Chapter 40.
The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, after that Nebuchadnezzar Aden,
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, which were carried away captive unto Babylon.
And the captain of the guard took Jeremiah, and said unto him, The Lord thy
God hath pronounced this evil upon this place.
Now the Lord hath brought it, and done according as he hath said, because she
hath sinned against the Lord, and have not obeyed his voice.
Therefore this thing is come upon you.
And now, behold, I loose thee this day from the chains which were upon thine
hand.
If it seem good unto thee to come with me into Babylon, come, and I will look well
unto thee.
But if it seem ill unto 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.
Now while he was not yet gone back, he said, Go back also to Gedaliah,
the son of Ahicham, the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon hath made
governor over the cities of Judah, and dwell with him among the people.
Or go wheresoever it seemeth convenient unto thee to go.
So the captain of the guard gave him vittles and a reward, and let him go.
Then went Jeremiah unto Gedaliah, the son of Ahicham, to Mizpah,
and dwelt with him among the people that were left in the land.
Now when all the captains of the forces which were in the fields, even they and
their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah the son of Ahicham
governor in the land, and had committed unto him men, and women, and children,
and of the poor of the land, of them that were not carried away captive to Babylon,
then they came to Gedaliah, to Mizpah, even Ishmael the son of Nethaniah,
and Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Korea, and Saraiah the son of Tanhumath,
and the sons of Ephi, the Natophathite, and Jezaniah the son of Amayakathite,
they and their men, and Gedaliah the son of Ahicham, the son of Shaphan,
swear unto 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.
As for me, behold, I will dwell at Mizpah, to serve the Chaldeans, which will come
unto us.
Which ye gather ye wine, and summer fruits, and oil, and put them in your
vessels, and dwell in your cities that ye have taken.
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
Ahicham, the son of Shaphan, even all the Jews returned out of all places where they
were driven, and came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah, and to Mizpah,
and gathered wine and summer fruits very much.
Moreover, Johanan the son of Korea, and all the captains of the forces that
were in the fields, came to Gedaliah, to Mizpah, and said unto him, Dost thou
certainly know that Baalist, the king of the Ammonites, hath sent Ishmael,
the son of Nethaniah, to slay thee?
But Gedaliah, the son of Ahicham, believed them not.
Then Johanan, the son of Korea, spake 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.
Wherefore should he slay thee, that all the Jews which are gathered unto
thee should be scattered, and the remnant in Judah perish?
But Gedaliah, the son of Ahicham, said unto Johanan, the son of Korea,
Thou shalt not do this thing, for thou speakest falsely of Ishmael.