Jeremiah 40:7

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;

Jeremiah 40:7 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 40:7

Now when all the captains of the forces which [were] in the
fields
Not the captains of the king of Babylon's forces, but the captains of the king of Judah's forces; who either during the siege had lurked in the fields and villages, not daring to fall upon the Chaldean army, or attempt to raise the siege; or rather who fled with Zedekiah from Jerusalem, when the city was taken, and who deserted him, when he was apprehended, and shifted for themselves, and were dispersed about in the country, where they continued for some little time: but when they and their men;
their servants, or rather the common soldiers that were under them: heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam
governor in the land;
his viceroy or deputy governor in the land of Judea; being a prince of considerable note among the Jews, and in high favour with the king of Babylon: and had committed unto him men, and women, and children, and of the
poor of the land, of them that were not carried away captive unto
Babylon;
even as many men, women, children, and poor, as were left in the land, and not carried captive; these were all committed to the care of this prince, to rule over and govern them; to keep them in subjection to the king of Babylon; to employ them in cultivating the land, from whence some profit might arise to the conqueror and new proprietor of it.

Jeremiah 40:7 In-Context

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.