40 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..