Jeremiah Freed and Restored
40 1 The word that came to Jeremiah from our Father after Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had released him at Ramah, where he had been taken in chains among all the exiles of Jerusalem and Judah who were being carried away to Babylon. 2 The captain of the guard took Jeremiah and said to him, "Your God pronounced 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. 3 Now the LORD has brought it about and has done just as he said, because you all sinned against the LORD and did not obey him. That is why this has happened to you. 4 Now look, I am freeing you today from the chains on your hands. If you want to come with me to Babylon, come, and I will look after you; but if you don't want to come to Babylon, you don't have to. See, the whole land is before you — go wherever you think best. 5 Before Jeremiah had turned to leave, Nebuzaradan added, "Go back to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon has appointed over the cities of Judah, and live with him among the people, or go wherever you think is right." Then the captain of the guard gave him provisions and a gift and let him go.
6 So Jeremiah went to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah and lived with him among the people who were left in the land.
Gedaliah Gathers the Remnant
7 When all the commanders of the forces in the open country, they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam over the land and had put him in charge of the men, women, and children, the poorest of the land who had not been carried into exile to Babylon, 8 they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah — Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan and Jonathan the 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, "Do not be afraid to serve the Chaldeans. Live in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it will go well with you. b b v9 Chaldeans: the ruling people of the Babylonian Empire — used here for the Babylonian officials and soldiers. 10 As for me, I am going to live at Mizpah to represent you before the Chaldeans who come to us. But you, gather wine, summer fruit, and oil, store them in your vessels, and live in the cities that you have taken."
11 Likewise, when all the Judeans who were in Moab and among the Ammonites and 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 Judeans returned from all the places to which they had been driven and came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah at Mizpah, and they gathered wine and summer fruit in great abundance.
13 Now Johanan son of Kareah and all the commanders of the forces in the open country came to Gedaliah at Mizpah 14 and said to him, "Do you not know that Baalis the king of the Ammonites has sent Ishmael son of Nethaniah to take your life?" But Gedaliah son of Ahikam did not believe them.
15 Then Johanan son of Kareah spoke secretly to Gedaliah at Mizpah, "Let me go and strike down Ishmael son of Nethaniah, and no one will know. Why should he take your life and let all the Judeans who are gathered to you be scattered and the remnant of Judah perish?"
16 But Gedaliah son of Ahikam said to Johanan son of Kareah, "You must not do this, for you are lying about Ishmael."