1
The word that was to▵ Jeremiah◦ from Jehovah, after that Nebuzaradan the major of the guards◦ had sent· him ·out from Ramah, when he had taken him, being bound in shackles, in the midst of all the exiles of Jerusalem and Judah, who were exiled to▫ Babylon.
2
And the major of the guards◦ took Jeremiah◦, and said to▵ him, Jehovah thy God has spoken this evil upon this place.
3
And Jehovah has brought it, and done as◦ He has spoken; for you have sinned against Jehovah, and have not obeyed His voice, and this thing is for you.
4
And now, behold, I loose◦ thee today from the shackles which are upon thy hand. If it be good in thine eyes to come· with◦ me ·into Babylon, come; and I will set my eye upon thee; but if it be··evil in thine eyes to come· with◦ me ·into Babylon, forbear: see, all the land is before thee; to▵ what is good and to▵ what is upright in thine eyes to go, go there.
5
And he had not yet returned, and he said, Return to▵ Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon has appointed in the cities of Judah, and dwell with◦ him in the midst of the people; or go wherever it is upright in thine eyes for thee to go. And the major of the guards◦ gave him victuals and a portion◦, and sent· him ·out.
6
And Jeremiah◦ came unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpeh*; and dwelt with him in the midst of the people that were left in the land.
7
And all the commanders◦ of the forces which were in the fields, even they and their men◦, heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah◦ the son of Ahikam over the land, and had appointed with◦ him men◦, and women, and infants, and from the poor of the land, from those who were not exiled to▫ Babylon;
8
and they came to▵ Gedaliah to▫ Mizpeh, even▵ Ishmael the son of Nethaniah◦, and Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareaḥ, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth, and the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniah the son of a Maachathite, they◦ and their men◦.
9
And Gedaliah◦ the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan promised to them and to their men◦, saying, Fear not to serve the Chaldeans; dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be··good for you.
10
And I◦, behold, I◦ am dwelling at Mizpah to stand before the Chaldeans, who will come unto▵ us; but you, gather ye wine, and summer··fruit, and oil, and set them in your vessels, and dwell in your cities that you have occupied.
11
And even all the Jews who were in Moab, and among◦ the sons of Ammon, and in Edom, and who were in all the lands, heard that the king of Babylon had given what··was··left for Judah, and that he had appointed over them Gedaliah◦ the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan.
12
And all the Jews returned out of all places whither they were expelled, and came to the land of Judah, to▵ Gedaliah◦, to▫ Mizpeh, and gathered wine and summer··fruits, and multiplied exceedingly.
13
And Johanan the son of Kareaḥ, and all the commanders◦ of the forces who were in the fields, came to Gedaliah◦ to▫ Mizpeh.
14
And they said to▵ him, Knowing dost· thou ·know that Baalis the king of the sons of Ammon has sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to smite thee in the soul? But Gedaliah◦ the son of Ahikam believed them not.
15
And Johanan the son of Kareaḥ said to▵ Gedaliah◦ in Mizpah in a hidden way, saying, Let me go, I pray◦ thee, and I will smite Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and no◦ man◦ shall know it; why should he smite thy soul, that all of Judah who being brought··together to▵ thee should be scattered, and those who··are··left of Judah perish?
16
But Gedaliah◦ the son of Ahikam said to▵ Johanan the son of Kareaḥ, Do not this thing; for thou speakest falsely of Ishmael.
