JER-40:1 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.

JER-40:2 And the captain of the guard took Jeremiah, and said

unto him, The LORD thy God hath pronounced this evil upon this

place.

JER-40:3 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.

JER-40:4 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.

JER-40:5 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.

JER-40:6 Then went Jeremiah unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to

Mizpah; and dwelt with him among the people that were left in

the land.

JER-40:7 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;

JER-40:8 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.

JER-40:9 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.

JER-40:10 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.

JER-40:11 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;

JER-40:12 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.

JER-40:13 Moreover Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the

captains of the forces that [were] in the fields, came to

Gedaliah to Mizpah,

JER-40:14 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.

JER-40:15 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?

JER-40:16 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. 

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