the people that remained.
[10] But Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard left of the poor of the people,
which had nothing, in the land of Judah, and gave them vineyards and fields at the same time.
[11] Now
Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon gave charge concerning Jeremiah to Nebuzar-adan the captain of the
guard, saying,
[12] Take him, and look well to him, and do him no harm; but do unto him even as he shall
say unto thee.
[13] So Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard sent, and Nebushasban, Rab-saris, and
Nergal-sharezer, Rabmag, and all the king of Babylon's princes;
[14] Even they sent, and took Jeremiah
out of the court of the prison, and committed him unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan,
that he should carry him home: so he dwelt among the people.
[15] Now the word of the LORD came
unto Jeremiah, while he was shut up in the court of the prison, saying,
[16] Go and speak to Ebed-melech
the Ethiopian, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring my words
upon this city for evil, and not for good; and they shall be accomplished in that day before thee.
[17] But
I will deliver thee in that day, saith the LORD: and thou shalt not be given into the hand of the men of
whom thou art afraid.
[18] For I will surely deliver thee, and thou shalt not fall by the sword, but thy life
shall be for a prey unto thee: because thou hast put thy trust in me, saith the LORD.
Jer.40
[1] 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] And the captain
of the guard took Jeremiah, and said unto him, The LORD thy God hath pronounced this evil upon this
place.
[3] 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] 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] 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] Then went Jeremiah
unto Gedaliah 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 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] 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] 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] 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] 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] 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.
[13] Moreover Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces
that were in the fields, came to Gedaliah to Mizpah,
[14] 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 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 the son of Ahikam said unto Johanan the son of
Kareah, Thou shalt not do this thing: for thou speakest falsely of Ishmael.