The Book of Jeremiah

Jer 40:1 The word that came to Jer-emi´-ah from the Lord, after that Neb´-u-zar–a´-dan the captain of the guard had let him go from Ra´-mah, 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 Jer-e-mi´-ah, 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 Ged-ali´-ah the son of A-hi´-kam the son of Sha´-phan, 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 Jer-e-mi´-ah unto Ged-a-li´-ah the son of A-hi´-kam to Miz´-pah; 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 Ged-a-li´ah the son of A-hi´-kam 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 Ged-a-li´-ah to Miz´-pah, even Ish´-ma-el the son of Neth-a-ni´-ah, and Jo-ha´-nan and Jonathan the sons of Ka-re´-ah, and Se-ra´-iah the son of Tan´-hu-meth, and the sons of E´-phai the Ne-toph´a-thite, and Jez-a-ni´-ah the son of a Ma-ach´-a-thite, they and their men.

Jer 40:9 And Ged-a-li´-ah the son of A-hi´kam the son of Sha´-phan sware unto them and to their men, saying, Fear not to serve the Chal-de´-ans: 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 Miz´-pah to serve the Chal-de´ans, 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 Am´-mon-ites, and in E´-dom, 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 Ged-a-li´-ah the son of A-hi´-kam the son of Sha´-phan;

Jer 40:12 Even all the Jews returned out of all places whither they were driven, and came to the land of Judah, to Ged-a-li´-ah, unto Miz´-pah, and gathered wine and summer fruits very much.

Jer 40:13 Moreover Jo-ha´-nan the son of Ka-re´-ah, and all the captains of the forces that were in the fields, came to Ged-a-li´-ah to Miz´-pah,

Jer 40:14 And said unto him, Dost thou certainly know that Ba´-al-is the king of the Am´-mon-ites hath sent Ish´ma-el the son of Neth-a-ni´-ah to slay thee? But Ged-a-li´-ah the son of A-hi´kam believed them not.

Jer 40:15 Then Jo-ha´-nan the son of Kare´-ah spake to Ged-a-li´-ah in Miz´pah secretly, saying, Let me go, I pray thee, and I will slay Ish´-ma-el the son of Neth-a-ni´-ah, 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 Ged-a-li´-ah the son of A-hi´-kam said unto Jo-ha´-nan the son of Ka-re´-ah, Thou shalt not do this thing: for thou speakest falsely of Ish´ma-el.