This 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.
The captain of the guard found Jeremiah - and said to him , “ The LORD your God decreed - this disaster on this place ,
and 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
But 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.”
But 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 a ration and a gift and released him.
So Jeremiah - went to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah and stayed with him among the people who were left in the land.
When 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 ,
they 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 Jezaniah son of the Maacathite — they and their men.
Gedaliah son of Ahikam , the son of Shaphan , swore an oath and their men , assuring them , “ Do not be afraid to serve the Chaldeans. Live in the land and serve - the king of Babylon , and it will go well
As 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.”
When 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 , -
they 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.
Meanwhile, Johanan son of Kareah and all the commanders of the armies - in the field came to Gedaliah at Mizpah
and 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
Then 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 ?”
But Gedaliah son of Ahikam said to Johanan son of Kareah , “ Do not do - such a thing ... ! ... What you are saying about Ishmael is a lie.”