Jeremiah 40

King James Version

Full text for Jeremiah Chapter 40

1¶ 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.

2And the captain of the guard took Jeremiah, and said unto him, The LORD thy God hath pronounced this evil upon this place.

3Now 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.

4And 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.

5Now 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.

6Then 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;

8Then 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.

9And 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.

10As 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.

11Likewise 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;

12Even 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.

13Moreover Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that [were] in the fields, came to Gedaliah to Mizpah,

14And 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.

15Then 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?

16But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said unto Johanan the son of Kareah, Thou shalt not do this thing: for thou speakest falsely of Ishmael.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

After Jerusalem's fall, Jeremiah was freed by Nebuzaradan, who acknowledged God's judgment upon Judah. Jeremiah chose to remain in the land, joining Gedaliah, whom Babylon appointed governor over the remnant. Many scattered Jews and military captains gathered under Gedaliah, who encouraged them to settle peacefully and serve the Chaldeans. However, Johanan warned Gedaliah of an assassination plot by Ishmael, which Gedaliah tragically dismissed as false.

Medium Summary

Following the Babylonian conquest, Jeremiah was released from captivity by Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, who recognized that the LORD had brought this judgment upon Judah due to their sin. Jeremiah was given the choice to go to Babylon under protection or remain in the land; he chose to stay. He joined Gedaliah, whom the king of Babylon had appointed governor over the remaining people at Mizpah. Various military captains, including Ishmael and Johanan, and Jews who had fled to neighboring countries, returned to Gedaliah. Gedaliah assured them of peace and well-being if they served the Chaldeans and encouraged them to gather provisions. Nevertheless, Johanan warned Gedaliah that Ishmael, sent by the Ammonite king, intended to murder him, but Gedaliah disbelieved the report and refused Johanan's offer to eliminate the threat.

Long Summary

The chapter opens with the word of the LORD coming to Jeremiah after Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, released him from chains at Ramah, where he had been among the captives destined for Babylon. Nebuzaradan explicitly stated that the LORD God had pronounced and executed this evil upon Judah because of their sin and disobedience. He offered Jeremiah the choice to accompany him to Babylon, where he would be well-cared for, or to remain in Judah, free to go wherever he pleased. Jeremiah chose to stay in the land and subsequently went to Mizpah to dwell with Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam, whom the king of Babylon had appointed governor over the cities of Judah and the remaining people. Upon hearing of Gedaliah's appointment, several captains of the forces, including Ishmael, Johanan, and others, along with their men, came to Mizpah to meet him. Gedaliah swore an oath to them, urging them not to fear serving the Chaldeans, but rather to dwell in the land and serve the king of Babylon, promising that it would be well with them. He instructed them to gather wine, summer fruits, and oil, and to settle in their cities. Similarly, Jews who had fled to surrounding nations like Moab, Ammon, and Edom, hearing that a remnant remained and Gedaliah was governor, returned to Judah and gathered abundant provisions. However, a critical warning emerged when Johanan the son of Kareah approached Gedaliah, informing him that Baalis, the king of the Ammonites, had sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to assassinate him. Gedaliah, surprisingly, did not believe this report, dismissing it as false. Johanan then secretly offered to personally slay Ishmael to prevent the scattering of the newly gathered Jews and the destruction of the remnant in Judah. Yet, Gedaliah firmly forbade Johanan from taking such action, reiterating his conviction that Johanan's accusation against Ishmael was untrue.

Core Concepts

  • Divine Judgment AcknowledgedNebuzaradan, the Babylonian captain of the guard, openly recognized that Judah's destruction was a direct consequence of the LORD's judgment upon them for their sin and disobedience.
  • Jeremiah's Release and ChoiceJeremiah, despite being initially bound with captives, was released by the Babylonians and given the freedom to choose his dwelling, either in Babylon under protection or remaining in the devastated land of Judah. He chose to stay with his people.
  • Gedaliah's GovernorshipThe King of Babylon appointed Gedaliah, son of Ahikam, as governor over the remnant of Judah, tasking him with overseeing the remaining population and cities. His role was to establish order and facilitate cooperation with the Babylonian rule.
  • Gathering of the RemnantFollowing Gedaliah's appointment, scattered military captains and Jews who had fled to neighboring countries returned to Judah, gathering at Mizpah under Gedaliah's leadership. This represented an initial attempt to rebuild and stabilize the land.
  • Counsel for Peace and ProsperityGedaliah advised the returning people to settle in the land, gather provisions, and serve the king of Babylon, assuring them that this path would lead to peace and well-being. He sought to establish a stable, albeit subservient, existence.
  • Ignored Warning of TreacheryJohanan the son of Kareah warned Gedaliah of an imminent assassination plot by Ishmael, who was sent by the king of Ammon. Despite the gravity of the warning and Johanan's offer to intervene, Gedaliah tragically dismissed it as false.
  • Trust and DisbeliefGedaliah's unwavering trust in Ishmael, despite a credible warning from Johanan, sets the stage for future conflict. His refusal to believe the plot highlights a critical lapse in judgment that would have dire consequences.