The word which
came
to Jeremiah
from the LORD
after
aNebuzaradan
captain
of the bodyguard
had released
him from bRamah
, when he had taken
him bound
in cchains
among
all
the exiles
of Jerusalem
and Judah
who were being exiled
to Babylon
.
Now the captain of the bodyguard
had taken
Jeremiah
and said
to him, "The aLORD
your God
promised
this
calamity
against
this
place
;
and the LORD has brought
it on and done
just
as He promised
. Because
you people asinned
against the LORD
and did not listen
to His voice
, therefore this
thing
has happened
to you.
"But now, behold
, I am afreeing
you today
from the chains
which
are on your hands
. If
1you would prefer
to come
with me to Babylon
, come
along, and I will 2look
after
you; but if
3you would prefer
not to come
with me to Babylon
, 4never
mind
. Look
, the bwhole
land
is before
you; go
wherever
it seems good
and right
for you to go
."
As 1Jeremiah was still not going
back
, 2he said, "Go
on back
then to aGedaliah
the son
of Ahikam
, the son
of Shaphan
, whom
the king
of Babylon
has bappointed
over the cities
of Judah
, and stay
with him among
the people
; or
else go
anywhere
it seems right
for you to go
." So the captain
of the bodyguard
gave
him a cration
and a dgift
and let
him go
.
Then Jeremiah went
to aMizpah
to bGedaliah
the son
of Ahikam
and stayed
with him among
the people
who were left
in the land
.
aNow all the 1commanders
of the forces
that were in the field
, they and their men
, heard
that the king
of Babylon
had appointed
Gedaliah
the son
of Ahikam
over the land
and that he had put
him in charge
of the men
, women
and 2children
, those of the bpoorest
of the land
who
had not been exiled
to Babylon
.
So they came to Gedaliah
at Mizpah
, along with aIshmael
the son
of Nethaniah
, and bJohanan
and Jonathan
the sons
of Kareah
, and Seraiah
the son
of Tanhumeth
, and the sons
of Ephai
the cNetophathite
, and dJezaniah
the son
of the eMaacathite
, both they and their men
.
Then Gedaliah the son
of Ahikam
, the son
of Shaphan
, aswore
to them and to their men
, saying
, " bDo not be afraid
of serving
the Chaldeans
; stay
in the land
and serve
the king
of Babylon
, that it may go
well
with you.
"Now as for me, behold, I am going to stay
at Mizpah
to astand
for you before
the Chaldeans
who
come
to us; but as for you, bgather
in wine
and csummer
fruit
and oil
and put
them in your storage vessels
, and live
in your cities
that you have taken
over
."
Likewise, also all
the Jews
who
were in aMoab
and among the sons
of bAmmon
and in cEdom
and who
were in all
the other countries
, heard
that the king
of Babylon
had left
a remnant
for Judah
, and that he had appointed
over
them Gedaliah
the son
of Ahikam
, the son
of Shaphan
.
Then all the Jews
areturned
from all
the places
to which
they had been driven
away
and came
to the land
of Judah
, to Gedaliah
at Mizpah
, and gathered
in wine
and summer
fruit
in great
abundance
.
Now Johanan the son
of Kareah
and all
the commanders
of the forces
that were in the field
came
to Gedaliah
at Mizpah
and said to him, "Are you well
aware
that Baalis
the king
of the sons
of aAmmon
has sent
Ishmael
the son
of Nethaniah
to take
your life
?" But Gedaliah
the son
of Ahikam
did not believe
them.
Then Johanan the son
of Kareah
spoke
secretly
to Gedaliah
in Mizpah
, saying
, " aLet me go
and kill
Ishmael
the son
of Nethaniah
, and not a man
will know
! Why
should he btake
your life
, so that all
the Jews
who are gathered
to you would be scattered
and the cremnant
of Judah
would perish
?"
But Gedaliah the son
of Ahikam
said
to Johanan
the son
of Kareah
, " aDo not do
this
thing
, for you are telling
a lie
about
Ishmael
."