Jeremiah:40

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* The word that came to Jeremiah from Jehovah , after that Nebuzar-adan the captain of the body-guard had let him go from Ramah , when he had taken him , being bound in chains , among all the captivity of Jerusalem and Judah , that were carried away captive to Babylon . * And the captain of the body-guard took Jeremiah , and said unto him , Jehovah thy God pronounced this evil upon this place , * and Jehovah hath brought [it about ] and done according as he said ; for ye have sinned against Jehovah , and have not hearkened unto his voice , therefore this thing is come upon you . * And now , behold , I loose thee this day from the chains that are upon thy hand . If it seem good in thy sight to come with me to Babylon , come , and I will keep mine eye upon thee ; but if it seem ill unto thee to come with me to Babylon , forbear . See , all the land is before thee : whither it seemeth good and right in thy sight to go , thither go . * And while he had not yet given answer ; [he said ,] Yea , go back to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan , whom the king of Babylon hath appointed over the cities of Judah , and abide with him in the midst of the people ; or go wheresoever it seemeth right in thy sight to go . And the captain of the body-guard gave him provisions and a present , and let him go . * And Jeremiah came unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah , and abode with him among the people that remained in the land . * And all the captains of the forces that were in the fields , they and their men , heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah the son of Ahikam over the land , and had committed unto him men , and women , and children , and of the poor of the land , of them that had not been carried away captive to Babylon . * And they came to Gedaliah to Mizpah ; even Ishmael the son of Nethaniah , and Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah , and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth , and the sons of Ephai the Netophathite , and Jezaniah the son of a Maachathite , they and their men . * And Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan swore unto 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 well with you . * And as for me , behold , I dwell at Mizpah , to stand before the Chaldeans , who will come unto us ; and ye , gather wine , and summer fruits , and oil , and put [them ] in your vessels , and dwell in your cities which ye have taken . * Likewise all the Jews that were in Moab , and among the children of Ammon and in Edom , and that were in all the lands , heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant in Judah , and that he had appointed over them Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan ; * and all the Jews returned out of all the places whither they had been driven , and came to the land of Judah to Gedaliah , unto Mizpah , and gathered wine and summer fruits in great abundance . * And Johanan the son of Kareah , and all the captains of the forces that were in the fields , came to Gedaliah unto Mizpah , * and said unto him , Dost thou indeed know that Baalis the king of the children of Ammon hath sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to smite thee to death ? But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam believed them not . * And Johanan the son of Kareah spoke to Gedaliah in Mizpah secretly , 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 take thy life , and all they of Judah who are gathered unto thee be scattered , and the remnant of Judah perish ? * But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said unto Johanan the son of Kareah , Thou shalt not do this thing ; for thou speakest falsely of Ishmael .

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