Jeremiah 40

1 The word that came to Jeremiah (Yirmeyahu) from יהוה, after that Nebuzaradan 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 (Yerushalayim) and Judah (Yehudah), which were carried away captive unto Babylon (Bavel).

2 And the captain of the guard took Jeremiah (Yirmeyahu), and said unto him: “יהוה your God (Elohim) hath pronounced this evil upon this place.

3 Now יהוה hath brought it, and done according as He hath said, because you have sinned against יהוה, and have not obeyed His voice, therefore this thing is come upon you.

4 And now, behold, I loose you this day from the chains which were upon your hand. If it seems good unto you to come with me into Babylon (Bavel), come; and I will look well unto you; but if it seems ill unto you to come with me into Babylon (Bavel), forbear. Behold, all the land is before you; whither it seemeth good and convenient for you to go, thither go.”

5 Now while he was not yet gone back, he said, “Go back also to Gedalyahu the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon (Bavel) hath made governor over the cities of Judah (Yehudah), and dwell with him among the people; or go wheresoever it seemeth convenient unto you to go.” So the captain of the guard gave him victuals and a reward, and let him go.

6 Then went Jeremiah (Yirmeyahu) unto Gedalyahu the son of Ahikam to Mizpah; and dwelt with him among the people that were left in the land.

7 Now when all the captains of the forces which were in the fields, even they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon (Bavel) had made Gedalyahu 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 (Bavel);

8 Then they came to Gedalyahu to Mizpah, even Yishmael the son of Netanyahu, and Yochanan and Jonathan (Yehonatan) the sons of Kareah, and Serayahu the son of Tanhumeth, and the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Yezanyahu the son of a Maachathite, they and their men.

9 And Gedalyahu 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 (Bavel), and it shall be well with you.

10 As for me, behold, I will dwell at Mizpah to serve the Chaldeans, which will come unto us; but you, gather you wine, and summer fruits, and oil, and put them in your vessels, and dwell in your cities that you have taken.”

11 Likewise when all the Jews (Yehudim) that were in Moav, and among the Ammonites, and in Edom, and that were in all the countries, heard that the king of Babylon (Bavel) had left a remnant of Judah (Yehudah), and that he had set over them Gedalyahu the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan;

12 Even all the Jews (Yehudim) returned out of all places whither they were driven, and came to the land of Judah (Yehudah), to Gedalyahu, unto Mizpah, and gathered wine and summer fruits very much.

13 Moreover Yochanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were in the fields, came to Gedalyahu to Mizpah,

14 And said unto him, “Dost you certainly know that Baalis the king of the Ammonites hath sent Yishmael the son of Netanyahu to slay you?” But Gedalyahu the son of Ahikam believed them not.

15 Then Yochanan the son of Kareah spake to Gedalyahu in Mizpah secretly, saying, “Let me go, please, and I will slay Yishmael the son of Netanyahu, and no man shall know it; wherefore should he slay you, that all the Jews (Yehudim) who are gathered unto you should be scattered, and the remnant in Judah (Yehudah) perish?”

16 But Gedalyahu the son of Ahikam said unto Yochanan the son of Kareah, “You shalt not do this thing, for you speakest falsely of Yishmael.”