Jeremiah chapter 40

Jeremiah is set free. Jeremiah remains in Judah with governor Gedeliah. King Baalis of Ammon sends an assassin to kill governor Gedeliah.

 


 

JEREMIAH IS SET FREE

 

VERSE 1. The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, after Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had let him go from Ramah, when he had taken him being bound in chains among all the captives of Jerusalem and Judah, who were carried away captive to Babylon.

 

VERSE 2. The captain of the guard took Jeremiah, and said to him, “The LORD your God pronounced this evil on this place;

 

VERSE 3. and the LORD has brought it, and done according as he spoke. Because you have sinned against the LORD, and have not obeyed his voice, therefore this thing has come on you.

you have sinned against the LORD.This guard has it all wrong.

Jeremiah has NOT sinned against the LORD God.

 

VERSE 4. Now, behold, I release you today from the chains which are on your hand. If it seems good to you to come with me into Babylon, come, and I will take care of you; but if it seems bad to you to come with me into Babylon, don’t. Behold, all the land is before you. Where it seems good and right to you to go, there go.”

I release you today. After his many years of ministry as an unwanted prophet, and after being imprisoned by his own people, Jeremiah is free at least.

Free at last!

 

JEREMIAH REMAINS IN JUDAH WITH GOVERNOR GEDALIAH

 

VERSE 5. Now while he had not yet gone back, “Go back then,” he said, “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 right to you to go.” So the captain of the guard gave him food and a present, and let him go.

Gedaliah the son of Ahikam. The king of Babylon had appointed him governor over the cities of Judah.

the captain of the guard gave him food and a present. These are wonderful gifts to Jeremiah.

It reminds us of when the Egyptian people gave gifts to the Hebrews for their Exodus:

Exodus 11:2. Tell the people that men and women alike are to ask their neighbors for articles of silver and gold.”

Exodus 11:3. (The Lord made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward the people, and Moses himself was highly regarded in Egypt by Pharaoh’s officials and by the people.) (NIV translation)

Exodus 12:35. The children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they asked of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and clothing.

 

VERSE 6. Then Jeremiah went to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah, and lived with him among the people who were left in the land.

Mizpah. This city was located five miles northwest of Jerusalem.

 

VERSE 7. Now when all the captains of the forces who 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 to him men, women, children, and of the poorest of the land, of those who were not carried away captive to Babylon;

 

VERSE 8. then Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and Yochanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth, and the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniah the son of the Maacathite, they and their men came to Gedaliah to Mizpah.

 

VERSE 9. Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan swore to them and to their men, saying, “Don’t be afraid to serve the Kasdim. Dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it will be well with you.

 

VERSE 10. As for me, behold, I will dwell at Mizpah, to stand before the Kasdim who will come to us; but you, gather wine and summer fruits and oil, and put them in your vessels, and dwell in your cities that you have taken.”

 

VERSE 11. Likewise when all the Jews who were in Moab, and among the children of Ammon, and 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;

a remnant of Judah. The Bible describes a uniquely faithful group of believers called “the remnant.” Are they Jewish or Christians? Now or in the future? Who are they really? Read more »

 

VERSE 12. then all the Jews returned out of all places where they were driven, and came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah, to Mizpah, and gathered very much wine and summer fruits.

 

KING BAALIS SENDS AN ASSASSIN TO KILL GOVERNOR GEDALIAH

 

VERSE 13. Moreover Yochanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces who were in the fields, came to Gedaliah to Mizpah,

 

VERSE 14. and said to him, “Do you know that Baalis the king of the children of Ammon has sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to take your life?” But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam didn’t believe them.

Baalis … has sent Ishmael … to take your life. Ammon hired Ishmael to assassinate governor Gedaliah.

 

VERSE 15. Then Yochanan the son of Kareah spoke to Gedaliah in Mizpah secretly, saying, “Please let me go, and I will kill Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and no man will know it. Why should he take your life, that all the Jews who are gathered to you should be scattered, and the remnant of Judah perish?”

 

VERSE 16. But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said to Yochanan the son of Kareah, “You shall not do this thing; for you speak falsely of Ishmael.”

 


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JEREMIAH

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