Jeremiah:40:1-41
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The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD ,
after that Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had let him go from Ramah ,
when he had taken him being bound in chains among all that were carried away captive of Jerusalem and Judah ,
which were carried away captive to Babylon .
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And the captain of the guard took Jeremiah ,
and said to him ,
The LORD your God has pronounced this evil on this place .
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Now the LORD has brought it ,
and done according as he has said :
because you have sinned against the LORD ,
and have not obeyed his voice ,
therefore this thing is come on you .
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And now ,
behold ,
I loose you this day from the chains which were on your hand .
If it seem good to you to come with me into Babylon ,
come ;
and I will look well to you :
but if it seem ill to you to come with me into Babylon ,
forbear :
behold ,
all the land is before you :
where it seems good and convenient for you to go ,
thither go .
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Now while he was not yet gone back ,
he said ,
Go back also to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan ,
whom the king of Babylon has made governor over the cities of Judah ,
and dwell with him among the people :
or go wherever it seems convenient to you to go .
So the captain of the guard gave him victuals and a reward ,
and let him go .
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Then went Jeremiah to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah ;
and dwelled with him among the people that were left in the land .
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Now when all the captains of the forces which were in the fields ,
even they and their men ,
heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam governor in the land ,
and had committed to him men ,
and women ,
and children ,
and of the poor of the land ,
of them that were not carried away captive to Babylon ;
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Then 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 .
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And Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan swore 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 well with you .
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As for me ,
behold ,
I will dwell at Mizpah ,
to serve the Chaldeans ,
which will come to us :
but you ,
gather you wine ,
and summer fruits ,
and oil ,
and put them in your vessels ,
and dwell in your cities that you have taken .
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Likewise when all the Jews that were in Moab ,
and among the Ammonites ,
and in Edom ,
and that were in all the countries ,
heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant of Judah ,
and that he had set over them Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan ;
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Even all the Jews returned out of all places where they were driven ,
and came to the land of Judah ,
to Gedaliah ,
to Mizpah ,
and gathered wine and summer fruits very much .
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Moreover Johanan the son of Kareah ,
and all the captains of the forces that were in the fields ,
came to Gedaliah to Mizpah ,
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And said to him ,
Do you certainly know that Baalis the king of the Ammonites has sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to slay you ?
But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam believed them not .
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Then Johanan the son of Kareah spoke to Gedaliah in Mizpah secretly saying ,
Let me go ,
I pray you ,
and I will slay Ishmael the son of Nethaniah ,
and no man shall know it :
why should he slay you ,
that all the Jews which are gathered to you should be scattered ,
and the remnant in Judah perish ?
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But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said to Johanan the son of Kareah ,
You shall not do this thing :
for you speak falsely of Ishmael .