Jeremiah 40:2-16 ▼

2 The captain of the guard found Jeremiah (whom YHWH has appointed) and said to him, “The LORD your God {YHWH Eloheka} decreed this disaster on this place,

3 and now the LORD {YHWH} has fulfilled it; He has done just as He said. Because you⁺ people have sinned against the LORD and have not obeyed His voice, this thing has happened to you⁺.

4 But now, behold, I am freeing you today from the chains that were on your wrists. If it pleases you to come with me to Babylon (confusion by mixing), then come, and I will take care of you. But if it seems wrong to you to come with me to Babylon, go no farther. Look, the whole land is before you. Wherever it seems good and right to you, go there.”

5 But before Jeremiah turned to go, Nebuzaradan added, “Return to Gedaliah (YHWH is great) son of Ahikam (my brother has arisen), the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon (confusion by mixing) has appointed over the cities of Judah (praised), and stay with him among the people, or go anywhere else that seems right.” Then the captain of the guard gave him a ration and a gift and released him.

6 So Jeremiah (whom YHWH has appointed) went to Gedaliah (YHWH is great) son of Ahikam (my brother has arisen) at Mizpah (watchtower) and stayed with him among the people who were left in the land.

7 When all the commanders and men of the armies in the field heard that the king of Babylon (confusion by mixing) had appointed Gedaliah (YHWH is great) son of Ahikam (my brother has arisen) over the land and that he had put him in charge of the men, women, and children who were the poorest of the land and had not been exiled to Babylon,

8 they came to Gedaliah (YHWH is great) at Mizpah (watchtower)—Ishmael (God hears) son of Nethaniah (given of YHWH), Johanan (YHWH has graced) and Jonathan (YHWH has given) the sons of Kareah (bald), Seraiah (YHWH is ruler) son of Tanhumeth (consolation), the sons of Ephai (gloomy) the Netophathite, and Jezaniah (Jaazaniah) son of the Maacathite (she has pressed)—they and their men.

9 Gedaliah (YHWH is great) son of Ahikam (my brother has arisen), the son of Shaphan, swore an oath to them and their men, assuring them, “Do not be afraid to serve the Chaldeans (the Babylonians). Live in the land and serve the king of Babylon (confusion by mixing), and it will go well with you⁺.

10 As for me, I will stay in Mizpah (watchtower) to represent you before the Chaldeans (clod-breakers) who come to us. As for you⁺, gather wine grapes, summer fruit, and oil, place them in your⁺ storage jars, and live in the cities you⁺ have taken.”

11 When all the Jews in Moab (of his father), Ammon, (tribal) Edom (red), and all the other lands heard that the king of Babylon (confusion by mixing) had left a remnant in Judah (praised) and had appointed Gedaliah (YHWH is great) son of Ahikam (my brother has arisen), the son of Shaphan, over them,

12 they all returned from all the places to which they had been banished and came to the land of Judah (praised), to Gedaliah (YHWH is great) at Mizpah (watchtower). And they gathered an abundance of wine grapes and summer fruit.

13 Meanwhile, Johanan (YHWH has graced) son of Kareah (bald) and all the commanders of the armies in the field came to Gedaliah (YHWH is great) at Mizpah (watchtower)

14 and said to him, “Are you aware that Baalis (lord of the banner) king of the Ammonites (tribal) has sent Ishmael (God hears) son of Nethaniah (given of YHWH) to take your life?” But Gedaliah (YHWH is great) son of Ahikam (my brother has arisen) did not believe them.

15 Then Johanan (YHWH has graced) son of Kareah (bald) spoke privately to Gedaliah (YHWH is great) at Mizpah (watchtower). “Let me go and kill Ishmael (God hears) son of Nethaniah (given of YHWH),” he said. “No one will know it. Why should he take your life and scatter all the people of Judah (praised) who have gathered to you, so that the remnant of Judah would perish?”

16 But Gedaliah (YHWH is great) son of Ahikam (my brother has arisen) said to Johanan (YHWH has graced) son of Kareah (bald), “Do not do such a thing! What you are saying about Ishmael (God hears) is a lie.”