Jeremiah 40 — Septuagint (LXX)

The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD after Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard released him from Ramah, having found him bound in chains among all the captives of Jerusalem and Judah who were being deported to Babylon.

The captain of the guard took Jeremiah aside and said to him, "The LORD your God declared this disaster against this place.

The LORD has brought it about and has done just as he said. Because you sinned against the LORD and did not obey his voice, this thing has come upon you.

Now, I am freeing you today from the chains on your hands. If it seems good to you to come with me to Babylon, come, and I will watch over you. But if it seems wrong to you to come with me to Babylon, then do not. Look — the whole land is before you. Go wherever seems good and right to you."

While Jeremiah had not yet turned away, he said, "Return to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon has appointed over the cities of Judah, and live with him among the people — or go wherever seems right to you." Then the captain of the guard gave him provisions and a gift and sent him on his way.

So Jeremiah went to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah and lived with him among the people who remained in the land.

When all the commanders of the forces in the open country — they and their men — heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam over the land, and that he had entrusted to him the men, women, and children from the poorest of the land who had not been deported to Babylon,

they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah — Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan and Jonathan sons of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth, the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniah the son of the Maacathite — they and their men.

Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, swore an oath to them and their men, saying, "Do not be afraid of serving the Chaldeans. Settle in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it will go well for you.

As for me, I will stay at Mizpah to represent you before the Chaldeans who come to us. But you — gather wine, summer fruit, and oil, store them in your vessels, and settle in the towns you have occupied."

Likewise, all the Judeans who were in Moab, among the Ammonites, in Edom, and in all the other lands heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant in Judah and had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, over them.

All the Judeans returned from all the places where they had been scattered and came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah at Mizpah, and they gathered wine and summer fruit in great abundance.

Then Johanan son of Kareah and all the commanders of the forces in the open country came to Gedaliah at Mizpah.

They said to him, "Are you aware that Baalis king of the Ammonites has sent Ishmael son of Nethaniah to take your life?" But Gedaliah son of Ahikam did not believe them.

Johanan son of Kareah spoke to Gedaliah privately at Mizpah, saying, "Let me go and strike down Ishmael son of Nethaniah — no one will know. Why should he take your life, so that all the Judeans gathered around you are scattered and the remnant of Judah perishes?"

But Gedaliah son of Ahikam said to Johanan son of Kareah, "You must not do this. You are speaking falsely about Ishmael."