40 The Lord spoke to Jeremiah again after Captain Nebuzaradan let him go free at Ramah. Jeremiah was with all the other people of Jerusalem and Judah that Captain Nebuzaradan was taking to Babylon. He was taking them in chains, as his prisoners. But he removed the chains from Jeremiah in Ramah. [ a ] 2 He said this to Jeremiah when they were alone: ‘The Lord your God warned your people that he would bring trouble to this place. 3 Now he has done that. The Lord has done what he promised to do. He sent this trouble because your people did not obey the Lord . They turned against him. 4 But today I am taking the chains off your hands so that you can go free. You can come with me to Babylon, if you choose to do that. If you come, I will take care of you. But if you do not choose to come with me, you do not have to do that. You are a free man. You may go to any part of the land that you choose.’
5 But before Jeremiah turned away from him, Captain Nebuzaradan said, ‘Return to Ahikam's son Gedaliah. The king of Babylon chose him to rule over the towns of Judah. Go and live with Gedaliah, among the people of Judah. Or you may go to any other place that you choose.’
Captain Nebuzaradan gave Jeremiah some food and a gift. Then he let him go. 6 So Jeremiah went to live with Gedaliah in Mizpah. He stayed among the few people who continued to live in Judah.
7 Some officers of Judah's army were living in fields in the country, with their soldiers. [ b ] They heard news that the king of Babylon had chosen Ahikam's son Gedaliah to have authority over Judah. He ruled over the very poor people of Judah who continued to live there. They were the men, women and children that Babylon's soldiers had not taken away as prisoners. 8 These army officers and their soldiers came to meet with Gedaliah at Mizpah. The officers were:
Nethaniah's son Ishmael,
Kareah's sons, Johanan and Jonathan,
Tanhumeth's son, Seraiah,
the sons of Ephai, who came from Netophah,
and Jaazaniah, whose father came from Maakah.
9 Gedaliah made a serious promise to them that he would not hurt them. He said, ‘Do not be afraid to serve the soldiers from Babylon. Make your homes here in our land, but agree to serve the king of Babylon. If you do that, you will be successful. 10 I myself will stay here in Mizpah. If Babylon's officers come to visit me, I will speak on your behalf. But you should go and live in the towns that you have taken for yourselves. Then you can eat the things that you grow in your fields. You can pick grapes to make wine and olives to make oil. You can pick dates and figs. You can store these things in jars.’
11 There were people of Judah who had run away to live in Moab, Ammon, Edom and other countries. They heard the news that the king of Babylon had let some people continue to live in Judah. They also heard that he had chosen Ahikam's son Gedaliah to be their ruler. 12 As a result, all those people returned to their homes in Judah. On their way, they stopped in Mizpah to meet Gedaliah. When they arrived, they picked a big harvest of dates, figs and grapes to make wine.
13 Kareah's son Johanan came to Mizpah to see Gedaliah. He came with the other army officers who had been hiding in the country. 14 They said to Gedaliah, ‘You should know that King Baalis of Ammon has sent Nethaniah's son Ishmael to kill you.’ But Gedaliah did not believe them.
15 So while Johanan was in Mizpah, he went to speak to Gedaliah alone. He said, ‘Let me go and kill Nethaniah's son Ishmael. Nobody will know who did it. If I do not kill him, he will surely kill you. Then the people of Judah who are here with you will run away. The few people who still remain in Judah will all disappear.’
16 But Ahikam's son Gedaliah, said to Kareah's son Johanan, ‘Do not do that! I do not believe the things that you tell me about Ishmael.’
40 The message from the Lord came to Jeremiah after he was set free at the city of Ramah. Nebuzaradan, the commander of the king of Babylon’s special guards, found Jeremiah in Ramah. Jeremiah was bound with chains. He was with all the captives from Jerusalem and Judah. They were being taken away in captivity to Babylon. 2 When commander Nebuzaradan found Jeremiah, he spoke to him. He said, “Jeremiah, the Lord , your God, announced that this disaster would come to this place. 3 And now the Lord has done everything just as he said he would do. This disaster happened because you people of Judah sinned against the Lord . You did not obey him. 4 But now, Jeremiah, I will set you free. I am taking the chains off your wrists. If you want to, come with me to Babylon, and I will take good care of you. But if you don’t want to come with me, then don’t come. Look, the whole country is open to you. Go anywhere you want. 5 Or go back to Gedaliah [ a ] son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan. The king of Babylon has chosen Gedaliah to be governor over the towns of Judah. Go and live with Gedaliah among the people. Or you can go anywhere you want.”
Then Nebuzaradan gave Jeremiah some food and a present and let him go. 6 So Jeremiah went to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah. He stayed with Gedaliah among those who were left behind in the land of Judah.
7 There were some soldiers from the army of Judah, officers and their men, still out in the open country when Jerusalem was destroyed. They heard that the king of Babylon had put Gedaliah son of Ahikam in charge of those who were left in the land. Those who were left were men, women, and children who were very poor. They were not carried off to Babylon as captives. 8 So the soldiers came to Gedaliah at Mizpah. They were Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan and his brother Jonathan, sons of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth, sons of Ephai from Netophah, and Jaazaniah son of the Maacathite, and the men who were with them.
9 Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, made an oath to make the soldiers and their men feel more secure. This is what he said: “You soldiers, don’t be afraid to serve the Babylonian people. Settle down in the land and serve the king of Babylon. If you do this, things will go well for you. 10 I myself will live in Mizpah. I will speak for you before the Chaldeans who come here. You leave that work to me. You should harvest the wine, the summer fruit, and the oil. Put what you harvest in your storage jars. Live in the towns that you control.”
11 All the people of Judah who were in the countries of Moab, Ammon, Edom, and all the other countries heard that the king of Babylon had left some people of Judah in the land. And they heard that the king of Babylon had chosen Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, to be governor over them. 12 When the people of Judah heard this news, they came back to the land of Judah. They came back to Gedaliah at Mizpah from all the countries where they had been scattered. So they came back and gathered a large harvest of wine and summer fruit.
13 Johanan son of Kareah and all the officers of the army of Judah who were still in the open country came to Gedaliah. Gedaliah was at the town of Mizpah. 14 Johanan and the officers with him said to Gedaliah, “Do you know that Baalis, the king of the Ammonites, wants to kill you? He has sent Ishmael son of Nethaniah to kill you.” But Gedaliah son of Ahikam didn’t believe them.
15 Then Johanan son of Kareah spoke to Gedaliah in private at Mizpah. Johanan said to Gedaliah, “Let me go and kill Ishmael son of Nethaniah. No one will know anything about it. We should not let Ishmael kill you. That would cause all the people of Judah who are gathered around you to be scattered to different countries again. And that would mean that the few survivors of Judah would be lost.”
16 But Gedaliah son of Ahikam said to Johanan son of Kareah, “Don’t kill Ishmael. The things you are saying about Ishmael are not true.”
40 The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord , after that Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had let him go from Ramah, when he had taken him being bound in chains among all that were carried away captive of Jerusalem and Judah, which were carried away captive unto Babylon.
2 And the captain of the guard took Jeremiah, and said unto him, The Lord thy God hath pronounced this evil upon this place.
3 Now the Lord hath brought it, and done according as he hath said: because ye have sinned against the Lord , and have not obeyed his voice, therefore this thing is come upon you.
4 And now, behold, I loose thee this day from the chains which were upon thine hand. If it seem good unto thee to come with me into Babylon, come; and I will look well unto thee: but if it seem ill unto thee to come with me into Babylon, forbear: behold, all the land is before thee: whither it seemeth good and convenient for thee to go, thither go.
5 Now while he was not yet gone back, he said, Go back also to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon hath made governor over the cities of Judah, and dwell with him among the people: or go wheresoever it seemeth convenient unto thee to go. So the captain of the guard gave him victuals and a reward, and let him go.
6 Then went Jeremiah unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah; and dwelt with him among the people that were left in the land.
7 Now when all the captains of the forces which were in the fields, even they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam governor in the land, and had committed unto him men, and women, and children, and of the poor of the land, of them that were not carried away captive to Babylon;
8 Then they came 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.
9 And Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan sware unto them and to their men, saying, Fear not to serve the Chaldeans: dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you.
10 As for me, behold, I will dwell at Mizpah, to serve the Chaldeans, which will come unto us: but ye, gather ye wine, and summer fruits, and oil, and put them in your vessels, and dwell in your cities that ye have taken.
11 Likewise when all the Jews that were in Moab, and among the Ammonites, and in Edom, and that were in all the countries, heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant of Judah, and that he had set over them Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan;
12 Even all the Jews returned out of all places whither they were driven, and came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah, unto Mizpah, and gathered wine and summer fruits very much.
13 Moreover Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were in the fields, came to Gedaliah to Mizpah,
14 And said unto him, Dost thou certainly know that Baalis the king of the Ammonites hath sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to slay thee? But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam believed them not.
15 Then Johanan the son of Kareah spake to Gedaliah in Mizpah secretly saying, Let me go, I pray thee, and I will slay Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and no man shall know it: wherefore should he slay thee, that all the Jews which are gathered unto thee should be scattered, and the remnant in Judah perish?
16 But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said unto Johanan the son of Kareah, Thou shalt not do this thing: for thou speakest falsely of Ishmael.
40 The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord after ( A ) Nebuzaradan captain of the bodyguard had released him from ( B ) Ramah, when he had taken him bound in ( C ) chains among all the exiles of Jerusalem and Judah who were being exiled to Babylon. 2 Now the captain of the bodyguard had taken Jeremiah and said to him, “The ( D ) Lord your God promised this disaster against this place; 3 and the Lord has brought it and done just as He promised. Because you people ( E ) sinned against the Lord and did not listen to His voice, this thing has happened to you. 4 But now, behold, I am ( F ) setting you free today from the chains that are on your hands. If [ a ] you would prefer to come with me to Babylon, come along , and I will [ b ] look after you; but if [ c ] you would prefer not to come with me to Babylon, [ d ] do not come . Look, the ( G ) whole land is before you; go wherever it seems good and right for you to go.” 5 As [ e ] Jeremiah was still not going back, [ f ] he said , “Go on back then to ( H ) Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon has ( I ) appointed over the cities of Judah, and stay with him among the people; or else go anywhere it seems right for you to go.” So the captain of the bodyguard gave him a ( J ) ration and a ( K ) gift, and let him go. 6 Then Jeremiah went to ( L ) Mizpah to ( M ) Gedaliah the son of Ahikam and stayed with him among the people who were left in the land.
7 ( N ) Now all the commanders of the forces that were in the field, they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah the son of Ahikam over the land, and that he had put him in charge of the men, women, and [ g ] children, those of the ( O ) poorest of the land who had not been exiled to Babylon. 8 So they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah, along with ( P ) Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, ( Q ) Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth, the sons of Ephai the ( R ) Netophathite, and ( S ) Jezaniah the son of the ( T ) Maacathite, both they and their men. 9 Then Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, ( U ) swore to them and to their men, saying, “ ( V ) Do not be afraid of serving the Chaldeans; stay in the land and serve the king of Babylon, so that it may go well for you. 10 Now as for me, behold, I am going to stay in Mizpah to ( W ) stand for you before the Chaldeans who come to us; but as for you, ( X ) gather wine, ( Y ) summer fruit, and oil, and put them in your storage vessels, and live in your cities that you have taken over.” 11 Likewise, also all the Jews who were in ( Z ) Moab and among the sons of ( AA ) Ammon and in ( AB ) Edom, and who were in all the other countries, heard that the king of Babylon had [ h ] left a remnant for Judah, and that he had appointed over them Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan. 12 Then all the Jews ( AC ) returned from all the places to which they had been scattered and came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah at Mizpah, and gathered wine and summer fruit in great abundance.
13 Now Johanan the son of Kareah and all the commanders of the forces that were in the field came to Gedaliah at Mizpah, 14 and said to him, “Are you well aware that Baalis the king of the sons of ( AD ) Ammon has sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to take your life?” But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam did not believe them. 15 Then Johanan the son of Kareah spoke secretly to Gedaliah in Mizpah, saying, “ ( AE ) Let me go and kill Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and no one will know! Why should he ( AF ) take your life, so that all the Jews who are gathered to you would be scattered and the ( AG ) remnant of Judah would perish?” 16 But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said to Johanan the son of Kareah, “ ( AH ) Do not do this thing, for you are telling a lie about Ishmael.”
40 The word came to Jeremiah from the Lord after Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard had released him at Ramah. ( A ) He had found Jeremiah bound in chains among all the captives ( B ) from Jerusalem and Judah who were being carried into exile to Babylon. 2 When the commander ( C ) of the guard found Jeremiah, he said to him, “The Lord your God decreed ( D ) this disaster ( E ) for this place. ( F ) 3 And now the Lord has brought it about; he has done just as he said he would. All this happened because you people sinned ( G ) against the Lord and did not obey ( H ) him. 4 But today I am freeing ( I ) you from the chains ( J ) on your wrists. Come with me to Babylon, if you like, and I will look after you; but if you do not want to, then don’t come. Look, the whole country lies before you; go wherever you please.” ( K ) 5 However, before Jeremiah turned to go, [ a ] Nebuzaradan added, “Go back to Gedaliah ( L ) son of Ahikam, ( M ) the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon has appointed ( N ) over the towns ( O ) of Judah, and live with him among the people, or go anywhere else you please.” ( P )
Then the commander gave him provisions and a present ( Q ) and let him go. 6 So Jeremiah went to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah ( R ) and stayed with him among the people who were left behind in the land.
7 When all the army officers and their men who were still in the open country heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam as governor ( T ) over the land and had put him in charge of the men, women and children who were the poorest ( U ) in the land and who had not been carried into exile to Babylon, 8 they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah ( V ) —Ishmael ( W ) son of Nethaniah, Johanan ( X ) and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth, the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, ( Y ) and Jaazaniah [ b ] the son of the Maakathite, ( Z ) and their men. 9 Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, took an oath to reassure them and their men. “Do not be afraid to serve ( AA ) the Babylonians, [ c ] ( AB ) ” he said. “Settle down in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it will go well with you. ( AC ) 10 I myself will stay at Mizpah ( AD ) to represent you before the Babylonians who come to us, but you are to harvest the wine, ( AE ) summer fruit and olive oil, and put them in your storage jars, ( AF ) and live in the towns you have taken over.” ( AG )
11 When all the Jews in Moab, ( AH ) Ammon, Edom ( AI ) and all the other countries ( AJ ) heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant in Judah and had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, as governor over them, 12 they all came back to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah at Mizpah, from all the countries where they had been scattered. ( AK ) And they harvested an abundance of wine and summer fruit.
13 Johanan ( AL ) son of Kareah and all the army officers still in the open country came to Gedaliah at Mizpah ( AM ) 14 and said to him, “Don’t you know that Baalis king of the Ammonites ( AN ) has sent Ishmael ( AO ) son of Nethaniah to take your life?” But Gedaliah son of Ahikam did not believe them.
15 Then Johanan ( AP ) son of Kareah said privately to Gedaliah in Mizpah, “Let me go and kill ( AQ ) Ishmael son of Nethaniah, and no one will know it. Why should he take your life and cause all the Jews who are gathered around you to be scattered ( AR ) and the remnant ( AS ) of Judah to perish?”
16 But Gedaliah son of Ahikam said to Johanan ( AT ) son of Kareah, “Don’t do such a thing! What you are saying about Ishmael is not true.”
