Jeremiah Freed and Chooses to Stay
Study note
Jeremiah had been accidentally rounded up with other prisoners at Ramah, a gathering point about five miles north of Jerusalem where captives were organized for the march to Babylon. Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard recognized Jeremiah and released him, even acknowledging that God had brought this disaster on Judah because of the people's sin. He gave Jeremiah a choice: come to Babylon with full protection, or stay in the land. Jeremiah chose to stay and went to live with Gedaliah, the new governor, at Mizpah.
1 This is the message the Lord gave to Jeremiah after Nebuzaradan, the guard commander, set him free at Ramah. When Nebuzaradan found him, Jeremiah was tied up in chains with all the other prisoners from Jerusalem and Judah. They were being taken to Babylon. The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, after that Nebuzar-adan 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 The head of the guard took Jeremiah aside. He said, "The Lord your God warned about this ruin. He said it would come to this place." And the captain of the guard took Jeremiah, and said unto him, The LORD thy God hath pronounced this evil upon this place.
3 "And now the Lord has made it happen, just as he said he would. All of this happened because your people sinned against the Lord and refused to obey him." 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 "But today I am setting you free from the chains on your wrists. If you want to come with me to Babylon, come — and I will take good care of you. But if you don't want to come, then don't. The whole land is open to you. Go wherever you want." 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 Before Jeremiah turned to leave, Nebuzaradan added, "Go back to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon has appointed governor over the towns of Judah. Live with him among the people, or go wherever you choose." Then the commander gave him food and a gift and let him go. Now while he was not yet gone back, he said, Go back also to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam 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 So Jeremiah went to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah and stayed with him among the people who were left in the land. Then went Jeremiah unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah; and dwelt with him among the people that were left in the land.
Refugees Gather Under Gedaliah
Study note
When the remaining military leaders and their men heard that Babylon had appointed Gedaliah as governor over the poor people left behind, they came to join him at Mizpah. Among them was Ishmael son of Nethaniah, who was of royal blood. Gedaliah encouraged them not to be afraid of serving under Babylonian authority. He told them to settle down, harvest their crops, and live peacefully. Jews who had fled to neighboring countries like Moab, Ammon, and Edom also returned and gathered a large harvest of wine and fruit.
7 Some army commanders and their men were still out in the countryside. They heard that the king of Babylon had chosen Gedaliah son of Ahikam to be governor of the land. Gedaliah was put in charge of the men, women, and children from the poorest people in the land. These were the ones who had not been taken away to Babylon. 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 Gedaliah the son of Ahikam 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 they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah. They included Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth, the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniah son of the Maakathite — they and their men. Then they came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, even Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth, and the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniah the son of a Maachathite, they and their men.
9 Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, made a promise to them and their men: "Don't be afraid to serve the Babylonians. Stay in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and things will go well for you." And Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan sware unto them and to their men, saying, Fear not to serve the Chaldeans: dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you.
10 "I myself will stay here at Mizpah to represent you before the Babylonian officials who come to us. But you — go ahead, harvest the wine, the summer fruit, and the olive oil. Store them in your jars and settle in the towns you have taken over." As for me, behold, I will dwell at Mizpah to serve the Chaldeans, 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 Some people of Judah were living in Moab, Ammon, Edom, and other countries. They heard that the king of Babylon had left a few people in Judah. They also heard he had chosen Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, as their governor. 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 Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan;
12 they all came back to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah at Mizpah, from all the places where they had been scattered. They harvested a great crop of wine and summer fruit. Even all the Jews returned out of all places whither they were driven, and came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah, unto Mizpah, and gathered wine and summer fruits very much.
Warning of the Assassination Plot
Study note
Johanan son of Kareah and other military leaders came to Gedaliah with urgent news: Baalis, the king of Ammon, had sent Ishmael son of Nethaniah to kill him. Ishmael's royal blood may have made him jealous of Gedaliah's appointment as governor. Johanan even offered to secretly kill Ishmael first to prevent the assassination, arguing that Gedaliah's death would scatter the remaining Jews and destroy the remnant. But Gedaliah refused to believe the report and told Johanan not to do such a thing.
13 Johanan son of Kareah and all the army commanders still in the field came to Gedaliah at Mizpah. Moreover Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were in the fields, came to Gedaliah to Mizpah,
14 They said to him, "Don't you know that Baalis, the king of the Ammonites, has sent Ishmael son of Nethaniah to kill you?" But Gedaliah son of Ahikam didn't believe them. And said unto him, Dost thou certainly know that Baalis the king of the Ammonites hath sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to slay thee? But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam believed them not.
15 Then Johanan son of Kareah said privately to Gedaliah at Mizpah, "Let me go and kill Ishmael son of Nethaniah. Nobody will find out. Why should he be allowed to kill you? All the people of Judah who have gathered around you would be scattered, and the survivors of Judah would be wiped out." Then Johanan the son of Kareah spake to Gedaliah in Mizpah secretly, saying, Let me go, I pray thee, and I will slay Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, 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 Gedaliah son of Ahikam said to Johanan son of Kareah, "Don't do it! What you're saying about Ishmael is not true." But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said unto Johanan the son of Kareah, Thou shalt not do this thing: for thou speakest falsely of Ishmael.