Jeremia 40:5

5 Denn weiter hinaus wird kein Wiederkehren sein. Darum magst du umkehren zu Gedalja, dem Sohn Ahikams, des Sohnes Saphans, welchen der König zu Babel gesetzt hat über die Städte in Juda, und bei ihm unter dem Volk bleiben; oder gehe, wohin dir's wohl gefällt. Und der Hauptmann gab ihm Zehrung und Geschenke und ließ ihn gehen. {~} {~}

Jeremia 40:5 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 40:5

Now while he was not yet gone back, [he said], go back also to
Gedaliah
These words, by different versions, are made difficult to be understood, both, whose words they are, and of whom they are spoken. Jarchi makes them to be words of God, and the sense this,

``and by all this he (Jeremiah) had no mind to return; and God said to him, go back to Gedaliah.''

According to the Targum, they are the words of Nebuzaradan, which paraphrases them thus;

``if thou wilt not return (that is, with him to Babylon, or rather to Jerusalem, or best to his own native place), or if thou wilt not dwell (that is, in this place), go back to Gedaliah.''

But of whom they are spoken interpreters differ. Some say of Zedekiah, as Cocceius; while he (Zedekiah) does not return, that is, to Jerusalem; which possibly he might, though as yet not determined by the king of Babylon; in the mean while is bid to go to Gedaliah, appointed governor. Others of Gedaliah, thus, while he (Gedaliah) does not return, but stays at Mizpah, go to him thither. Though it seems best to understand it of Jeremiah, who, having had leave from the captain, did not immediately set out anywhere; but, seething to be at a loss which way to go, Nebuzaradan gives him his advice; that seeing he did not care to go to Babylon, that he would go to Gedaliah the son of, Ahikam the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon had
made governor over all the cities of Judah, and dwell with him among
the people;
this was one of the princes of Judah, who, during the siege, went over to the Chaldeans, and who was in great esteem with them; and being, no doubt, recommended to the king of Babylon by his generals, he made him governor of the land under him: or go wherever it seemeth convenient unto thee to go;
though he gave him his advice, he did not press it, but left him at full liberty to take his own way, and go into what part of the land he pleased, and settle in it: so the captain of the guard gave him victuals, and a reward, and let
him go;
the prophet was just come out of prison, and destitute of the necessaries of life, and the land was laid waste by the enemy; and therefore he could not have subsisted without a supply, which was liberally given by the captain; not only food for present refreshment, and sufficient for his journey, which way soever he took, but a present of money or clothes, or both; which was very kind usage of a prophet by a Heathen officer.

Jeremia 40:5 In-Context

3 und hat's auch kommen lassen und getan, wie er geredet hat; denn ihr habt gesündigt wider den HERRN und seiner Stimme nicht gehorcht; darum ist euch solches widerfahren. {~}

4 Und nun siehe, ich habe dich heute losgemacht von den Ketten, womit deine Hände gebunden waren. Gefällt dir's, mit mir gen Babel zu ziehen, so komm du sollst mir befohlen sein; gefällt dir's aber nicht, mit mir gen Babel zu ziehen, so laß es anstehen. Siehe, da hast du das ganze Land vor dir; wo dich's gut dünkt und dir gefällt, da zieh hin. {~} {~}

5 Denn weiter hinaus wird kein Wiederkehren sein. Darum magst du umkehren zu Gedalja, dem Sohn Ahikams, des Sohnes Saphans, welchen der König zu Babel gesetzt hat über die Städte in Juda, und bei ihm unter dem Volk bleiben; oder gehe, wohin dir's wohl gefällt. Und der Hauptmann gab ihm Zehrung und Geschenke und ließ ihn gehen. {~} {~}

6 Also kam Jeremia zu Gedalja, dem Sohn Ahikams, gen Mizpa und blieb bei ihm unter dem Volk, das im Lande noch übrig war.

7 Da nun die Hauptleute, so auf dem Felde sich hielten, samt ihren Leuten erfuhren, daß der König zu Babel hatte Gedalja, den Sohn Ahikams, über das Land gesetzt und über die Männer und Weiber, Kinder und die Geringen im Lande, welche nicht gen Babel geführt waren, {~} {~}