Jeremiah Remains in Judah

1The word that came to Jeremiah from YHWH after Nebuzaradan the captain of the guards has sent him away from Ramah, when he had taken him—and he being bound in chains—in the midst of all the exile of Jerusalem and Judah who were being exiled to Babylon.

2And the captain of the guards took Jeremiah and said to him, “YHWH your God has spoken this evil against this place, 3and YHWH has brought it, and He has done as He said. Because you⁺ have sinned against YHWH and have not listened to His voice, so this thing has come upon you⁺. 4And now, behold, I have loosed you this day from the chains that were on your hand. If it is good in your eyes to come with me to Babylon, come, and I will put the eye to you. And if it is bad in your eyes to come with me to Babylon, remain here. Behold, all the land is before you; wherever it is good and upright for you to go, go there.

5And while he had not turned again: “And You may return to Gedaliah son of Ahikam son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon has appointed over the cities of Judah, and you may dwell with him in the midst of the people or go to wherever is upright for you to go.” And the captain of the guards gave rations to him, and a present, and he sent him away.

6And Jeremiah went to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, to Mizpah, and he dwelt with him in the midst of the people remaining in the land.

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

7And all the captains of the forces who were in the fields heard—they and their men—that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam in the land, and he had appointed to him men, and women, and children, and the poorest of the land, who had not been exiled to Babylon; 8and they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah—even Ishmael son of Nethaniah, and Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, and Seraiah son of Tanhumeth, and the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniah† son of the Maachathite—they and their men.

9And Gedaliah son of Ahikam son of Shaphan took an oath before them and before their men, saying: “Do not be afraid to serve the Chaldeans;† dwell in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it will go well with you⁺. 10And I, behold, I will be dwelling at Mizpah to serve the Chaldeans who will come to us; and you⁺, gather wine and summer fruit and oil, and put them in your⁺ vessels, and dwell in your⁺ cities that you⁺ have taken.

11And also all the Jews who were in Moab and among the sons of Ammon and in Edom, who were in all the lands, heard that the king of Babylon had given a remnant for Judah and that he had appointed over them Gedaliah son of Ahikam son Shaphan. 12And all the Jews from all of the places to which they had been driven there returned, and they came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah at Mizpah, and they gathered wine and summer fruit in great abundance.

The Plot against Gedaliah

13And Johanan son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces who were in the fields, came to Gedaliah at Mizpah, 14and they said to him: “Do you know for certain that Baalis the king of the sons of the Ammon has sent Ishmael son of Nethaniah to strike your soul?”

And Gedaliah son of Ahikam did not trust them.

15And Johanan son of Kareah spoke to Gedaliah in secret in Mizpah, saying: “Let me go, please, and I will strike Ishmael son of Nethaniah, and not a man will know.” Why should he strike you, so that all Judah who are gathered to you should be scattered and the remnant of Judah should perish?

16And Gedaliah son of Ahikam said to Johanan son of Kareah: “You will not do this thing, for you speak falsely concerning Ishmael.