Jeremiah 40:1-8

1 sermo qui factus est ad Hieremiam a Domino postquam dimissus est a Nabuzardan magistro militiae de Rama quando tulit eum vinctum catenis in medio omnium qui migrabant de Hierusalem et Iuda et ducebantur in Babylonem

2 tollens ergo princeps militiae Hieremiam dixit ad eum Dominus Deus tuus locutus est malum hoc super locum istum

3 et adduxit et fecit Dominus sicut locutus est quia peccastis Domino et non audistis vocem eius et factus est vobis sermo hic

4 nunc ergo ecce solvi te hodie de catenis quae sunt in manibus tuis si placet tibi ut venias mecum in Babylonem veni et ponam oculos meos super te si autem displicet tibi venire mecum in Babylonem reside ecce omnis terra in conspectu tuo quod elegeris et quo placuerit tibi ut vadas illuc perge

5 et mecum noli venire sed habita apud Godoliam filium Ahicam filii Saphan quem praeposuit rex Babylonis civitatibus Iudaeae habita ergo cum eo in medio populi vel quocumque placuerit tibi ut vadas vade dedit quoque ei magister militiae cibaria et munuscula et dimisit eum

6 venit autem Hieremias ad Godoliam filium Ahicam in Masphat et habitavit cum eo in medio populi qui relictus fuerat in terra

7 cum ergo audissent omnes principes exercitus qui dispersi fuerant per regiones ipsi et socii eorum quod praefecisset rex Babylonis Godoliam filium Ahicam terrae et quod commendasset ei viros et mulieres et parvulos et de pauperibus terrae qui non fuerant translati in Babylonem

8 venerunt ad Godoliam in Masphat et Ismahel filius Nathaniae et Iohanan et Ionathan filii Caree et Sareas filius Thenoemeth et filii Offi qui erat de Nethophathi et Iezonias filius Maachathi ipsi et viri eorum

Jeremiah 40:1-8 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.