Jeremiah 40

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1. 1This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD after Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, released him at Ramah. Jeremiah had been found bound in chains among all the captives from Jerusalem and Judah who were being taken to Babylon.
2. 2The captain of the guard pulled Jeremiah aside and said to him, "The LORD your God declared that this disaster would come upon this place.
3. 3Now the LORD has brought it about and done as he said: because you have sinned against the LORD and have not obeyed his voice, therefore this thing has come upon you.
4. 4But today I'm removing the chains from your hands. If you'd like to come with me to Babylon, come — I'll take good care of you. But if you'd rather not come to Babylon, then don't. The whole land is open to you. Go wherever you think is best."
5. 5Before Jeremiah had returned, Nebuzaradan said, "Go back to Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon has appointed as governor over the cities of Judah, and live with him among the people. Or go wherever it seems best for you to go." Then the captain of the guard gave him food and a gift and let him go.
6. 6So Jeremiah went to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah and settled there among the people who remained in the land.
7. 7When the military commanders still out in the countryside — along with their men — heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam as governor over the land and had placed him in charge of the men, women, and children who remained, especially the poorest people who hadn't been deported to Babylon,
8. 8they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah. Among them were Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan and Jonathan sons of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth, the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniah son of a Maachathite — all of them with their men.
9. 9Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, gave them his sworn word, saying, "Don't be afraid to serve the Chaldeans. Settle down in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and things will go well for you.
10. 10As for me, I will stay at Mizpah to serve the Chaldeans who come to us. But you, gather wine, summer fruits, and oil, put them in your containers, and live in the cities you have taken.
11. 11In the same way, all the Jews who had fled to Moab, Ammon, Edom, and other surrounding countries heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant in Judah and had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, as their governor.
12. 12So all the Jews returned from every place they had been driven to. They came back to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah at Mizpah, and gathered a large amount of wine and summer fruits.
13. 13Then Johanan son of Kareah, along with all the military commanders who had been out in the countryside, came to Gedaliah at Mizpah.
14. 14They warned him, "Are you aware that Baalis, king of the Ammonites, has sent Ishmael son of Nethaniah to kill you?" But Gedaliah son of Ahikam didn't believe them.
15. 15Johanan son of Kareah then spoke to Gedaliah privately at Mizpah. "Let me go kill Ishmael son of Nethaniah," he urged. "No one will ever know. Why should he murder you? If he does, all the Jews who have gathered around you will scatter, and the remnant of Judah will be destroyed."
16. 16But Gedaliah son of Ahikam told Johanan son of Kareah, "You will not do this. You're lying about Ishmael."