Jeremiah 40:1-10

1 The word which came to Yirmeyahu from the LORD, after that Nevuzar'adan the captain of the guard had let him go from Ramah, when he had taken him being bound in chains among all the captives of Yerushalayim and Yehudah, who were carried away captive to Bavel.
2 The captain of the guard took Yirmeyahu, and said to him, the LORD your God pronounced this evil on this place;
3 and the LORD has brought it, and done according as he spoke: because you have sinned against the LORD, and have not obeyed his voice, therefore this thing is come on you.
4 Now, behold, I loose you this day from the chains which are on your hand. If it seem good to you to come with me into Bavel, come, and I will look well to you; but if it seem ill to you to come with me into Bavel, forbear: behold, all the land is before you; where it seems good and right to you to go, there go.
5 Now while he was not yet gone back, Go back then, [said he], to Gedalyahu the son of Achikam, the son of Shafan, whom the king of Bavel has made governor over the cities of Yehudah, and dwell with him among the people; or go wherever it seems right to you to go. So the captain of the guard gave him victuals and a present, and let him go.
6 Then went Yirmeyahu to Gedalyahu the son of Achikam to Mitzpah, and lived with him among the people who were left in the land.
7 Now when all the captains of the forces who were in the fields, even they and their men, heard that the king of Bavel had made Gedalyahu the son of Achikam governor in the land, and had committed to him men, and women, and children, and of the poorest of the land, of those who were not carried away captive to Bavel;
8 then they came to Gedalyahu to Mitzpah, [to wit], Yishma'el the son of Netanyah, and Yochanan and Yonatan the sons of Kareach, and Serayah the son of Tanchumet, and the sons of `Efai the Netofatite, and Yezanyah the son of the Ma`akhatite, they and their men.
9 Gedalyahu the son of Achikam the son of Shafan swore to them and to their men, saying, Don't be afraid to serve the Kasdim: dwell in the land, and serve the king of Bavel, and it shall be well with you.
10 As for me, behold, I will dwell at Mitzpah, to stand before the Kasdim who shall come to us: but you, gather you wine and summer fruits and oil, and put them in your vessels, and dwell in your cities that you have taken.

Jeremiah 40:1-10 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.

The Hebrew Names Version is in the public domain.