Jeremiah40
New International Version
1The word came to Jeremiah from the Lord after Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard had released him at Ramah. He had found Jeremiah bound in chains among all the captives from Jerusalem and Judah who were being carried into exile to Babylon.
2When the commander of the guard found Jeremiah, he said to him, “The Lord your God decreed this disaster for this place.
3And now the Lord has brought it about; he has done just as he said he would. All this happened because you people sinned against the Lord and did not obey him.
4But today I am freeing you from the chains on your wrists. Come with me to Babylon, if you like, and I will look after you; but if you do not want to, then don’t come. Look, the whole country lies before you; go wherever you please.”
5However, before Jeremiah turned to go, Nebuzaradan added, “Go back to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon has appointed over the towns of Judah, and live with him among the people, or go anywhere else you please.” Then the commander gave him provisions and a present and let him go.
6So Jeremiah went to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah and stayed with him among the people who were left behind in the land.
7When all the army officers and their men who were still in the open country heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam as governor over the land and had put him in charge of the men, women and children who were the poorest in the land and who had not been carried into exile to Babylon,
8they 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 Jaazaniah the son of the Maakathite, and their men.
9Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, took an oath to reassure them and their men. “Do not be afraid to serve the Babylonians,” he said. “Settle down in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it will go well with you.
10I myself will stay at Mizpah to represent you before the Babylonians who come to us, but you are to harvest the wine, summer fruit and olive oil, and put them in your storage jars, and live in the towns you have taken over.”
11When all the Jews in Moab, Ammon, Edom and all the other countries heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant in Judah and had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, as governor over them,
12they all came back to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah at Mizpah, from all the countries where they had been scattered. And they harvested an abundance of wine and summer fruit.
13Johanan son of Kareah and all the army officers still in the open country came to Gedaliah at Mizpah
14and said to him, “Don’t you know that Baalis king of the Ammonites has sent Ishmael son of Nethaniah to take your life?” But Gedaliah son of Ahikam did not believe them.
15Then Johanan son of Kareah said privately to Gedaliah in Mizpah, “Let me go and kill Ishmael son of Nethaniah, and no one will know it. Why should he take your life and cause all the Jews who are gathered around you to be scattered and the remnant of Judah to perish?”
16But Gedaliah son of Ahikam said to Johanan son of Kareah, “Don’t do such a thing! What you are saying about Ishmael is not true.”
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