The word that came to Jeremiah
from the LORD
, after
that Nebuzaradan
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 ye have 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 Ahikam
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 victuals
and a reward
, and let him go
.
Then went Jeremiah
unto Gedaliah
the son
of Ahikam
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 Ahikam
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 Kareah
, and Seraiah
the son
of Tanhumeth
, and the sons
of Ephai
the Netophathite
, and Jezaniah
the son
of a Maachathite
, they and their men
.
And Gedaliah the son
of Ahikam
the son
of Shaphan
sware
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: but 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 Ahikam
the son
of Shaphan
;
Even all the Jews returned out
of all places
whither they were driven
, and came
to the land
of Judah
, to Gedaliah
, unto Mizpah
, and gathered
wine
and summer fruits
very
much
.
Moreover Johanan the son
of Kareah
, 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 Baalis
the king
of the Ammonites
hath sent
Ishmael
the son
of Nethaniah
to slay
thee? But Gedaliah
the son
of Ahikam
believed
them not.
Then Johanan the son
of Kareah
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 Ahikam
said
unto Johanan
the son
of Kareah
, Thou shalt not do
this thing
: for thou speakest
falsely
of Ishmael
.