The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, after that Nebuzar-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 Jerusalem and Judah, which were carried away captive unto Babylon.
The word: This, and the four following chapters, record the events which occurred in Judea from the taking of Jerusalem to the retreat of the remnant of the people to Egypt; and contain several prophecies of Jeremiah concerning them there; which were "the word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord." It appears that Jeremiah, after being freed from prison, continued among the Jews, till he was bound, with others of them, and carried to Ramah; where he was set a liberty in the manner related.
after: Jeremiah 39:11-14
Ramah: Jeremiah 31:15, Joshua 18:25, 1 Samuel 7:17
bound: Psalms 68:6, Psalms 107:16, Acts 12:6, Acts 12:7, Acts 21:13, Acts 28:20, Ephesians 6:20, *marg.
chains: or, manacles
Reciprocal: 2 Kings 25:8 - Nebuzaradan Jeremiah 39:9 - Nebuzaradan Jeremiah 39:14 - took Ezekiel 7:23 - a chain
And the captain of the guard took Jeremiah, and said unto him, The LORD thy God hath pronounced this evil upon this place.
The Lord: Jeremiah 22:8, Jeremiah 22:9, Deuteronomy 29:24-28, 1 Kings 9:8, 1 Kings 9:9, 2 Chronicles 7:20-22, Lamentations 2:15-17
Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 29:25 - Because Nehemiah 9:30 - therefore Jeremiah 11:17 - pronounced Jeremiah 15:11 - verily I Jeremiah 25:9 - Nebuchadrezzar Jeremiah 50:7 - We offend Ezekiel 20:48 - General Ezekiel 39:23 - the heathen Acts 28:16 - captain
Now the LORD hath brought it, and done according as he hath said: because ye have sinned against the LORD, and have not obeyed his voice, therefore this thing is come upon you.
because: Jeremiah 50:7, Nehemiah 9:28, Nehemiah 9:33, Daniel 9:11, Daniel 9:12, Romans 2:5, Romans 3:19
Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 29:25 - Because Deuteronomy 32:31 - General 2 Chronicles 36:17 - he brought Nehemiah 9:30 - therefore Jeremiah 22:9 - General Ezekiel 20:48 - General Ezekiel 39:23 - the heathen
And now, behold, I loose thee this day from the chains which were upon thine hand. If it seem good unto thee to come with me into Babylon, come; and I will look well unto thee: but if it seem ill unto thee to come with me into Babylon, forbear: behold, all the land is before thee: whither it seemeth good and convenient for thee to go, thither go.
Reciprocal: Genesis 44:21 - that I may 1 Kings 17:6 - the ravens Esther 3:11 - to do Jeremiah 28:14 - I have put Jeremiah 36:5 - General Jeremiah 37:14 - said Jeremiah 39:12 - look well to him Jeremiah 40:5 - or go Acts 12:6 - bound
Now while he was not yet gone back, he said, Go back also to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon hath made governor over the cities of Judah, 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.
Go back: Jeremiah 39:14, Jeremiah 41:2, 2 Kings 25:22-24
Ahikam: Jeremiah 26:24, 2 Kings 22:12, 2 Kings 22:14, 2 Chronicles 34:20
or go: Jeremiah 40:4, Jeremiah 15:11, Ezra 7:6, Ezra 7:27, Nehemiah 1:11, Nehemiah 2:4-8, Proverbs 16:7, Proverbs 21:1
gave him: Jeremiah 52:31-34, 2 Kings 8:7-9, Job 22:29, Acts 27:3, Acts 27:43, Acts 28:10, Hebrews 13:6
victuals and a reward: Rather, "victuals (aruchah a stated allowance, sufficient for the journey), and a present," masseath̀‡
Reciprocal: 1 Kings 13:7 - I will give Jeremiah 41:18 - whom Jeremiah 52:16 - certain
Then went Jeremiah unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah; and dwelt with him among the people that were left in the land.
Then: It has been doubted whether Jeremiah acted prudently in this decision, as the event seems to indicate the contrary, and as it was the evident meaning of all his predictions that the Jews should not prosper in their own country till the expiration of seventy years. But he was evidently influenced by the most unbounded love to his country, for whose welfare he had watched, prayed, and lived; and he now chose rather to share her adversities, her sorrows, her wants, her afflictions, and her disgrace, than to be the companion of princes, and to sit at the table of kings. His patriotism was as unbounded as it was sincere: he only ceased to live for country when he ceased to breathe. Jeremiah 39:14
Mizpah: Joshua 15:38, Judges 20:1, Judges 21:1, 1 Samuel 7:5, 1 Samuel 7:6, Mizpeh
Reciprocal: Joshua 11:3 - land 1 Kings 15:22 - Mizpah 2 Kings 25:22 - the people 2 Chronicles 34:20 - Ahikam Nehemiah 3:15 - Mizpah Jeremiah 40:8 - came Jeremiah 40:13 - Johanan Jeremiah 41:1 - Ishmael Ezekiel 5:3 - a few
Now when all the captains of the forces which were in the fields, even they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah the son of 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 Babylon;
all the: Jeremiah 39:4, 2 Kings 25:4, 2 Kings 25:22, 2 Kings 25:23-26
the poor: Jeremiah 39:10, Ezekiel 33:24-29, Ezekiel 45:16
Reciprocal: 2 Kings 24:14 - the poorest sort 2 Kings 25:12 - left of the poor Jeremiah 41:2 - whom Jeremiah 41:10 - whom Jeremiah 41:11 - Johanan Jeremiah 43:6 - every
Then they came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, even Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth, and the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniah the son of a Maachathite, they and their men.
came: Jeremiah 40:6, Jeremiah 40:11, Jeremiah 40:12
even: Jeremiah 40:14, Jeremiah 41:1-16, 2 Kings 25:23, 2 Kings 25:25
Johanan: Jeremiah 41:11, Jeremiah 41:16, Jeremiah 42:1, Jeremiah 42:8, Jeremiah 43:2, Jeremiah 43:5
Jonathan: Jeremiah 37:15, Jeremiah 37:20, Jeremiah 38:26
Netophathite: 2 Samuel 23:28, 2 Samuel 23:29, 1 Chronicles 2:54, 1 Chronicles 11:30, Ezra 2:2, Ezra 2:22, Nehemiah 7:26
Maachathite: Deuteronomy 3:14, Joshua 12:5, 2 Samuel 10:6, 2 Samuel 10:8, 2 Samuel 23:34, 1 Chronicles 2:48
Reciprocal: Jeremiah 36:14 - Nethaniah
And Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan sware unto them and to their men, saying, Fear not to serve the Chaldeans: dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you.
sware: 1 Samuel 20:16, 1 Samuel 20:17, 2 Kings 25:24
Fear: Jeremiah 27:11, Jeremiah 38:17-20, Genesis 49:15, Psalms 37:3, Psalms 128:2
Reciprocal: Genesis 46:3 - fear not 2 Chronicles 34:20 - Ahikam Jeremiah 27:8 - that nation Lamentations 5:9 - General Matthew 1:20 - fear not
As for me, behold, I will dwell at Mizpah to serve the Chaldeans, 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.
serve: Heb. stand before, Jeremiah 35:19, Deuteronomy 1:38, Proverbs 22:29, Luke 21:36
gather: Jeremiah 39:10
summer: Jeremiah 40:12, Jeremiah 48:32, 2 Samuel 16:1, Isaiah 16:9, Micah 7:1
Reciprocal: Joshua 11:3 - land 1 Kings 15:22 - Mizpah 2 Kings 25:24 - sware to them Ecclesiastes 5:9 - the profit Amos 8:2 - A basket
Likewise when all the Jews that were in Moab, and among the Ammonites, and in Edom, and that were in all the countries, heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant of Judah, and that he had set over them Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan;
all the Jews: Jeremiah 24:9, Isaiah 16:4, Ezekiel 5:3, Ezekiel 5:12, Ezekiel 25:2, Ezekiel 25:6, Ezekiel 25:8, Ezekiel 25:12, Ezekiel 35:5, Ezekiel 35:15, Obadiah 1:11-14
Reciprocal: 2 Kings 22:9 - Shaphan 2 Kings 25:23 - And when 2 Chronicles 34:8 - sent Shaphan Jeremiah 40:8 - came Jeremiah 41:10 - all the Jeremiah 43:5 - took Ezekiel 34:6 - wandered
Even all the Jews returned out of all places whither they were driven, and came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah, unto Mizpah, and gathered wine and summer fruits very much.
Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 16:1 - summer 2 Kings 25:23 - And when Isaiah 16:9 - for Jeremiah 8:3 - in all Jeremiah 40:8 - came Jeremiah 40:10 - summer Jeremiah 41:10 - all the Jeremiah 43:5 - took Jeremiah 44:18 - we have Ezekiel 34:6 - wandered
Moreover Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were in the fields, came to Gedaliah to Mizpah,
Johanan: Johanan and his companions seem to have acted honestly in this affair. They had received intelligence of designs formed against Gedaliah's life, and consequently against the whole new settlement. Ishmael, being a branch of David's family, was probably displeased that another was preferred above him; and the king of the Ammonites, out of hatred to the Jews, employed him to slay Gedaliah. But Gedaliah, conscious of his own integrity and benevolence, took the portrait of others from his own mind; and therefore believed evil of no man, because he felt none towards any in his own breast. He may be reproached for being too credulous and confiding; but this only serves to shew the greatness of his soul; for a little mind is always suspicious, and ready to believe the worst of every person and thing. Jeremiah 40:6-8
Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 16:9 - let me go Jeremiah 41:11 - Johanan Jeremiah 42:1 - all the Jeremiah 42:8 - Johanan Jeremiah 43:2 - Johanan 1 Corinthians 13:5 - thinketh
And said unto him, Dost thou certainly know that Baalis the king of the Ammonites hath sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to slay thee? But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam believed them not.
Ammonites: Jeremiah 25:21, Jeremiah 41:10, Jeremiah 49:1-6, 1 Samuel 11:1-3, 2 Samuel 10:1-6, Ezekiel 25:2-6, Amos 1:13-15
Ishmael: Jeremiah 40:8, Jeremiah 41:2, Jeremiah 41:10, Proverbs 26:23-26, Isaiah 26:10, Micah 7:5
slay thee: Heb. strike thee in soul
believed: 1 Corinthians 13:5-7
Reciprocal: 2 Chronicles 34:20 - Ahikam Proverbs 29:10 - but
Then Johanan the son of Kareah spake to Gedaliah in Mizpah secretly, saying, Let me go, I pray thee, and I will slay Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and no man shall know it: wherefore should he slay thee, that all the Jews which are gathered unto thee should be scattered, and the remnant in Judah perish?
Let: 1 Samuel 24:4, 1 Samuel 26:8, Job 31:31
wherefore: Jeremiah 12:3, Jeremiah 12:4, 2 Samuel 18:3, 2 Samuel 21:17, Ezekiel 33:24-29, John 11:50
Reciprocal: 2 Kings 25:25 - Ishmael Isaiah 24:1 - scattereth Isaiah 33:15 - stoppeth
But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said unto Johanan the son of Kareah, Thou shalt not do this thing: for thou speakest falsely of Ishmael.
Thou shalt: Jeremiah 41:2, Matthew 10:16, Matthew 10:17, Romans 3:8
Reciprocal: 2 Kings 25:25 - Ishmael Job 31:31 - the men Isaiah 33:15 - stoppeth