Yirmeyahu remains in Yehudah
Gedalyah Ben Ahikam
40:1 The Dvar that came to YirmeYahu from YHWH (יהוה), after that Nevuzar-Adan the captain of the guard had let him go from Ramah, when he had taken him being bound in chains among all that were carried away captive of Yerushalayim and Yehudah, which were carried away captive unto Bavel.
40:2 And the captain of the guard took YirmeYahu, and said unto him, YHWH (יהוה) Eloheicha hath pronounced this evil upon this place.
40:3 Now YHWH (יהוה) hath brought [it], and done according as he hath said: because ye have sinned against YHWH (יהוה), and have not obeyed his voice, therefore this thing is come upon you.
40:4 And now, hinneh, I loose thee this day from the chains which [were] upon thine hand. If it seem good unto thee to come with me into Bavel, come; and I will look well unto thee: but if it seem ill unto thee to come with me into Bavel, forbear: hinneh, all the land [is] before thee: whither it seemeth good and convenient for thee to go, thither go.
40:5 Now while he was not yet gone back, [he said], Go back also to Gedalyah Ben Ahikam Ben Shafan, whom melekh Bavel hath made governor over the cities of Yehudah, and dwell with him among the people: or go wheresoever it seemeth convenient unto thee to go. So the captain of the guard gave him victuals and a reward, and let him go.
40:6 Then went YirmeYahu unto Gedalyah Ben Ahikam to Mizpah; and dwelt with him among the people that were left in the land.
40:7 Now when all the captains of the forces which [were] in the fields, [even] they and their men, heard that melekh Bavel had made Gedalyah Ben Ahikam governor in the land, and had committed unto him men, and women, and children, and of the poor of the land, of them that were not carried away captive to Bavel;
40:8 Then they came to Gedalyah to Mitzpah, even Yishma'el Ben Netanyah, and Yochanan and Yonatan benai Kareah, and Serayah Ben Tanhumet, and benai Efai ha Netofati, and Yezanyah Ben ha Ma'achatite, they and their men.
40:9 And Gedalyah Ben Ahikam Ben Shafan sware unto them and to their men, saying, Fear not to serve the Kasdim: dwell in the land, and serve melekh Bavel, and it shall be well with you.
40:10 As for me, hinneh, I will dwell at Mitzpah to serve the Kasdim, which will come unto us: but ye, gather ye wine, and summer fruits, and oil, and put [them] in your vessels, and dwell in your cities that ye have taken.
40:11 Likewise when all the Yehudim that [were] in Mo'av, and among the Ammonites, and in Edom, and that [were] in all the countries, heard that melekh Bavel had left a remnant of Yehudah, and that he had set over them Gedalyah Ben Ahikam Ben Shafan;
40:12 Even all the Yehudim returned out of all places whither they were driven, and came to ha eretz Yehudah, to Gedalyah, unto Mitzpah, and gathered wine and summer fruits very much.
40:13 Moreover Yochanan Ben Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that [were] in the fields, came to Gedalyah to Mitzpah,
40:14 And said unto him, Dost thou certainly know that Baalis melekh the Ammonites hath sent Yishma'el Ben Netanyah to slay thee? But Gedalyah Ben Ahikam believed them not.
40:15 Then Yochanan Ben Kareah spake to Gedalyah in Mizpah secretly, saying, Let me go, I pray thee, and I will slay Yishma'el Ben Netanyah, and no man shall know [it]: wherefore should he slay thee, that all the Yehudim which are gathered unto thee should be scattered, and the remnant in Yehudah perish?
40:16 But Gedalyah Ben Ahikam said unto Yochanan Ben Kareah, Thou shalt not do this thing: for thou speakest falsely of Yishma'el.