Jeremiah 40
Jeremiah Remains in Judah
1This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD after Nebuzaradan captain of the guard had released him at Ramah, having found him bound in chains among all the captives of Jerusalem and Judah who were being exiled to Babylon.
1The word that came to Jeremiah from YHWH after Nebuzaradan the captain of the guards has sent him away from Ramah, when he had taken him—and he being bound in chains—in the midst of all the exile of Jerusalem and Judah who were being exiled to Babylon.
3and now the LORD has fulfilled it; He has done just as He said. Because you people have sinned against the LORD and have not obeyed His voice, this thing has happened to you.
3and YHWH has brought it, and He has done as He said. Because you have sinned against YHWH and have not listened to His voice, so this thing has come upon you.
4But now, behold, I am freeing you today from the chains that were on your wrists. If it pleases you to come with me to Babylon, then come, and I will take care of you. But if it seems wrong to you to come with me to Babylon, go no farther. Look, the whole land is before you. Wherever it seems good and right to you, go there.”
4And now, behold, I have loosed you this day from the chains that were on your hand. If it is good in your eyes to come with me to Babylon, come, and I will put the eye to you. And if it is bad in your eyes to come with me to Babylon, remain here. Behold, all the land is before you; wherever it is good and upright for you to go, go there.
5But before Jeremiah turned to go, Nebuzaradan added, “Return to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon has appointed over the cities of Judah, and stay with him among the people, or go anywhere else that seems right.” Then the captain of the guard gave him a ration and a gift and released him.
5And while he had not turned again: “And You may return to Gedaliah son of Ahikam son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon has appointed over the cities of Judah, and you may dwell with him in the midst of the people or go to wherever is upright for you to go.” And the captain of the guards gave rations to him, and a present, and he sent him away.
Gedaliah Governs in Judah
7When all the commanders and men of the armies in the field heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam over the land and that he had put him in charge of the men, women, and children who were the poorest of the land and had not been exiled to Babylon,
7And all the captains of the forces who were in the fields heard—they and their men—that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam in the land, and he had appointed to him men, and women, and children, and the poorest of the land, who had not been exiled to Babylon;
8they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah—Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth, the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniaha son of the Maacathite—they and their men.
8and they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah—even Ishmael son of Nethaniah, and Johanan and Jonathan the 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.
9Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, swore an oath to them and their men, assuring them, “Do not be afraid to serve the Chaldeans.a Live in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it will go well with you.
9And Gedaliah son of Ahikam son of Shaphan took an oath before them and before their men, saying: “Do not be afraid to serve the Chaldeans; dwell in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it will go well with you.
10As for me, I will stay in Mizpah to represent you before the Chaldeans who come to us. As for you, gather wine grapes, summer fruit, and oil, place them in your storage jars, and live in the cities you have taken.”
10And I, behold, I will be dwelling at Mizpah to serve the Chaldeans who will come to us; and you, gather wine and summer fruit and oil, and put them in your vessels, and dwell in your cities that you have taken.
11When all the Jews in Moab, Ammon, Edom, and all the other lands heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant in Judah and had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, over them,
11And also all the Jews who were in Moab and among the sons of Ammon and in Edom, who were in all the lands, heard that the king of Babylon had given a remnant for Judah and that he had appointed over them Gedaliah son of Ahikam son Shaphan.
12they all returned from all the places to which they had been banished and came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah at Mizpah. And they gathered an abundance of wine grapes and summer fruit.
12And all the Jews from all of the places to which they had been driven there returned, and they came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah at Mizpah, and they gathered wine and summer fruit in great abundance.
The Plot against Gedaliah
14and said to him, “Are you aware that Baalis king of the Ammonites has sent Ishmael son of Nethaniah to take your life?”
But Gedaliah son of Ahikam did not believe them.
14and they said to him: “Do you know for certain that Baalis the king of the sons of the Ammon has sent Ishmael son of Nethaniah to strike your soul?” And Gedaliah son of Ahikam did not trust them.
15Then Johanan son of Kareah spoke privately to Gedaliah at Mizpah. “Let me go and kill Ishmael son of Nethaniah,” he said. “No one will know it. Why should he take your life and scatter all the people of Judah who have gathered to you, so that the remnant of Judah would perish?”
15And Johanan son of Kareah spoke to Gedaliah in secret in Mizpah, saying: “Let me go, please, and I will strike Ishmael son of Nethaniah, and not a man will know.” Why should he strike you, so that all Judah who are gathered to you should be scattered and the remnant of Judah should perish?