Jeremiah40
New King James Version
1The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord after Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had let him go from Ramah, when he had taken him bound in chains among all who were carried away captive from Jerusalem and Judah, who were carried away captive to Babylon.
2And the captain of the guard took Jeremiah and said to him: “The Lord your God has pronounced this doom on this place.
3Now the Lord has brought it, and has done just as He said. Because you people have sinned against the Lord, and not obeyed His voice, therefore this thing has come upon you.
4And now look, I free you this day from the chains that were on your hand. If it seems good to you to come with me to Babylon, come, and I will look after you. But if it seems wrong for you to come with me to Babylon, remain here. See, all the land is before you; wherever it seems good and convenient for you to go, go there.”
5Now while Jeremiah had not yet gone back, Nebuzaradan said, “Go back to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon has made governor over the cities of Judah, and dwell with him among the people. Or go wherever it seems convenient for you to go.” So the captain of the guard gave him rations and a gift and let him go.
6Then Jeremiah went to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, to Mizpah, and dwelt with him among the people who were left in the land.
7And when all the captains of the armies who were in the fields, they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam governor in the land, and had committed to him men, women, children, and the poorest of the land who had not been carried away captive to Babylon,
8then they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah—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 a Maachathite, they and their men.
9And Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, took an oath before them and their men, saying, “Do not be afraid to serve the Chaldeans. Dwell in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you.
10As for me, I will indeed dwell at Mizpah and serve the Chaldeans who come to us. But you, gather wine and summer fruit and oil, put them in your vessels, and dwell in your cities that you have taken.”
11Likewise, when all the Jews who were in Moab, among the Ammonites, in Edom, and who were in all the countries, heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant of Judah, and that he had set over them Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan,
12then all the Jews returned out of all places where they had been driven, and came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah at Mizpah, and gathered wine and summer fruit in abundance.
13Moreover Johanan the son of Kareah and all the captains of the forces that were in the fields came to Gedaliah at Mizpah,
14and said to him, “Do you certainly know that Baalis the king of the Ammonites has sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to murder you?” 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, please, and I will kill Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and no one will know it. Why should he murder you, so that all the Jews who are gathered to you would be scattered, and the remnant in Judah perish?”
16But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said to Johanan the son of Kareah, “You shall not do this thing, for you speak falsely concerning 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