Jeremiah40
New Living Translation
1The Lord gave a message to Jeremiah after Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, had released him at Ramah. He had found Jeremiah bound in chains among all the other captives of Jerusalem and Judah who were being sent to exile in Babylon.
2The captain of the guard called for Jeremiah and said, “The Lord your God has brought this disaster on this land,
3just as he said he would. For these people have sinned against the Lord and disobeyed him. That is why it happened.
4But I am going to take off your chains and let you go. If you want to come with me to Babylon, you are welcome. I will see that you are well cared for. But if you don’t want to come, you may stay here. The whole land is before you—go wherever you like.
5If you decide to stay, then return to Gedaliah son of Ahikam and grandson of Shaphan. He has been appointed governor of Judah by the king of Babylon. Stay there with the people he rules. But it’s up to you; go wherever you like.” Then Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, gave Jeremiah some food and money and let him go.
6So Jeremiah returned to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah, and he lived in Judah with the few who were still left in the land.
7The leaders of the Judean military groups in the countryside heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam as governor over the poor people who were left behind in Judah—the men, women, and children who hadn’t been exiled to Babylon.
8So they went to see Gedaliah at Mizpah. These included: Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan and Jonathan sons of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth, the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, Jezaniah son of the Maacathite, and all their men.
9Gedaliah vowed to them that the Babylonians meant them no harm. “Don’t be afraid to serve them. Live in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and all will go well for you,” he promised.
10“As for me, I will stay at Mizpah to represent you before the Babylonians who come to meet with us. Settle in the towns you have taken, and live off the land. Harvest the grapes and summer fruits and olives, and store them away.”
11When the Judeans in Moab, Ammon, Edom, and the other nearby countries heard that the king of Babylon had left a few people in Judah and that Gedaliah was the governor,
12they began to return to Judah from the places to which they had fled. They stopped at Mizpah to meet with Gedaliah and then went into the Judean countryside to gather a great harvest of grapes and other crops.
13Soon after this, Johanan son of Kareah and the other military leaders came to Gedaliah at Mizpah.
14They said to him, “Did you know that Baalis, king of Ammon, has sent Ishmael son of Nethaniah to assassinate you?” But Gedaliah refused to believe them.
15Later Johanan had a private conference with Gedaliah and volunteered to kill Ishmael secretly. “Why should we let him come and murder you?” Johanan asked. “What will happen then to the Judeans who have returned? Why should the few of us who are still left be scattered and lost?”
16But Gedaliah said to Johanan, “I forbid you to do any such thing, for you are lying 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