Jeremiah 40

1The word that reached Jeremiah from Yahweh after Nebuzaradan the chief of the guards released him from Ramah, when he had taken him bound in chains among all the captives of Jerusalem and Judah exiled to Babylon.

2The captain of the guard took Jeremiah and said to him, "Yahweh your God has spoken this disaster against this place."

3Yahweh brought it and did as he spoke, because you sinned against Yahweh and did not heed his voice; therefore this matter has befallen you.

4Now behold, I have freed you today from the chains that were on your hand—if it is good in your eyes to come with me to Babylon, come, and I will set my eyes on you; but if it is bad in your eyes to come with me to Babylon, cease—behold, all the land lies before you; go to whatever is good and right in your eyes.

5Before he turned back, "return to Gedaliah son of Ahikam son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon appointed over the cities of Judah, and dwell with him among the people, or go wherever seems right in your eyes to go," and the captain of the guard gave him rations and a travel allowance, then released him.

6Jeremiah went to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah and lived with him among the people remaining in the land.

7All the captains of the forces in the countryside—they and their men—heard that the king of Babylon had set Gedaliah son of Ahikam over the land and had assigned to him men, women, children, and the poorest of the land, those not carried away to Babylon.

8They came to Gedaliah at Mizpah: Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan and Jonathan sons of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth, sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniah son of the Maacathite—they and their men.

9Gedaliah son of Ahikam son of Shaphan bound them and their men with an oath, saying, "Do not fear serving the Chaldeans; live in the land, serve the king of Babylon, and it will go well for you."

10Here I am, staying in Mizpah to stand before the Chaldeans who will come to us; but you, collect wine and summer fruit and oil, store them in your vessels, and live in your cities that you have seized.

11Likewise all the Jews who were in Moab, among the sons of Ammon, in Edom, and in all the lands heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant for Judah, and that he had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam son of Shaphan over them.

12All the Jews returned from all the places where they had been driven and came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah at Mizpah, and gathered wine and summer fruits in great abundance.

13Johanan son of Kareah and all the army commanders who were in the open country came to Gedaliah at Mizpah.

14They said to him, "Do you know that Baalis king of the Ammonites has sent Ishmael son of Nethaniah to strike down your life?" But Gedaliah son of Ahikam did not believe them.

15Johanan son of Kareah said to Gedaliah secretly in Mizpah, saying, "Please let me go and I will strike Ishmael son of Nethaniah, and no man will know it—why should he strike your life so all Judah who are gathered to you scatter and the remnant of Judah perishes?"

16Gedaliah son of Ahikam said to Johanan son of Kareah, "Do not do this matter, for you speak a lie against Ishmael."