Jeremiah
Chapter Forty
1 ¶ 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.
2 And the captain of the guard took Jeremiah, and said unto him, The LORD thy
God hath pronounced this evil upon this place.
3 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.
4 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.
5 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.
6 Then went Jeremiah unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah; and dwelt with
him among the people that were left in the land.
7 ¶ 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;
8 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.
9 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.
10 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.
11 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;
12 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.
13 Moreover Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that
were in the fields, came to Gedaliah to Mizpah,
14 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.
15 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?
16 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.
Go to Chapter Forty-One
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