Open English Translation JER Chapter 40

40 The chief bodyguard Nevuzar-Adan had found Yirmiyah (Jeremiah) chained up among all the exiles from Yerushalem (Jerusalem) and the rest of Yehudah (Judah) to be taken to Bavel (Babylon), and had released him at Ramah.

2 The chief bodyguard took Yirmiyah aside and told him, “Your god Yahweh decreed this disaster for this place, 3 then he caused it to happen. Yahweh did just as he’d decreed, since you people sinned against him and didn’t obey him. That’s why all this has happened to you people. 4 But now listen, I’ve released you today from your chains. If you choose to come with me to Bavel, I’ll look after you, but if you don’t want to, then look around and go wherever you think best. 5 Or why don’t you return to Gedalyah (son of Ahikam, son of Shafan) who the Babylonian king has put in charge of Yehudah’s cities. Stay among the people with him, or go wherever you think best.” Then the king’s chief bodyguard gave him food and a gift, and sent him away. 6 So Yirmiyah went to Gedalyah’s place and stayed with him among the people who were left behind in the land.

7 Now some commanders of Yehudi (Jew) soldiers who were still in the countryside, along with their men heard that the Babylonian king had made Ahikam’s son Gedalyah governor over the land.[ref] They also heard that he’d put him in charge of the men, women, and children who were the poorest people in the land—those who hadn’t been exiled to Bavel (Babylon). 8 So they went to Gedalyah at Mitspah. Those who went were Netanyah’s son Yishmael (Ishmael), Kareah’s sons Yohanan and Yonatan (Jonathan), Tanhumet’s son Serayah, the sons of Ofay the Netofati, and Ma’akati’s son Yezanyah, and their men. 9 Gedalyah (son of Ahikam, son of Shafan) made a promise to them and their men, saying, “Don’t be afraid to serve the Babylonian officials. Live in the land and serve the Babylonian king, and it will go well with you. 10 See, I’m living in Mitspah to meet with the Babylonians who came to us. So harvest wine, summer fruit, and oil and store them in your containers. Live in the cities that you’ve occupied.” 11 Then all the Yehudim (Jews) in Moav (Moab), among the people of Amon, and in Edom, and in every land heard that the Babylonian king had allowed a small number of people to stay in Yehudah (Judah), and that he’d appointed Gedalyah (son of Ahikam, son of Shafan) over them. 12 So all the Yehudim from every place that they’d be driven into, came back to Yehudah to Gedalyah at Mitspah, and they harvested a lot of wine and summer fruit.

13 Some time later, Kareah’s son Yonatan (Jonathan) and all the army commanders from the countryside, came to Gedalyah at Mitspah, 14 and asked him, “Do you realise that the Amoni King Ba’alis has sent Netanyah’s son Yishmael (Ishmael) to assassinate you?” However Ahikam’s son Gedalyah didn’t believe them 15 so Kareah’s son Yohanan spoke privately to Gedalyah at Mitspah, “Allow me to go and kill Netanyah’s Yishmael. No one will suspect me. Why should he kill you? Why allow all of Yehudah (Judah) that has been gathered to you to be scattered and the remnant destroyed?”

16 However Ahikam’s son Gedalyah replied to Kareah’s son Yohanan, “No, don’t do that, because you’re lying about Yishmael.”