Jeremiah Remains in Judah

1  הַדָּבָ֞ר (The word) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) הָיָ֤ה (came to be) אֶֽל־ (unto) יִרְמְיָ֙הוּ֙ (Jeremiah) מֵאֵ֣ת (from) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH), אַחַ֣ר׀ (after) שַׁלַּ֣ח (has sent away) אֹת֗וֹ (him) נְבוּזַרְאֲדָ֛ן (Nebuzaradan) רַב־ (the captain) טַבָּחִ֖ים (of the guards) מִן־ (from) הָֽרָמָ֑ה (Ramah), בְּקַחְתּ֣וֹ (when he had taken) אֹת֗וֹ (him) וְהֽוּא־ (and he) אָס֤וּר (being bound) בָּֽאזִקִּים֙ (in chains) בְּת֨וֹךְ (in the midst) כָּל־ (of all) גָּל֤וּת (the exile) יְרוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙ (of Jerusalem) וִֽיהוּדָ֔ה (and Judah), הַמֻּגְלִ֖ים (who were being exiled) בָּבֶֽלָה׃ (to Babylon).

2  וַיִּקַּ֥ח (Took) רַב־ (and the captain) טַבָּחִ֖ים (of the guards) לְיִרְמְיָ֑הוּ (Jeremiah), וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (and said) אֵלָ֔יו (to him) יְהוָ֣ה (YHWH) אֱלֹהֶ֗יךָ (your God) דִּבֶּר֙ (has spoken) אֶת־ (-) הָרָעָ֣ה (evil) הַזֹּ֔את (this) אֶל־ (against) הַמָּק֖וֹם (place) הַזֶּֽה׃ (this). 3  וַיָּבֵ֥א (Has brought it) וַיַּ֛עַשׂ (and He has done) יְהוָ֖ה (and YHWH) כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר (as) דִּבֵּ֑ר (He said). כִּֽי־ (Because) חֲטָאתֶ֤ם (you⁺ have sinned) לַֽיהוָה֙ (against YHWH), וְלֹֽא־ (and not) שְׁמַעְתֶּ֣ם (have listened) בְּקוֹל֔וֹ (to His voice), וְהָיָ֥ה (so has come to be so) לָכֶ֖ם (unto you⁺) דָּבָר (the word) הַזֶּֽה׃ (this). 4  וְעַתָּ֞ה (And now), הִנֵּ֧ה (behold), פִתַּחְתִּ֣יךָ (I have loosed you) הַיּ֗וֹם (this day) מִֽן־ (from) הָאזִקִּים֮ (the chains) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that were) עַל־ (on) יָדֶךָ֒ (your hand). אִם־ (If) ט֨וֹב (it is good) בְּעֵינֶ֜יךָ (in your eyes) לָב֧וֹא (to come) אִתִּ֣י (with me) בָבֶ֗ל (to Babylon), בֹּ֚א (come); וְאָשִׂ֤ים (and I will put) אֶת־ (-) עֵינִי֙ (the eye) עָלֶ֔יךָ (to you) וְאִם־ (and if) רַ֧ע (it is bad) בְּעֵינֶ֛יךָ (in your eyes) לָבֽוֹא־ (to come) אִתִּ֥י (with me) בָבֶ֖ל (to Babylon), חֲדָ֑ל (remain here); רְאֵה֙ (behold), כָּל־ (all) הָאָ֣רֶץ (the land is) לְפָנֶ֔יךָ (before you) אֶל־ (wherever) ט֨וֹב (it is good) וְאֶל־ (and) הַיָּשָׁ֧ר (upright) בְּעֵינֶ֛יךָ (for you) לָלֶ֥כֶת (to go), שָׁ֖מָּה (there) לֵֽךְ׃ (go).

5  וְעוֹדֶ֣נּוּ (Again) לֹֽא־ (and not) יָשׁ֗וּב (turned), וְשֻׁ֡בָה (And You may return) אֶל־ (to) גְּדַלְיָ֣ה (Gedaliah) בֶן־ (son) אֲחִיקָ֣ם (of Ahikam) בֶּן־ (son) שָׁפָ֡ן (of Shaphan), אֲשֶׁר֩ (whom) הִפְקִ֨יד (has appointed) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (the king) בָּבֶ֜ל (of Babylon) בְּעָרֵ֣י (over the cities) יְהוּדָ֗ה (of Judah), וְשֵׁ֤ב (and you may dwell) אִתּוֹ֙ (with him) בְּת֣וֹךְ (in the midst) הָעָ֔ם (of the people); א֠וֹ (or) אֶל־ (to) כָּל־ (wherever) הַיָּשָׁ֧ר (is upright) בְּעֵינֶ֛יךָ (for you) לָלֶ֖כֶת (to go)— לֵ֑ךְ (go). וַיִּתֶּן־ (Gave) ל֧וֹ (to him) רַב־ (and the captain) טַבָּחִ֛ים (of the guards) אֲרֻחָ֥ה (rations) וּמַשְׂאֵ֖ת (and a present), וַֽיְשַׁלְּחֵֽהוּ׃ (and he sent him away).

6  וַיָּבֹ֧א (Went) יִרְמְיָ֛הוּ (and Jeremiah) אֶל־ (to) גְּדַלְיָ֥ה (Gedaliah) בֶן־ (son) אֲחִיקָ֖ם (of Ahikam) הַמִּצְפָּ֑תָה (to Mizpah); וַיֵּ֤שֶׁב (and he dwelt) אִתּוֹ֙ (with him) בְּת֣וֹךְ (in the midst) הָעָ֔ם (of the people) הַנִּשְׁאָרִ֖ים (remaining) בָּאָֽרֶץ׃ס (in the land).

Gedaliah Governs in Judah
(2 Kings 25:22–24)

7  וַיִּשְׁמְעוּ֩ (Heard) כָל־ (and all) שָׂרֵ֨י (the captains) הַחֲיָלִ֜ים (of the forces) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (who were) בַּשָּׂדֶ֗ה (in the fields), הֵ֚מָּה (they) וְאַנְשֵׁיהֶ֔ם (and their men), כִּֽי־ (that) הִפְקִ֧יד (had appointed) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (the king) בָּבֶ֛ל (of Babylon) אֶת־ (-) גְּדַלְיָ֥הוּ (Gedaliah) בֶן־ (son) אֲחִיקָ֖ם (of Ahikam) בָּאָ֑רֶץ (in the land), וְכִ֣י׀ (and) הִפְקִ֣יד (he had appointed) אִתּ֗וֹ (to him) אֲנָשִׁ֤ים (men), וְנָשִׁים֙ (and women), וָטָ֔ף (and children), וּמִדַּלַּ֣ת (and the poorest) הָאָ֔רֶץ (of the land), מֵאֲשֶׁ֥ר (who) לֹֽא־ (not) הָגְל֖וּ (had been exiled) בָּבֶֽלָה׃ (to Babylon); 8  וַיָּבֹ֥אוּ (and they came) אֶל־ (to) גְּדַלְיָ֖ה (Gedaliah) הַמִּצְפָּ֑תָה (at Mizpah), וְיִשְׁמָעֵ֣אל (even Ishmael) בֶּן־ (son) נְתַנְיָ֡הוּ (of Nethaniah), וְיוֹחָנָ֣ן (and Johanan) וְיוֹנָתָ֣ן (and Jonathan) בְּנֵֽי־ (the sons) קָ֠רֵחַ (of Kareah), וּשְׂרָיָ֨ה (and Seraiah) בֶן־ (son) תַּנְחֻ֜מֶת (of Tanhumeth), וּבְנֵ֣י׀ (and the sons) עוֹפַי (of Ephai) הַנְּטֹפָתִ֗י (the Netophathite), וִֽיזַנְיָ֙הוּ֙ (and Jezaniah) בֶּן־ (son) הַמַּ֣עֲכָתִ֔י (of the Maachathite), הֵ֖מָּה (they) וְאַנְשֵׁיהֶֽם׃ (and their men).

9  וַיִּשָּׁבַ֨ע (Took an oath) לָהֶ֜ם (before them) גְּדַלְיָ֨הוּ (and Gedaliah) בֶן־ (son) אֲחִיקָ֤ם (of Ahikam) בֶּן־ (son) שָׁפָן֙ (of Shaphan) וּלְאַנְשֵׁיהֶ֣ם (and before their men), לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), אַל־ (do not) תִּֽירְא֖וּ (be afraid) מֵעֲב֣וֹד (to serve) הַכַּשְׂדִּ֑ים (the Chaldeans); שְׁב֣וּ (dwell) בָאָ֗רֶץ (in the land), וְעִבְד֛וּ (and serve) אֶת־ (-) מֶ֥לֶךְ (the king) בָּבֶ֖ל (of Babylon), וְיִיטַ֥ב (and it will go well) לָכֶֽם׃ (with you⁺). 10  וַאֲנִ֗י (And I), הִנְנִ֤י (behold, I) יֹשֵׁב֙ (will be dwelling) בַּמִּצְפָּ֔ה (at Mizpah) לַֽעֲמֹד֙ (to serve) לִפְנֵ֣י (-) הַכַּשְׂדִּ֔ים (the Chaldeans), אֲשֶׁ֥ר (who) יָבֹ֖אוּ (will come) אֵלֵ֑ינוּ (to us) וְאַתֶּ֡ם (and you⁺), אִסְפוּ֩ (gather) יַ֨יִן (wine), וְקַ֜יִץ (and summer fruit), וְשֶׁ֗מֶן (and oil), וְשִׂ֙מוּ֙ (and put them) בִּכְלֵיכֶ֔ם (in your⁺ vessels), וּשְׁב֖וּ (and dwell) בְּעָרֵיכֶ֥ם (in your⁺ cities) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) תְּפַשְׂתֶּֽם׃ (you⁺ have taken).

11  וְגַ֣ם (And also) כָּֽל־ (all) הַיְּהוּדִ֡ים (the Jews) אֲשֶׁר־ (who were) בְּמוֹאָ֣ב׀ (in Moab), וּבִבְנֵֽי־ (and among the sons) עַמּ֨וֹן (of Ammon) וּבֶאֱד֜וֹם (and in Edom), וַאֲשֶׁ֤ר (who were) בְּכָל־ (in all) הָֽאֲרָצוֹת֙ (the lands), שָֽׁמְע֔וּ (heard) כִּֽי־ (that) נָתַ֧ן (had given) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (the king) בָּבֶ֛ל (of Babylon) שְׁאֵרִ֖ית (a remnant) לִֽיהוּדָ֑ה (for Judah), וְכִי֙ (and that) הִפְקִ֣יד (he had appointed) עֲלֵיהֶ֔ם (over them) אֶת־ (-) גְּדַלְיָ֖הוּ (Gedaliah) בֶּן־ (son) אֲחִיקָ֥ם (of Ahikam) בֶּן־ (son) שָׁפָֽן׃ (Shaphan); 12  וַיָּשֻׁ֣בוּ (returned) כָל־ (and all) הַיְּהוּדִ֗ים (the Jews) מִכָּל־ (from all) הַמְּקֹמוֹת֙ (of the places) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (to which) נִדְּחוּ־ (they had been driven), שָׁ֔ם (there) וַיָּבֹ֧אוּ (and they came) אֶֽרֶץ־ (to the land) יְהוּדָ֛ה (of Judah), אֶל־ (to) גְּדַלְיָ֖הוּ (Gedaliah), הַמִּצְפָּ֑תָה (at Mizpah), וַיַּאַסְפ֛וּ (and they gathered) יַ֥יִן (wine) וָקַ֖יִץ (and summer fruit) הַרְבֵּ֥ה (abundance) מְאֹֽד׃פ (in great).

The Plot against Gedaliah

13  וְיֽוֹחָנָן֙ (And Johanan) בֶּן־ (son) קָרֵ֔חַ (of Kareah), וְכָל־ (and all) שָׂרֵ֥י (the captains) הַחֲיָלִ֖ים (of the forces) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (who were) בַּשָּׂדֶ֑ה (in the fields), בָּ֥אוּ (came) אֶל־ (to) גְּדַלְיָ֖הוּ (Gedaliah) הַמִּצְפָּֽתָה׃ (at Mizpah), 14  וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ (and they said) אֵלָ֗יו (to him) הֲיָדֹ֤עַ (Knowing) תֵּדַע֙ (do you know) כִּ֞י (that) בַּעֲלִ֣יס׀ (Baalis) מֶ֣לֶךְ (the king) בְּנֵֽי־ (of the sons) עַמּ֗וֹן (of the Ammon) שָׁלַח֙ (has sent) אֶת־ (-) יִשְׁמָעֵ֣אל (Ishmael) בֶּן־ (son) נְתַנְיָ֔ה (of Nethaniah) לְהַכֹּתְךָ֖ (to strike) נָ֑פֶשׁ (your soul)

וְלֹא־ (and not). הֶאֱמִ֣ין (Did trust) לָהֶ֔ם (them) גְּדַלְיָ֖הוּ (Gedaliah) בֶּן־ (son) אֲחִיקָֽם׃ (of Ahikam).

15  וְיוֹחָנָ֣ן (And Johanan) בֶּן־ (son) קָרֵ֡חַ (of Kareah) אָמַ֣ר (spoke) אֶל־ (to) גְּדַלְיָהוּ֩ (Gedaliah) בַסֵּ֨תֶר (in secret), בַּמִּצְפָּ֜ה (in Mizpah) לֵאמֹ֗ר (saying), אֵ֤לְכָה (Let me go), נָּא֙ (please), וְאַכֶּה֙ (and I will strike) אֶת־ (-) יִשְׁמָעֵ֣אל (Ishmael) בֶּן־ (son) נְתַנְיָ֔ה (of Nethaniah), וְאִ֖ישׁ (a man) לֹ֣א (and not) יֵדָ֑ע (will know) לָ֧מָּה (why) יַכֶּ֣כָּה (should he strike you) נֶּ֗פֶשׁ (-) וְנָפֹ֙צוּ֙ (should be scattered), כָּל־ (so that all) יְהוּדָ֔ה (Judah) הַנִּקְבָּצִ֣ים (who are gathered) אֵלֶ֔יךָ (to you) וְאָבְדָ֖ה (should perish)? שְׁאֵרִ֥ית (And the remnant) יְהוּדָֽה׃ (of Judah).

16  וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) גְּדַלְיָ֤הוּ (Gedaliah) בֶן־ (son) אֲחִיקָם֙ (of Ahikam) אֶל־ (to) יוֹחָנָ֣ן (Johanan) בֶּן־ (son) קָרֵ֔חַ (of Kareah), אַֽל־ (Not) תַּעַשׂ (you will do) אֶת־ (-) הַדָּבָ֣ר (thing), הַזֶּ֑ה (this) כִּֽי־ (for) שֶׁ֛קֶר (falsely) אַתָּ֥ה (you) דֹבֵ֖ר (speak) אֶל־ (concerning) יִשְׁמָעֵֽאל׃ס (Ishmael).