The word{H1697} which came to Jeremiah{H3414} from Jehovah,{H3068} after{H310} that Nebuzaradan{H5018} the captain{H7227} of the guard{H2876} had let him go{H7971} from Ramah,{H7414} when he had taken{H3947} him being bound{H631} in chains{H246} among{H8432} all the captives{H1546} of Jerusalem{H3389} and Judah,{H3063} that were carried away captive{H1540} unto Babylon.{H894}

And the captain{H7227} of the guard{H2876} took{H3947} Jeremiah,{H3414} and said{H559} unto him, Jehovah{H3068} thy God{H430} pronounced{H1696} this evil{H7451} upon this place;{H4725}

and Jehovah{H3068} hath brought{H935} it, and done{H6213} according as he spake:{H1696} because ye have sinned{H2398} against Jehovah,{H3068} and have not obeyed{H8085} his voice,{H6963} therefore this thing{H1697} is come upon you.

And now, behold, I loose{H6605} thee this day{H3117} from the chains{H246} which are upon thy hand.{H3027} If it seem good{H2896} unto thee to come{H935} with me into Babylon,{H894} come,{H935} and I will look well{H7760} unto thee; but if it seem ill{H7489} unto thee to come{H935} with me into Babylon,{H894} forbear:{H2308} behold,{H7200} all the land{H776} is before{H6440} thee; whither it seemeth{H413} good{H2896} and right{H3477} unto thee to go,{H3212} thither go.{H3212}

Now while he was not yet gone back,{H7725} Go back{H7725} then, [said he], to Gedaliah{H1436} the son{H1121} of Ahikam,{H296} the son{H1121} of Shaphan,{H8227} whom the king{H4428} of Babylon{H894} hath made governor{H6485} over the cities{H5892} of Judah,{H3063} and dwell{H3427} with him among{H8432} the people;{H5971} or go{H3212} wheresoever it seemeth right{H3477} unto thee to go.{H3212} So the captain{H7227} of the guard{H2876} gave{H5414} him victuals{H737} and a present,{H4864} and let him go.{H7971}

Then went{H935} Jeremiah{H3414} unto Gedaliah{H1436} the son{H1121} of Ahikam{H296} to Mizpah,{H4708} and dwelt{H3427} with him among{H8432} the people{H5971} that were left{H7604} in the land.{H776}

Now when all the captains{H8269} of the forces{H2428} that were in the fields,{H7704} even they and their men,{H582} heard{H8085} that the king{H4428} of Babylon{H894} had made Gedaliah{H1436} the son{H1121} of Ahikam{H296} governor{H6485} in the land,{H776} and had committed{H6485} unto him men,{H582} and women,{H802} and children,{H2945} and of the poorest{H1803} of the land,{H776} of them that were not carried away captive{H1540} to Babylon;{H894}

then they came{H935} to Gedaliah{H1436} to Mizpah,{H4708} [to wit], Ishmael{H3458} the son{H1121} of Nethaniah,{H5418} and Johanan{H3110} and Jonathan{H3129} the sons{H1121} of Kareah,{H7143} and Seraiah{H8304} the son{H1121} of Tanhumeth,{H8576} and the sons{H1121} of Ephai{H5778} the Netophathite,{H5200} and Jezaniah{H3153} the son{H1121} of the Maacathite,{H4602} they and their men.{H582}

And Gedaliah{H1436} the son{H1121} of Ahikam{H296} the son{H1121} of Shaphan{H8227} sware{H7650} unto them and to their men,{H582} saying,{H559} Fear{H3372} not to serve{H5647} the Chaldeans:{H3778} dwell in{H3427} the land,{H776} and serve{H5647} the king{H4428} of Babylon,{H894} and it shall be well{H3190} with you.

As for me, behold, I will dwell{H3427} at Mizpah,{H4709} to stand{H5975} before the Chaldeans{H3778} that shall come{H935} unto us: but ye, gather{H622} ye wine{H3196} and summer fruits{H7019} and oil,{H8081} and put{H7760} them in your vessels,{H3627} and dwell{H3427} in your cities{H5892} that ye have taken.{H8610}

Likewise when all the Jews{H3064} that were in Moab,{H4124} and among the children of Ammon,{H5983} and in Edom,{H123} and that were in all the countries,{H776} heard{H8085} that the king{H4428} of Babylon{H894} had left{H5414} a remnant{H7611} of Judah,{H3063} and that he had set{H6485} over them Gedaliah{H1436} the son{H1121} of Ahikam,{H296} the son{H1121} of Shaphan;{H8227}

then all the Jews{H3064} returned out{H7725} of all places{H4725} whither they were driven,{H5080} and came{H935} to the land{H776} of Judah,{H3063} to Gedaliah,{H1436} unto Mizpah,{H4708} and gathered{H622} wine{H3196} and summer fruits{H7019} very{H3966} much.{H7235}

Moreover Johanan{H3110} the son{H1121} of Kareah,{H7143} and all the captains{H8269} of the forces{H2428} that were in the fields,{H7704} came{H935} to Gedaliah{H1436} to Mizpah,{H4708}

and said{H559} unto him, Dost{H3045} thou know{H3045} that Baalis{H1185} the king{H4428} of the children of Ammon{H1121} hath sent{H7971} Ishmael{H3458} the son{H1121} of Nethaniah{H5418} to take{H5221} thy life? But Gedaliah{H1436} the son{H1121} of Ahikam{H296} believed{H539} them not.

Then Johanan{H3110} the son{H1121} of Kareah{H7143} spake{H559} to Gedaliah{H1436} in Mizpah{H4709} secretly,{H5643} saying,{H559} Let me go,{H3212} I pray thee, and I will slay{H5221} Ishmael{H3458} the son{H1121} of Nethaniah,{H5418} and no man{H376} shall know{H3045} it: wherefore should he take{H5221} thy life, that all the Jews{H3064} that are gathered{H6908} unto thee should be scattered,{H6327} and the remnant{H7611} of Judah{H3063} perish?{H6}

But Gedaliah{H1436} the son{H1121} of Ahikam{H296} said{H559} unto Johanan{H3110} the son{H1121} of Kareah,{H7143} Thou shalt not do{H6213} this thing;{H1697} for thou speakest{H1696} falsely{H8267} of Ishmael.{H3458}