Jeremiah 40

¹ The word that has been unto Jeremiah from Yahweh, after Nebuzar-Adan, chief of the executioners, has sent him from Ramah, in his taking him - and he a prisoner in chains - in the midst of all the removal of Jerusalem and of Judah, who are removed to Babylon. ² And the chief of the executioners takes Jeremiah, and said unto him, "Yahweh your Elohim has spoken this evil concerning this place, ³ and Yahweh brings [it] in, and does as He spoke, because you have sinned against Yahweh, and have not hearkened to His voice, even this thing has been to you. ⁴ And now, lo, I have loosed you to-day from the chains that [are] on your hand; if good in your eyes to come with me [to] Babylon, come, and I keep mine eye upon you: and if evil in your eyes to come with me to Babylon, forbear; see, all the land [is] before you, whither [it be] good, and whither [it be] right in your eyes to go - go." ⁵ and while he does not reply - "Or turn back unto Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon has appointed over the cities of Judah, and dwell with him in the midst of the people, or whithersoever it is right in your eyes to go - go." And the chief of the executioners gives to him for the way, and a gift, and sends him away, ⁶ and Jeremiah comes in unto Gedaliah son of Ahikam, to Mizpah, and dwells with him, in the midst of the people who are left in the land. ⁷ And all the heads of the forces that [are] in the field hear, they and their men, that the king of Babylon has appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam over the land, and that he has charged him [with] men, and women, and infants, and of the poor of the land, of those who have not been removed to Babylon; ⁸ and they come in unto Gedaliah to Mizpah, even Ishmael son of Nethaniah, and Johanan and Jonathan sons of Kareah, and Seraiah son of Tanhumeth, and the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniah son of the Maachathite, they and their men. ⁹ And swear to them does Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, and to their men, saying, "Be not afraid of serving the Chaldeans, abide in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it is well for you; ¹⁰ and I, lo, I am dwelling in Mizpah, to stand before the Chaldeans who are come in unto us, and you, gather you wine, and summer fruit, and oil, and put in your vessels, and dwell in your cities that you have taken." ¹¹ And also all the Jews who [are] in Moab, and among the sons of Ammon, and in Edom, and who [are] in all the lands, have heard that the king of Babylon has given a remnant to Judah, and that he has appointed over them Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, ¹² and all the Jews from all the places whither they have been driven, turn back and enter the land of Judah, unto Gedaliah, to Mizpah, and they gather wine and summer fruit - very much. ¹³ And Johanan son of Kareah, and all the heads of the forces that [are] in the field, have come in unto Gedaliah to Mizpah, ¹⁴ and they say unto him, "Do you really know that Baalis king of the sons of Ammon has sent Ishmael son of Nethaniah to smite your soul?" And Gedaliah son of Ahikam has not given to them credence. ¹⁵ And Johanan son of Kareah has spoken unto Gedaliah in secret, in Mizpah, saying, "Let me go, I pray you, and I smite Ishmael son of Nethaniah, and no one does know; why does he smite your soul? and scattered have been all Judah who are gathered unto you, and perished has the remnant of Judah." ¹⁶ And Gedaliah son of Ahikam said unto Johanan son of Kareah, "You do not do this thing, for falsehood you are speaking concerning Ishmael."