Jeremiah 40
1 The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD after Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, released him at Ramah. He had taken him in chains among all the captives of Jerusalem and Judah who were being taken to Babylon.
2 The captain of the guard took Jeremiah and said to him, “The LORD your God spoke this disaster against this place.
3 The LORD brought it about and did as he had said, because you sinned against the LORD and did not listen to his voice. That is why this has happened to you.
4 Now look: today I am freeing you from the chains on your hands. If you think it is good to come with me to Babylon, come, and I will look after you. But if you think it is wrong to come with me to Babylon, then don’t. Look, the whole land lies before you; go wherever it seems good and right to you.”
5 As Jeremiah had not yet turned to go, the captain of the guard added, “Go back to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon has appointed over the cities of Judah, and stay with him among the people; or go wherever it seems right to you.” The captain of the guard gave him provisions and a gift, and let him go.
6 Jeremiah went to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah and stayed with him among the people who remained in the land.
7 All the army commanders who were in the countryside, along with their men, heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam over the land, and had entrusted to him men, women, children, and the poorest people of the land who had not been taken captive to Babylon.
8 They came to Gedaliah at Mizpah: Ishmael son of Nethaniah; Johanan and Jonathan, sons of Kareah; Seraiah son of Tanhumeth; the sons of Ephai the Netophathite; and Jezaniah son of the Maacathite—they and their men.
9 Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, swore to them and their men, saying, “Do not be afraid to serve the Chaldeans. Stay in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and things will go well for you.
10 As for me, look, I will stay at Mizpah to represent us before the Chaldeans who come to us. You, gather wine, summer fruit, and oil, put them in your containers, and stay in the towns you have taken.”
11 All the Jews in Moab, among the Ammonites, in Edom, and in all the other lands heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant in Judah and had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, over them.
12 All the Jews returned from every place where they had been driven away and came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah at Mizpah. They gathered a great deal of wine and summer fruit.
13 Johanan son of Kareah and all the army commanders who were in the countryside came to Gedaliah at Mizpah.
14 They said to him, “Do you really know that Baalis, king of the Ammonites, has sent Ishmael son of Nethaniah to take your life?” But Gedaliah son of Ahikam did not believe them.
15 Johanan son of Kareah spoke privately to Gedaliah at Mizpah: “Let me go and kill Ishmael son of Nethaniah, and no one will know. Why should he take your life, scattering all the people of Judah who have gathered around you and causing the remnant of Judah to perish?”
16 But Gedaliah son of Ahikam said to Johanan son of Kareah, “Don’t do this, because what you are saying about Ishmael is false.”
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