Jeremiah 40 KJVAE

1. The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, after that Neb´uzar-a´dan 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.

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

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.

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.

5. Now while he was not yet gone back, he said, Go back also to Gedali´ah the son of Ahi´kam 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.

6. Then went Jeremiah unto Gedali´ah the son of Ahi´kam 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 Gedali´ah the son of Ahi´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;

8. then they came to Gedali´ah to Mizpah, even Ish´ma-el the son of Nethani´ah, and Jo´hanan and Jonathan the sons of Kare´ah, and Serai´ah the son of Tan´humeth, and the sons of E´phai the Netoph´athite, and Jezani´ah the son of a Ma-ach´athite, they and their men.

9. And Gedali´ah the son of Ahi´kam the son of Shaphan sware unto them and to their men, saying, Fear not to serve the Chalde´ans: dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you.

10. As for me, behold, I will dwell at Mizpah, to serve the Chalde´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.

11. Likewise 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 Gedali´ah the son of Ahi´kam the son of Shaphan;

12. even all the Jews returned out of all places whither they were driven, and came to the land of Judah, to Gedali´ah, unto Mizpah, and gathered wine and summer fruits very much.

13. Moreover Jo´hanan the son of Kare´ah, and all the captains of the forces that were in the fields, came to Gedali´ah to Mizpah,

14. and said unto him, Dost thou certainly know that Ba´alis the king of the Ammonites hath sent Ish´ma-el the son of Nethani´ah to slay thee? But Gedali´ah the son of Ahi´kam believed them not.

15. Then Jo´hanan the son of Kare´ah spake to Gedali´ah in Mizpah secretly, saying, Let me go, I pray thee, and I will slay Ish´ma-el the son of Nethani´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?

16. But Gedali´ah the son of Ahi´kam said unto Jo´hanan the son of Kare´ah, Thou shalt not do this thing: for thou speakest falsely of Ish´ma-el.