Jeremiah40
New American Standard
1The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord after Nebuzaradan captain of the bodyguard had released him from Ramah, when he had taken him bound in chains among all the exiles of Jerusalem and Judah who were being exiled to Babylon.
2Now the captain of the bodyguard had taken Jeremiah and said to him, “The Lord your God promised this disaster against this place;
3and the Lord has brought it and done just as He promised. Because you people sinned against the Lord and did not listen to His voice, this thing has happened to you.
4But now, behold, I am setting you free today from the chains that are on your hands. If you would prefer to come with me to Babylon, come along, and I will look after you; but if you would prefer not to come with me to Babylon, do not come. Look, the whole land is before you; go wherever it seems good and right for you to go.”
5As Jeremiah was still not going back, he said, “Go on back then to Gedaliah the 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 else go anywhere it seems right for you to go.” So the captain of the bodyguard gave him a ration and a gift, and let him go.
6Then Jeremiah went to Mizpah to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam and stayed with him among the people who were left in the land.
7Now all the commanders of the forces that were in the field, they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah the son of Ahikam over the land, and that he had put him in charge of the men, women, and children, those of the poorest of the land who had not been exiled to Babylon.
8So they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah, along with Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth, the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniah the son of the Maacathite, both they and their men.
9Then Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, swore to them and to their men, saying, “Do not be afraid of serving the Chaldeans; stay in the land and serve the king of Babylon, so that it may go well for you.
10Now as for me, behold, I am going to stay in Mizpah to stand for you before the Chaldeans who come to us; but as for you, gather wine, summer fruit, and oil, and put them in your storage vessels, and live in your cities that you have taken over.”
11Likewise, also all the Jews who were in Moab and among the sons of Ammon and in Edom, and who were in all the other countries, heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant for Judah, and that he had appointed over them Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan.
12Then all the Jews returned from all the places to which they had been scattered and came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah at Mizpah, and gathered wine and summer fruit in great abundance.
13Now Johanan the son of Kareah and all the commanders of the forces that were in the field came to Gedaliah at Mizpah,
14and said to him, “Are you well aware that Baalis the king of the sons of Ammon has sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to take your life?” But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam did not believe them.
15Then Johanan the son of Kareah spoke secretly to Gedaliah in Mizpah, saying, “Let me go and kill Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and no one will know! Why should he take your life, so that all the Jews who are gathered to you would be scattered and the remnant of Judah would perish?”
16But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said to Johanan the son of Kareah, “Do not do this thing, for you are telling a lie about Ishmael.”
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Jeremiah 40.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Jeremiah is directed to go to Gedaliah. (1-6). A conspiracy against Gedaliah. (7-16).
vv1-6
The captain of the guard seems to glory that he had been God's instrument to fulfil, what Jeremiah had been God's messenger to foretell. Many can see God's justice and truth with regard to others, who are heedless and blind as to themselves and their own sins. But, sooner or later, all men shall be made sensible that their sin is the cause of all their miseries. Jeremiah has leave to dispose of himself; but is advised to go to Gedaliah, governor of the land under the king of Babylon. It is doubtful whether Jeremiah acted right in this decision. But those who desire the salvation of sinners, and the good of the church, are apt to expect better times from slight appearances, and they will prefer the hope of being useful, to the most secure situations without it.
vv7-16
Jeremiah had never in his prophecies spoken of any good days for the Jews, to come immediately after the captivity; yet Providence seemed to encourage such an expectation. But how soon is this hopeful prospect blighted! When God begins a judgment, he will complete it. While pride, ambition, or revenge, bears rule in the heart, men will form new projects, and be restless in mischief, which commonly ends in their own ruin. Who would have thought, that after the destruction of Jerusalem, rebellion would so soon have sprung up? There can be no thorough change but what grace makes. And if the miserable, who are kept in everlasting chains for the judgment of the great day, were again permitted to come on earth, the sin and evil of their nature would be unchanged. Lord, give us new hearts, and that new mind in which the new birth consists, since thou hast said we cannot without it see thy heavenly kingdom.
Key Words
דָּבָר: a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
אֲשֶׁר: who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.
יִרְמְיָה: Jirmejah, the name of eight or nine Israelites
מִן: properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
אַחַר: properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)
נְבוּזַרְאֲדָן: Nebuzaradan, a Babylonian general
רַב: abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality)
טַבָּח: properly, a butcher; hence, a lifeguardsman (because he was acting as an executioner); also a cook (usually slaughtering the animal for food)
שָׁלַח: to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)
רָמָה: Ramah, the name of four places in Palestine
Cross References
Jeremiah 40Direct parallel account of Nebuchadnezzar making Gedaliah governor over the remnant in Judah.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The historical background of Nebuchadnezzar's command to Nebuzaradan regarding Jeremiah's release.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Identical wording ('look well unto him') from Nebuchadnezzar's original charge regarding Jeremiah.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallel record of the captains of the forces coming to Gedaliah at Mizpah.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Ramah as the gathering point for the captives, echoing Rachel weeping for her children.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The fulfillment of Moses' warning that heathens would recognize Israel's ruin was due to sin.
Supported by JFB
Ahikam (Gedaliah's father) had previously protected Jeremiah from being put to death.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The tragic fulfillment of Johanan's warning: Ishmael assassinates Gedaliah, scattering the remnant.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Historical background on Mizpah, which was built or fortified by King Asa.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Identifies the 'poor of the land' left behind to cultivate vineyards and fields.
Supported by John Calvin, JFB
Johanan and the captains who warned Gedaliah later pursue Ishmael after the murder.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Details Ishmael's conspiracy, royal lineage, and the actual murder of Gedaliah.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Gedaliah's counsel to serve Babylon echoes Jeremiah's repeated prophetic warnings to submit.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Prophetic background on the hostility and cruelty of the Ammonites against Israel.
Supported by JFB