1Jeremiah, being set at liberty by Nebuzar-adan, goeth to Gedaliah. 7The dispersed Jews resort to Gedaliah. 13Johanan revealing Ishmael's conspiracy is not believed.
1THE 1word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, after that Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard 2had let him go from 3Ramah, when he had 4taken him being bound in chains among all 5that were carried away captive of Jerusalem and Judah, which were carried away captive unto Babylon.
1 The very words of this prophecy follow not until Jer. 42:7, etc.; but here in the sequel is inserted an account of the passages that gave occasion to the aforesaid prophecy.
2 And the other things were also done, which are related below after that Jeremiah was set at liberty, namely, how Gedaliah was treacherously murdered, and how the Jews intended to go into Egypt.
3 See 1 Kings 15 on verse 17.
4 Hebr. had taken. See Jer. 37 on verse 17. Also right away in verse 2.
5 Hebr. captivity, or captive carrying away; as elsewhere often.
2And the captain of the guard took Jeremiah, and said unto him, The 6LORD thy God hath pronounced this 7evil upon this place.
6 Thus speaks a Gentile, to the shame of the Jews. From this appears that the king of Babel had understood what Jeremiah had prophesied. Compare Jer. 39:11.
7 Mishap, misery, evil of punishment.
3Now 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 8this thing is come upon you.
8 Or, this word is come unto you, that is, this word of the Lord is accomplished upon you. Compare Jer. 39:16.
49And now, behold, I loose thee this day from the chains which were upon thine 10hand. If it seem 11good unto thee to come with me into Babylon, come; and I will 12look well unto thee: but if it seem 13ill unto thee to come with me into Babylon, forbear: behold, all the land is 14before thee: whither it seemeth good and convenient for thee to go, thither go.
9 Seeing thou art found to be a true prophet.
10 Other, hands.
11 That is, if it please thee.
12 See Jer. 39:12.
13 That is, displease thee, dislike thee.
14 That is, is open before thee. See Gen. 13 on verse 9.
5Now while 15he 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 16victuals and a reward, and let him go.
15 Namely, Gedaliah, who is presently named, who will not come so soon hither again, that thou wouldest need to wait for his return, for, he has much business to dispatch at Mizpah. Other: And seeing he (namely, Jeremiah) was not yet returned (said he, namely Nebuzaradan, further:) Or returneth, etc., by which few words inserted may be shown how it came to pass that Jeremiah got among the rest of the captives, and was carried away with them; namely, because he had not yet repaired unto Gedaliah, when he was released out of the court of the prison, but continued among the people, and so was likewise bound with others and brought hither; therefore Nebuzaradan offers him liberty to go to Gedaliah, that he might be safe and secure under his protection. Other, Seeing he (namely, Zedekiah, spoken by way of contempt) shall not return anymore, etc.
16 As such the Hebrew word signifies properly, but it is also generally taken for daily allowance which is allotted to man, Jer. 52:34. See further Prov. 15 on verse 17.
6Then went Jeremiah unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to 17Mizpah; and dwelt with him among the people that were left in the land.
17 Situated in the land of Benjamin, as some conceive. See Judges 10 on verse 17.
7¶Now when all the 18captains of the forces which were in the fields, even they and their 19men, 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 20poor of the land, of them that were not carried away captive to Babylon;
18 That is, captains, chief officers; also often in the sequel. Compare this history with 2 Kings 25:23, etc.; that were in the field, that is, who abode in the field.
19 That is, the soldiers, whom they had with them; also verse 8.
20 Hebr. poverty or thinness of the land. See 2 Kings 24 on verse 14.
8Then they came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, even 21Ishmael 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.
21 See 2 Kings 25 on verse 23.
9And Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan sware unto them and to their men, saying, Fear not to serve the Chaldeans: 22dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you.
22 Or, live or abide.
10As for me, behold, I will dwell at Mizpah to 23serve 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 24taken.
23 That is, to stand before the face of the Chaldeans and to serve them. See Deut. 1 on verse 38; 1 Kings 1 on verse 2.
24 That is, taken for your dwelling places.
11Likewise when all the Jews that were in Moab, and among the Ammonites, and in Edom, and that were in all the 25countries, heard that the king of Babylon had 26left a remnant of Judah, and that he had set over 27them Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan;
25 That is, who were fled into the regions thereabout.
26 Or, appointed, permitted. Hebr. properly: given.
27 Those who were left.
12Even 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.
13¶Moreover Johanan the son of Kareah, and 28all the captains of the forces that were in the fields, came to Gedaliah to Mizpah,
28 Excluding Ishmael, of whom in the sequel.
14And said unto him, 29Dost thou certainly know that Baalis the king of the Ammonites hath sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah 30to slay thee? But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam believed them not.
29 Hebr. dost thou knowing know.
30 Hebr. to smite thee at the soul, that is, to take away thy life. See Deut. 19:6, with the annotation. Also in the next verse.
15Then 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?
16But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said unto Johanan the son of Kareah, Thou shalt not do this thing: for thou speakest falsely 31of Ishmael.
31 Or, against. This was a sign of Gedaliah’s sincerity of heart; but he ought to have duly searched out the truth of the business, and to have been upon his guard to prevent the calamity which afterward happened to him by this traitor. See the next chapter.