Jeremiah 40

1 The word which it came to Jeremiah from with Yahweh after - set free him Nebuzaradan [the] chief of [the] bodyguards from Ramah when took he him and he [was] bound with chains in among all [the] exile[s] of Jerusalem and Judah who were being taken into exile Babylon towards.

[The soldiers from Babylonia] captured me and many other people from Jerusalem and [other places in] Judah. They [planned to] take us to Babylon. So they fastened chains around our wrists and took us to Ramah [town north of Jerusalem]. While we were there, I was released. [This is how it happened]:

2 And he took [the] chief of [the] bodyguards Jeremiah and he said to him Yahweh God your he spoke the harm this against the place this.

[Nebuzaradan, ] the captain of the [king’s] bodyguards, [found that I was there]. He summoned me and said to me, “Yahweh your God said that he would cause this land to experience a disaster.

3 And he has brought [it] and he has done Yahweh just as he said for you sinned to Yahweh and not you listened to voice his and it has happened to you (the thing *Q(K)*) this.

And now he has caused it to happen. He has done just what he said [that he would do], because you people sinned against Yahweh and refused to obey him.

4 And now here! I have set free you this day from the chains which [are] on hand your if it is good in view your to come with me Babylon come so I may set eye my on you and if [is] displeasing in view your to come with me Babylon refrain see all the land [is] before you to [the place] good and to the [place] right in view your to go there towards go.

But today I am going to take the chains off your wrists and release you. If you want to come with me to Babylon, [that will be fine]. I will take care of you. But if you do not want to come with me, do not come. [Stay here]. Look, the entire country is available; you can choose whatever part you want to go to. You can go wherever you wish.” [Then he took the chains off my wrists].

5 And still he not he will return and return! to Gedaliah [the] son of Ahikam [the] son of Shaphan whom he has appointed [the] king of Babylon over [the] cities of Judah and remain with him in among the people or to any [place] right in view your to go go and he gave to him [the] chief of [the] bodyguards a food allowance and a present and he let go him.

He said, “If you [decide to] stay here, go to Gedaliah. The King of Babylon appointed him to be the governor of Judah. [You will be allowed to] stay here with the people [that he is governing]. But you can do whatever you want to.” Then Nebuzaradan gave me some food and some money, and he allowed me to go.

6 And he went Jeremiah to Gedaliah [the] son of Ahikam Mizpah towards and he remained with him in among the people who remained in the land.

I returned to Gedaliah at Mizpah, and I stayed in Judah with the people who still remained in the land.

7 And they heard all [the] commanders of the armies which [were] in the open country they and men their that he had appointed [the] king of Babylon Gedaliah [the] son of Ahikam over the land and that - he had appointed with him men and women and little one[s] and some of [the] poor people of the land from [those] who not they had been taken into exile Babylon towards.

The [Israeli] soldiers [who had not surrendered to the army of Babylonia] were roaming around in the countryside. Then their leaders heard someone say that the King of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah to be the governor of the very poor people [who were still in Judah], who had not been taken to Babylon.

8 And they came to Gedaliah Mizpah towards and Ishmael [the] son Nethaniah and Johanan and Jonathan [the] sons of Kareah and Seraiah [the] son of Tanhumeth and [the] sons of - (Ephai *Q(K)*) the Netophathite and Jezaniah [the] son of the Maacathite they and men their.

So they went [to talk] to Gedaliah at Mizpah. [Those who went included] Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth, the sons of Ephai from Netophath, and Jezaniah from Maacah, and the soldiers who were with them.

9 And he swore an oath to them Gedaliah [the] son of Ahikam [the] son of Shaphan and to men their saying may not you be afraid from serving the Chaldeans remain in the land and serve [the] king of Babylon so it may go well for you.

Gedaliah solemnly promised that the soldiers from Babylonia would not harm them. He said, “Do not be afraid to do things for them. Stay [here] in this land and do things for the King of Babylon. If you do that, things will go well for you.

10 And I here I [will be] dwelling at Mizpah to stand before the Chaldeans who they will come to us and you gather wine and summer fruit and oil and put [them] in vessels your and dwell in cities your which you have taken hold of.

As for me, I will stay [here] at Mizpah to be your representative to the [officials from] Babylonia who come to [talk with] us. But you should [return to your towns, and eat the things that are produced on your land]. Harvest the grapes and the fruit [that ripen in] the (summer/hot season) and the olives, [make wine and olive oil, ] and store it.”

11 And also all the Jews who [were] in Moab - and among [the] people of Ammon and in Edom and who [were] in all the lands they heard that he had given [the] king of Babylon a remnant to Judah and that he had appointed over them Gedaliah [the] son of Ahikam [the] son of Shaphan.

Then the Jews who had fled to Moab, Ammon, Edom, and other [nearby] countries heard people say that the King of Babylon had allowed a few people [to remain] in Judah, and that he had appointed Gedaliah to be their governor.

12 And they returned all the Jews from all the places where they had been driven away there and they came [the] land of Judah to Gedaliah Mizpah towards and they gathered wine and summer fruit much exceedingly.

So they [began to] return to Judah. They stopped at Mizpah to [talk with] Gedaliah. Then [they went to various places in Judea, and] they harvested a great amount of grapes and summer fruit.

13 And Johanan [the] son of Kareah and all [the] commanders of the armies which [were] in the open country they came to Gedaliah Mizpah towards.

[Some time later, ] Johanan and all the [other] leaders of the Israeli soldiers [who had not surrendered to the army of Babylonia] came to Gedaliah at Mizpah.

14 And they said to him ¿ really do you know that Baalis - [the] king of [the] people of Ammon he has sent Ishmael [the] son of Nethaniah to strike you life and not he believed them Gedaliah [the] son of Ahikam.

They said to him, “Do you know that Baalis, the king of the Ammon [people-group], has sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to assassinate you?” But Gedaliah did not believe what they said.

15 And Johanan [the] son of Kareah he said to Gedaliah in secrecy at Mizpah saying let me go please and let me strike down Ishmael [the] son of Nethaniah and anyone not he will know why? will he strike you life and will they be scattered all Jews who have gathered to you and will it perish [the] remnant of Judah.

Later Johanan talked with Gedaliah privately. He said, “Allow me to go and murder Ishmael secretly. It would not be good [RHQ] to allow him to come and murder you! If you are killed, what will happen to all the Jews who have returned to this area? They will be scattered, and the other people who remain in Judah will all be killed!”

16 And he said Gedaliah [the] son of Ahikam to Johanan [the] son of Kareah may not (you do *Q(k)*) the thing this for falsehood you [are] speaking concerning Ishmael.

But Gedaliah said to Johanan, “[No], I will not allow you to do that. [I think that] you are lying about Ishmael.”