1The word1697 that came to Jeremiah3414 from the LORD3068, after310 that Nebuzaradan5018 the captain7227 of the guard2876 had let him go7971 from Ramah7414, when he had taken3947 him being bound631 in chains246 among8432 all that were carried away captive1546 of Jerusalem3389 and Judah3063, which were carried away captive1540 unto Babylon894.
2And the captain7227 of the guard2876 took3947 Jeremiah3414, and said559 unto him, The LORD3068 thy God430 hath pronounced1696 this evil7451 upon this place4725.
3Now the LORD3068 hath brought935 it, and done6213 according as he hath said1696: because ye have sinned2398 against the LORD3068, and have not obeyed8085 his voice6963, therefore this thing1697 is come upon you.
4And now, behold, I loose6605 thee this day3117 from the chains246 which were upon thine hand3027. If it seem good2896 5869 unto thee to come935 with me into Babylon894, come935; and I will look well7760 5869 unto thee: but if it seem ill7489 5869 unto thee to come935 with me into Babylon894, forbear2308: behold7200, all the land776 is before6440 thee: whither it seemeth413 good2896 and convenient3477 5869 for thee to go3212, thither go3212.
5Now while he was not yet gone back7725, he said, Go back7725 also to Gedaliah1436 the son1121 of Ahikam296 the son1121 of Shaphan8227, whom the king4428 of Babylon894 hath made governor6485 over the cities5892 of Judah3063, and dwell3427 with him among8432 the people5971: or go3212 wheresoever it seemeth convenient3477 5869 unto thee to go3212. So the captain7227 of the guard2876 gave5414 him victuals737 and a reward4864, and let him go7971.
6Then went935 Jeremiah3414 unto Gedaliah1436 the son1121 of Ahikam296 to Mizpah4708; and dwelt3427 with him among8432 the people5971 that were left7604 in the land776.
7Now when all the captains8269 of the forces2428 which were in the fields7704, even they and their men582, heard8085 that the king4428 of Babylon894 had made Gedaliah1436 the son1121 of Ahikam296 governor6485 in the land776, and had committed6485 unto him men582, and women802, and children2945, and of the poor1803 of the land776, of them that were not carried away captive1540 to Babylon894;
8Then they came935 to Gedaliah1436 to Mizpah4708, even Ishmael3458 the son1121 of Nethaniah5418, and Johanan3110 and Jonathan3129 the sons1121 of Kareah7143, and Seraiah8304 the son1121 of Tanhumeth8576, and the sons1121 of Ephai5778 the Netophathite5200, and Jezaniah3153 the son1121 of a Maachathite4602, they and their men582.
9And Gedaliah1436 the son1121 of Ahikam296 the son1121 of Shaphan8227 sware7650 unto them and to their men582, saying559, Fear3372 not to serve5647 the Chaldeans3778: dwell in3427 the land776, and serve5647 the king4428 of Babylon894, and it shall be well3190 with you.
10As for me, behold, I will dwell3427 at Mizpah4709 to serve5975 6440 the Chaldeans3778, which will come935 unto us: but ye, gather622 ye wine3196, and summer fruits7019, and oil8081, and put7760 them in your vessels3627, and dwell3427 in your cities5892 that ye have taken8610.
11Likewise when all the Jews3064 that were in Moab4124, and among the Ammonites5983, and in Edom123, and that were in all the countries776, heard8085 that the king4428 of Babylon894 had left5414 a remnant7611 of Judah3063, and that he had set6485 over them Gedaliah1436 the son1121 of Ahikam296 the son1121 of Shaphan8227;
12Even all the Jews3064 returned out7725 of all places4725 whither they were driven5080, and came935 to the land776 of Judah3063, to Gedaliah1436, unto Mizpah4708, and gathered622 wine3196 and summer fruits7019 very3966 much7235.
13Moreover Johanan3110 the son1121 of Kareah7143, and all the captains8269 of the forces2428 that were in the fields7704, came935 to Gedaliah1436 to Mizpah4708,
14And said559 unto him, Dost thou certainly3045 know3045 that Baalis1185 the king4428 of the Ammonites1121 5983 hath sent7971 Ishmael3458 the son1121 of Nethaniah5418 to slay5221 5315 thee? But Gedaliah1436 the son1121 of Ahikam296 believed539 them not.
15Then Johanan3110 the son1121 of Kareah7143 spake559 to Gedaliah1436 in Mizpah4709 secretly5643, saying559, Let me go3212, I pray thee, and I will slay5221 Ishmael3458 the son1121 of Nethaniah5418, and no man376 shall know3045 it: wherefore should he slay5221 5315 thee, that all the Jews3064 which are gathered6908 unto thee should be scattered6327, and the remnant7611 in Judah3063 perish6?
16But Gedaliah1436 the son1121 of Ahikam296 said559 unto Johanan3110 the son1121 of Kareah7143, Thou shalt not do6213 this thing1697: for thou speakest1696 falsely8267 of Ishmael3458.