Jeremiah Freed and Restored
Freed from the chains at Ramah by a Babylonian officer who tells him to go wherever he likes, Jeremiah stays with Gedaliah at Mizpah. Scattered Judeans return and harvest well. Warned that Ishmael is coming to kill him, Gedaliah refuses to believe it.
40 1The word to Jeremiah from our Father after Nebuzaradan, guard captain, freed him at Ramah, having taken him chained among all the exiles of Jerusalem and Judah being carried to Babylon. 2The guard captain took Jeremiah and told him, "Your God declared this disaster against this place. a a v2 These words come from a Babylonian commander, not from one of God's own — so he names the LORD as the God of judgment, but not as Father; that closeness belongs to God's children. 3The LORD brought it about and did just as he said, because you all sinned against the LORD, disobeyed him - so this happened to you. 4Look, today I release you from the chains on your hands. If it's good to come with me to Babylon, come—I'll watch over you. If not, don't: the whole land is before you; go wherever seems right." 5Before Jeremiah left, Nebuzaradan said, "Return to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, whom Babylon's king set over Judah's cities—live with him among the people, or go wherever you think best." Then the guard captain gave him food, a gift, and sent him off.
6Jeremiah went to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah, staying with him among those left in the land.
Gedaliah Gathers the Remnant
7When all the field commanders and their men heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam over the land, charging him with the men, women, and children—the poorest of the land not exiled to Babylon. 8To Gedaliah at Mizpah came: Nethaniah's son Ishmael, Kareah's sons Johanan and Jonathan, Tanhumeth's son Seraiah, the Netophathite Ephai's sons, and the Maacathite's son Jezaniah—they and their men. 9Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, swore to them and their men: "Don't fear serving the Babylonians. Live in the land, serve Babylon's king, and you'll be fine. b b v9 Hebrew: the Chaldeans — used here for the Babylonian officials and soldiers. 10I will stay at Mizpah, representing you before the Babylonians who come to us. But gather wine, summer fruit, and oil, store them in your jars, and live in the cities you've taken."
11All Judeans in Moab, Ammon, Edom, and every land also heard Babylon's king had left a remnant in Judah and appointed over them Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan. 12All the Judeans returned from wherever they'd scattered, came to Gedaliah at Mizpah in Judah, and gathered abundant wine and summer fruit.
13Johanan son of Kareah and all the army commanders in the countryside came to Gedaliah at Mizpah, 14and said, "Don't you know Ammon's king Baalis sent Ishmael son of Nethaniah to kill you?" But Gedaliah son of Ahikam disbelieved them.
15Then Johanan son of Kareah told Gedaliah at Mizpah in secret, "Let me kill Ishmael son of Nethaniah—no one will know. Why let him take your life and scatter all the Judeans gathered to you, so Judah's remnant dies?"
16But Gedaliah son of Ahikam told Johanan son of Kareah, "Don't do this; you're lying about Ishmael."
