After the capture of Jerusalem
1THE word which came from the LORD about Jeremiah: Nebuzaradan captain of the guard had taken him in chains to Ramah along with the other captives from Jerusalem and Judah who were being deported to Babylon. After he set Jeremiah free,
2he said to him, “The LORD your God threatened this place with disaster,
3and has duly carried out his threat that this should happen to the people because they have sinned against the LORD and not obeyed him.
4But as for you, Jeremiah, I am now removing the fetters from your wrists. If you so wish, come with me to Babylon, and I shall take good care of you; but if you prefer not to come, very well. The whole country lies before you; go wherever you think best.”
5Before Jeremiah could answer, Nebuzaradan went on, “Go back to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon has appointed governor of the cities and towns of Judah, and stay with him among your people; or go anywhere else you choose.” Then the captain of the guard gave him provisions and a gift, and dismissed him.
6Jeremiah went to Mizpah to Gedaliah son of Ahikam and stayed with him among the people left in the land.
7When all the captains of the armed bands in the countryside and their men heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam to be governor of the land, and had put him in charge of the poorer class of the population, the men, women, and children who had not been deported to Babylon,
8they, together with their men, came to him at Mizpah; they were Ishmael son of Nethaniah, and Johanan and Jonathan sons of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth, the sons of Ephai from Netophah, and Jezaniah of Beth-maacah.
9Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, gave them this assurance: “Do not be afraid to serve the Chaldaeans. Settle down in the land, serve the king of Babylon, and all will be well with you.
10I for my part am to stay in Mizpah and attend on the Chaldaeans whenever they come to us; you can harvest the wine, summer fruits, and oil, store them in jars, and settle in the towns you have taken over.”
11Likewise when all the Judaeans who were in Moab, Ammon, Edom, and other countries, heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant in Judah and had set over them Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan,
12they came back to Judah from all the places where they had scattered and presented themselves before Gedaliah at Mizpah; and they gathered in a good harvest of wine and summer fruit.
13Johanan son of Kareah and all the captains of the armed bands from the countryside came to Gedaliah at Mizpah
14and said to him, “Are you aware that Baalis king of the Ammonites has sent Ishmael son of Nethaniah to assassinate you?” But Gedaliah son of Ahikam would not believe them.
15Then Johanan son of Kareah spoke privately to Gedaliah: “Let me go, unknown to anyone else, and kill Ishmael son of Nethaniah. Why let him assassinate you, and so allow all the Judaeans who have rallied round you to be scattered and the remnant of Judah to be lost?”
16Gedaliah son of Ahikam answered him, “Do no such thing. What you are saying about Ishmael is not true.”