40:1 The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, after that
Nebuzar-adan 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, who were
carried away captive to Babylon.
40:2 And the captain of the guard took Jeremiah, and said to
him, The LORD thy God hath pronounced this evil upon this
place.
40:3 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.
40:4 And now, behold, I loose thee this day from the chains
which [were] upon thy hand. If it seemeth good to thee to come
with me into Babylon, come; and I will look well to thee: but
if it seemeth ill to 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.
40:5 Now while he had not yet gone back, [he said], Go back also
to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, whom the king
of Babylon had made governor over the cities of Judah, and
dwell with him among the people: or go wherever it seemeth
convenient to thee to go. So the captain of the guard gave him
provisions and a reward, and let him go.
40:6 Then Jeremiah went to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah;
and dwelt with him among the people that were left in the land.
40:7 Now when all the captains of the forces who [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 to him men, and women, and children,
and of the poor of the land, of them that were not carried away
captive to Babylon;
40:8 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.
40:9 And Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, swore to
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.
40:10 As for me, behold, I will dwell at Mizpah, to serve the
Chaldeans, who will come to 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.
40:11 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;
40:12 Even all the Jews returned out of all places whither they
were driven, and came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah, to
Mizpah, and gathered wine and summer fruits in abundance.
40:13 Moreover Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains
of the forces, that [were] in the fields, came to Gedaliah to
Mizpah,
40:14 And said to 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.
40:15 Then Johanan the son of Kareah spoke 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]: why
should he slay thee, that all the Jews who are gathered to thee
should be scattered, and the remnant of Judah perish?
40:16 But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said to Johanan the son of
Kareah, Thou shalt not do this thing: for thou speakest falsely
of Ishmael.
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