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Jeremiah 40:5-15

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5 If you remain,[a] then return to 1Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, 2whom the king of Babylon appointed governor of the cities of Judah, and dwell with him among the people. Or go wherever you think it right to go." So the captain of the guard gave him an allowance of food and a present, and let him go.
6 Then Jeremiah went to 3Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, at 4Mizpah, and lived with him 5among the people 6who were left in the land.
7 7When all the captains of the forces in the open country and their men heard that 8the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah the son of Ahikam governor in the land and had committed to him men, women, and children, those of 9the poorest of the land who had not been taken into exile to Babylon,
8 they went to Gedaliah at 10Mizpah--11Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, 12Johanan the son of Kareah, Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth, the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, 13Jezaniah the son of the Maacathite, they and their men.
9 Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, swore to them and their men, saying, "Do not be afraid to serve the Chaldeans. Dwell in the land and serve the king of Babylon, 14and it shall be well with you.
10 As for me, I will dwell at 15Mizpah, to represent you before the Chaldeans who will come to us. But as for you, 16gather wine and summer fruits and oil, and store them in your vessels, and dwell in your cities that you have taken."
11 Likewise, when all the Judeans who were in 17Moab and among 18the Ammonites and in 19Edom and in other lands heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant in Judah and had appointed Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, as governor over them,
12 20then all the Judeans returned from all the places to which they had been driven and came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah at Mizpah. And they 21gathered wine and summer fruits in great abundance.
13 Now 22Johanan the son of Kareah and 23all the leaders of the forces in the open country came to Gedaliah at Mizpah
14 and said to him, "Do you know that Baalis the king of 24the Ammonites has sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to take your life?" But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam would not believe them.
15 Then Johanan the son of Kareah spoke secretly to Gedaliah at Mizpah, "Please let me go and strike down Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and no one will know it. Why should he take your life, so that all the Judeans who are gathered about you would be scattered, 25and the remnant of Judah would perish?"
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Jeremiah 40:5-15 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 40

This chapter treats of the release of Jeremiah, and the care taken of him; of the gathering of the princes and people of the Jews to Gedaliah, appointed their governor, dispersed about Judea, and other countries; and of a conspiracy against him, of which information was given him. The release of Jeremiah, where, and by whom, Jer 40:1-4; the liberty granted him to go to Babylon, or stay in Judea, as he thought fit; and, if he chose the latter, is advised to go to Gedaliah, appointed governor, or where he would; and is dismissed with food, and a reward, Jer 40:4-6; upon which he went and dwelt with Gedaliah, Jer 40:7; to whom also the captains of the dispersed forces joined themselves, to whom he swore, and bid them be of good cheer; and exhorted them to serve the Chaldeans, which he urged from the profit of it to them, and by his own example, Jer 40:8-10; and to whom also gathered the Jews in other countries, Jer 40:11,12; by the captains he is informed of a conspiracy against his life, and one of them offers to destroy the conspirator, which Gedaliah would not agree to, disbelieving the information, Jer 40:13-16.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Cross References 25

  • 1. See Jeremiah 39:14
  • 2. Jeremiah 41:2
  • 3. [See ver. 5 above]
  • 4. Jeremiah 41:6; Joshua 18:26
  • 5. Jeremiah 37:12; Jeremiah 39:14
  • 6. Jeremiah 39:10
  • 7. For ver. 7-9, see 2 Kings 25:23, 24
  • 8. ver. 5
  • 9. Jeremiah 39:10; 2 Kings 25:12
  • 10. [See ver. 6 above]
  • 11. ver. 14, 15, 16; See Jeremiah 41:1-3
  • 12. ver. 13, 15, 16; Jeremiah 42:1, 8
  • 13. Jeremiah 42:1
  • 14. Jeremiah 38:20
  • 15. [See ver. 6 above]
  • 16. [ver. 12]
  • 17. [Numbers 22:1; 2 Samuel 8:2]
  • 18. 1 Samuel 11:1; 1 Samuel 12:12
  • 19. Genesis 36:8
  • 20. [Jeremiah 43:5]
  • 21. [ver. 10]
  • 22. ver. 8, 15, 16; Jeremiah 42:1, 8
  • 23. Jeremiah 41:11; Jeremiah 42:1
  • 24. [Jeremiah 41:10]
  • 25. [Jeremiah 42:2]

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Syriac; the meaning of the Hebrew phrase is uncertain
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.