summerH7019 fruitH7019 inH622 greatH3966 abundanceH7235.

13Now JohananH3076 the sonH1121 of KareahH7143 and allH3605 the commandersH8269 of the forcesH2428 that were in the fieldH7704 cameH935 to GedaliahH1436 at MizpahH4709, 14and saidH559 to him, “AreH3045 you wellH3045 awareH3045 that BaalisH1185 the kingH4428 of the sonsH1121 of 38AmmonH5983 has sentH7971 IshmaelH3458 the sonH1121 of NethaniahH5418 to takeH5221 your lifeH5315?” But GedaliahH1436 the sonH1121 of AhikamH296 did not believeH539 them. 15Then JohananH3076 the sonH1121 of KareahH7143 spokeH559 secretlyH5643 to GedaliahH1436 in MizpahH4709, sayingH559, “39Let me goH1980 and killH5221 IshmaelH3458 the sonH1121 of NethaniahH5418, and noH3808 oneH376 will knowH3045! WhyH4100 should he 40takeH5221 your lifeH5315, so that allH3605 the JewsH3063 who are gatheredH6908 to you would be scatteredH6327 and the 41remnantH7611 of JudahH3063 would perishH6?” 16But GedaliahH1436 the sonH1121 of AhikamH296 saidH559 to JohananH3076 the sonH1121 of KareahH7143, “42Do not doH6213 thisH2088 thingH1697, for you are tellingH1696 a lieH8267 aboutH413 IshmaelH3458.”