AB - Jeremiah - 40

40:1  The word that came from the Lord to Jeremiah, after that Nabuzaradan the captain of the guard had let him go out of Ramah, when he had taken him in chains in the midst of the captivity of Judah, even those who were carried to Babylon.

40:2  And the chief captain of the guard took him, and said to him, The Lord your God has pronounced all these evils upon this place;

40:3  and the Lord has done it; because you sinned against Him, and hearkened not to His voice.

40:4  Behold, I have loosed you from the chains that were upon your hands. If it seems good to you to go with me to Babylon, then will I set my eyes upon you.

40:5  But if not, depart. Return to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon has appointed governor in the land of Judah, and dwell with him in the midst of the people in the land of Judah. Or go to wherever places seems good in your eyes to go. And the captain of the guard made him presents, and let him go.

40:6  And he came to Gedaliah, to Mizpah, and dwelt among his people that was left in the land.

40:7  And all the leaders of the army that were in the country, they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah governor in the land, and they committed to him the men and their wives whom Nebuchadnezzar had not taken to Babylon.

40:8  And there came to Gedaliah at Mizpah-Ishmael, the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan son of Kareah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth, and the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniah son of a Maachathite, they and their men.

40:9  And Gedaliah swore to them and to their men, saying, Be not afraid before the children of the Chaldeans; dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you.

40:10  And behold, I dwell in your presence at Mizpah, to stand before the Chaldeans who shall come against you. And gather grapes, and fruits, and oil, and put them into your vessels, and dwell in the cities which you have obtained possession of.

40:11  And all the Jews that were in Moab, and among the children of Ammon, and those that were in Edom, and those that were in all the rest of the country, heard that the king of Babylon had granted a remnant to Judah, and that he had appointed over them Gedaliah the son of Ahikam.

40:12  And they came to Gedaliah into the land of Judah, to Mizpah, and gathered grapes, and very much summer fruit, and oil.

40:13  And Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the leaders of the army, who were in the fields, came to Gedaliah at Mizpah,

40:14  and said to him, Do you indeed know that King Baalis son of Ammon has sent Ismael to you, to kill you? But Gedaliah did not believe them.

40:15  And Johanan said to Gedaliah secretly in Mizpah, I will go now and kill Ishmael, and let no man know it; lest he kill you, and all the Jews that are gathered to you be dispersed, and the remnant of Judah perish.

40:16  But Gedaliah said to Johanan, Do not do this thing, for you speak lies concerning Ishmael.