Jeremiah 40:11-16

11 But also all the Jews, that were in Moab, and in the hosts of Ammon, and in Idumea, and in all the countries, when it is heard, that the king of Babylon had given residues, either remnants, in Judah, and that he had made sovereign on them Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, (And all the Jews, who were in Moab, and in the land of Ammon, and in Edom, and in all the other countries, when they had heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant in Judah, and that he had made Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, their ruler,)
12 soothly all [the] Jews turned again from all [the] places, to which they had fled; and they came into the land of Judah, to Gedaliah, in Mizpah, and gathered wine and ripe corn full much. (truly all the Jews returned from all the places, to which they had fled; and they came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah, in Mizpah, and gathered a great deal of wine and ripe corn.)
13 Forsooth Johanan, the son of Kareah, and all the princes of the host, that were scattered in the countries, came to Gedaliah in Mizpah, (And Johanan, the son of Kareah, and all the leaders, or all the officers, of the army, who were scattered in the countryside, came to Gedaliah in Mizpah,)
14 and said to him, Know thou, that Baalis, king of the sons of Ammon, hath sent Ishmael, the son of Nethaniah, to smite thy life. And Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam, believed not to them. (and said to him, Know thou, that Baalis, the king of the Ammonites, hath sent Ishmael, the son of Nethaniah, to strike down thy life. But Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam, did not believe them.)
15 Forsooth Johanan, the son of Kareah, said to Gedaliah asides half in Mizpah, and spake, I shall go, and slay Ishmael, the son of Nethaniah, while no man knoweth, lest he slay thy life, and all the Jews be scattered, that be gathered to thee, and the remnants of Judah shall perish. (Then Johanan, the son of Kareah, took Gedaliah aside in Mizpah, and said, I shall go, and kill Ishmael, the son of Nethaniah, while no one knoweth it, lest he kill thee, and then all the Jews be scattered, who now be gathered to thee, and so the remnant of Judah shall perish.)
16 And Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam, said to Johanan, the son of Kareah, Do not thou do this word, for thou speakest false of Ishmael. (But Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam, said to Johanan, the son of Kareah, Do not thou do this thing, for thou speakest falsely of Ishmael.)

Jeremiah 40:11-16 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.

Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.