1 The|strong="H3605" message|strong="H1697" from|strong="H4480" the|strong="H3605" LORD|strong="H3068" came|strong="H1961" to|strong="H0413" Jeremiah|strong="H3414" after|strong="H0310" he|strong="H0834" was|strong="H1961" set|strong="H7971" free|strong="H7971" at|strong="H0413" the|strong="H3605" city|strong="H1931" of|strong="H3068" Ramah|strong="H7414". Nebuzaradan|strong="H5018", the|strong="H3605" commander of|strong="H3068" the|strong="H3605" king of|strong="H3068" Babylon’s|strong="H0894" special guards, found Jeremiah|strong="H3414" in|strong="H0413" Ramah|strong="H7414". Jeremiah|strong="H3414" was|strong="H1961" bound|strong="H0631" with|strong="H0413" chains|strong="H0246". He|strong="H0834" was|strong="H1961" with|strong="H0413" all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" captives|strong="H1540" from|strong="H4480" Jerusalem|strong="H3389" and|strong="H3068" Judah|strong="H3063". They|strong="H0834" were|strong="H0834" being|strong="H1961" taken|strong="H3947" away|strong="H7971" in|strong="H0413" captivity|strong="H1540" to|strong="H0413" Babylon|strong="H0894".
2 When|strong="H1696" commander Nebuzaradan found Jeremiah|strong="H3414", he|strong="H0430" spoke|strong="H1696" to|strong="H0413" him|strong="H0413". He|strong="H0430" said|strong="H0559", “Jeremiah|strong="H3414", the|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068", your|strong="H3068" God|strong="H0430", announced|strong="H1696" that|strong="H3068" this|strong="H2088" disaster|strong="H7451" would|strong="H3068" come to|strong="H0413" this|strong="H2088" place|strong="H4725".
3 And|strong="H0935" now|strong="H1961" the|strong="H0834" LORD|strong="H3068" has|strong="H3068" done|strong="H6213" everything|strong="H0834" just|strong="H0834" as|strong="H0834" he|strong="H0834" said|strong="H1696" he|strong="H0834" would|strong="H3068" do|strong="H6213". This|strong="H2088" disaster happened|strong="H1961" because|strong="H3588" you|strong="H0834" people|strong="H0834" of|strong="H3068" Judah sinned|strong="H2398" against|strong="H2398" the|strong="H0834" LORD|strong="H3068". You|strong="H0834" did|strong="H6213" not|strong="H3808" obey|strong="H8085" him|strong="H0935".
4 But|strong="H0518" now|strong="H6258", Jeremiah|strong="H0776", I|strong="H0834" will|strong="H0776" set|strong="H7760" you|strong="H0834" free. I|strong="H0834" am taking|strong="H7760" the|strong="H3605" chains|strong="H0246" off|strong="H5921" your|strong="H3605" wrists|strong="H3027". If|strong="H0518" you|strong="H0834" want to|strong="H0413", come|strong="H0935" with|strong="H0854" me|strong="H0413" to|strong="H0413" Babylon|strong="H0894", and|strong="H0935" I|strong="H0834" will|strong="H0776" take|strong="H7760" good|strong="H2896" care|strong="H3027" of|strong="H0776" you|strong="H0834". But|strong="H0518" if|strong="H0518" you|strong="H0834" don’t want to|strong="H0413" come|strong="H0935" with|strong="H0854" me|strong="H0413", then|strong="H2009" don’t come|strong="H0935". Look|strong="H2009", the|strong="H3605" whole|strong="H3605" country|strong="H0776" is|strong="H0834" open|strong="H6440" to|strong="H0413" you|strong="H0834". Go|strong="H0935" anywhere|strong="H3605" you|strong="H0834" want.
5 Or|strong="H0176" go|strong="H7971" back|strong="H7725" to|strong="H0413" Gedaliah|strong="H1436" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Ahikam|strong="H0296", the|strong="H3605" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Shaphan|strong="H8227". The|strong="H3605" king|strong="H4428" of|strong="H1121" Babylon|strong="H0894" has|strong="H0834" chosen Gedaliah|strong="H1436" to|strong="H0413" be|strong="H5750" governor over|strong="H0413" the|strong="H3605" towns|strong="H5892" of|strong="H1121" Judah|strong="H3063". Go|strong="H7971" and|strong="H1121" live|strong="H3427" with|strong="H0854" Gedaliah|strong="H1436" among|strong="H8432" the|strong="H3605" people|strong="H5971". Or|strong="H0176" you|strong="H0834" can|strong="H0834" go|strong="H7971" anywhere|strong="H3605" you|strong="H0834" want.”
6 So|strong="H0935" Jeremiah|strong="H3414" went|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0413" Gedaliah|strong="H1436" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Ahikam|strong="H0296" at|strong="H0413" Mizpah|strong="H4708". He|strong="H0935" stayed|strong="H3427" with|strong="H0854" Gedaliah|strong="H1436" among|strong="H8432" those|strong="H1121" who|strong="H1121" were|strong="H1121" left|strong="H7604" behind|strong="H7604" in|strong="H3427" the|strong="H0413" land|strong="H0776" of|strong="H1121" Judah.
7 There|strong="H1992" were|strong="H0834" some|strong="H0376" soldiers|strong="H0376" from|strong="H0376" the|strong="H3605" army|strong="H2428" of|strong="H1121" Judah, officers|strong="H8269" and|strong="H1121" their|strong="H3605" men|strong="H0376", still out|strong="H3605" in|strong="H0776" the|strong="H3605" open|strong="H1540" country|strong="H0776" when|strong="H3588" Jerusalem was|strong="H0834" destroyed. They|strong="H1992" heard|strong="H8085" that|strong="H0834" the|strong="H3605" king|strong="H4428" of|strong="H1121" Babylon|strong="H0894" had|strong="H0834" put|strong="H6485" Gedaliah|strong="H1436" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Ahikam|strong="H0296" in|strong="H0776" charge|strong="H6485" of|strong="H1121" those|strong="H3605" who|strong="H0834" were|strong="H0834" left|strong="H2428" in|strong="H0776" the|strong="H3605" land|strong="H0776". Those|strong="H3605" who|strong="H0834" were|strong="H0834" left|strong="H2428" were|strong="H0834" men|strong="H0376", women|strong="H0802", and|strong="H1121" children|strong="H1121" who|strong="H0834" were|strong="H0834" very|strong="H2428" poor. They|strong="H1992" were|strong="H0834" not|strong="H3808" carried|strong="H1540" off|strong="H1540" to|strong="H8085" Babylon|strong="H0894" as|strong="H0834" captives|strong="H1540".
8 So|strong="H0935" the|strong="H0413" soldiers|strong="H0376" came|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0413" Gedaliah|strong="H1436" at|strong="H0413" Mizpah|strong="H4708". They|strong="H1992" were|strong="H1121" Ishmael|strong="H3458" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Nethaniah|strong="H5418", Johanan|strong="H3110" and|strong="H1121" his|strong="H0376" brother Jonathan|strong="H3129", sons|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Kareah|strong="H7143", Seraiah|strong="H8304" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Tanhumeth|strong="H8576", sons|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Ephai|strong="H5778" from|strong="H0935" Netophah, and|strong="H1121" Jaazaniah son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" the|strong="H0413" Maacathite|strong="H4602", and|strong="H1121" the|strong="H0413" men|strong="H0376" who|strong="H0376" were|strong="H1121" with|strong="H0413" them|strong="H0413".
9 Gedaliah|strong="H1436" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Ahikam|strong="H0296", son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Shaphan|strong="H8227", made|strong="H7650" an|strong="H7650" oath|strong="H7650" to|strong="H0559" make|strong="H5647" the|strong="H0853" soldiers|strong="H0376" and|strong="H1121" their|strong="H5647" men|strong="H0376" feel more secure|strong="H3427". This|strong="H0376" is|strong="H0776" what|strong="H3372" he|strong="H0853" said|strong="H0559": “You|strong="H0853" soldiers|strong="H0376", don’t|strong="H0408" be|strong="H0408" afraid|strong="H3372" to|strong="H0559" serve|strong="H5647" the|strong="H0853" Babylonian|strong="H3778" people|strong="H0376". Settle|strong="H3427" down|strong="H3427" in|strong="H3427" the|strong="H0853" land|strong="H0776" and|strong="H1121" serve|strong="H5647" the|strong="H0853" king|strong="H4428" of|strong="H1121" Babylon|strong="H0894". If|strong="H0376" you|strong="H0853" do|strong="H3190" this|strong="H0376", things will|strong="H0776" go|strong="H3190" well|strong="H3190" for|strong="H0776" you|strong="H0853".
10 I|strong="H0589" myself|strong="H0589" will|strong="H0834" live|strong="H3427" in|strong="H3427" Mizpah|strong="H4709". I|strong="H0589" will|strong="H0834" speak for|strong="H0413" you|strong="H0859" before|strong="H6440" the|strong="H6440" Chaldeans|strong="H3778" who|strong="H0834" come|strong="H0935" here|strong="H2005". You|strong="H0859" leave|strong="H7760" that|strong="H0834" work|strong="H7760" to|strong="H0413" me|strong="H0413". You|strong="H0859" should|strong="H0413" harvest|strong="H0935" the|strong="H6440" wine|strong="H3196", the|strong="H6440" summer|strong="H7019" fruit, and|strong="H0935" the|strong="H6440" oil|strong="H8081". Put|strong="H7760" what|strong="H0834" you|strong="H0859" harvest|strong="H0935" in|strong="H3427" your|strong="H7760" storage jars|strong="H3627". Live|strong="H3427" in|strong="H3427" the|strong="H6440" towns|strong="H5892" that|strong="H0834" you|strong="H0859" control.”
11 All|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" people|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Judah|strong="H3063" who|strong="H0834" were|strong="H0834" in|strong="H5921" the|strong="H3605" countries|strong="H0776" of|strong="H1121" Moab|strong="H4124", Ammon|strong="H5983", Edom|strong="H0123", and|strong="H1121" all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" other|strong="H3605" countries|strong="H0776" heard|strong="H8085" that|strong="H0834" the|strong="H3605" king|strong="H4428" of|strong="H1121" Babylon|strong="H0894" had|strong="H0834" left|strong="H5414" some|strong="H3605" people|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Judah|strong="H3063" in|strong="H5921" the|strong="H3605" land|strong="H0776". And|strong="H1121" they|strong="H0834" heard|strong="H8085" that|strong="H0834" the|strong="H3605" king|strong="H4428" of|strong="H1121" Babylon|strong="H0894" had|strong="H0834" chosen Gedaliah|strong="H1436" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Ahikam|strong="H0296", son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Shaphan|strong="H8227", to|strong="H5921" be|strong="H1571" governor over|strong="H5921" them|strong="H5414".
12 When|strong="H0834" the|strong="H3605" people|strong="H0834" of|strong="H0776" Judah|strong="H3063" heard this|strong="H0834" news, they|strong="H0834" came|strong="H0935" back|strong="H7725" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H3605" land|strong="H0776" of|strong="H0776" Judah|strong="H3063". They|strong="H0834" came|strong="H0935" back|strong="H7725" to|strong="H0413" Gedaliah|strong="H1436" at|strong="H0413" Mizpah|strong="H4708" from|strong="H7725" all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" countries|strong="H0776" where|strong="H0834" they|strong="H0834" had|strong="H0834" been|strong="H0834" scattered|strong="H5080". So|strong="H0834" they|strong="H0834" came|strong="H0935" back|strong="H7725" and|strong="H0935" gathered|strong="H0622" a|strong="H0935" large harvest|strong="H0935" of|strong="H0776" wine|strong="H3196" and|strong="H0935" summer|strong="H7019" fruit|strong="H3605".
13 Johanan|strong="H3110" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Kareah|strong="H7143" and|strong="H1121" all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" officers|strong="H8269" of|strong="H1121" the|strong="H3605" army|strong="H2428" of|strong="H1121" Judah who|strong="H0834" were|strong="H0834" still in|strong="H0935" the|strong="H3605" open country|strong="H7704" came|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0413" Gedaliah|strong="H1436". Gedaliah|strong="H1436" was|strong="H0834" at|strong="H0413" the|strong="H3605" town of|strong="H1121" Mizpah|strong="H4708".
14 Johanan and|strong="H1121" the|strong="H0853" officers with|strong="H0413" him|strong="H0413" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" Gedaliah|strong="H1436", “Do you|strong="H3588" know|strong="H3045" that|strong="H3588" Baalis|strong="H1185", the|strong="H0853" king|strong="H4428" of|strong="H1121" the|strong="H0853" Ammonites|strong="H5983", wants to|strong="H0413" kill|strong="H5221" you|strong="H3588"? He|strong="H3588" has|strong="H4428" sent|strong="H7971" Ishmael|strong="H3458" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Nethaniah|strong="H5418" to|strong="H0413" kill|strong="H5221" you|strong="H3588".” But|strong="H3588" Gedaliah|strong="H1436" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Ahikam|strong="H0296" didn’t|strong="H3808" believe|strong="H0539" them|strong="H0413".
15 Then|strong="H0853" Johanan|strong="H3110" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Kareah|strong="H7143" spoke|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" Gedaliah|strong="H1436" in|strong="H0413" private at|strong="H0413" Mizpah|strong="H4709". Johanan|strong="H3110" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" Gedaliah|strong="H1436", “Let|strong="H4994" me|strong="H0413" go|strong="H4994" and|strong="H1121" kill|strong="H5221" Ishmael|strong="H3458" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Nethaniah|strong="H5418". No|strong="H3808" one|strong="H0376" will|strong="H0376" know|strong="H3045" anything|strong="H3605" about|strong="H0413" it|strong="H3045". We|strong="H5315" should|strong="H4100" not|strong="H3808" let|strong="H4994" Ishmael|strong="H3458" kill|strong="H5221" you|strong="H3605". That|strong="H3045" would|strong="H4100" cause all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" people|strong="H0376" of|strong="H1121" Judah|strong="H3063" who|strong="H3605" are|strong="H4100" gathered|strong="H6908" around you|strong="H3605" to|strong="H0413" be|strong="H3808" scattered|strong="H6327" to|strong="H0413" different countries again. And|strong="H1121" that|strong="H3045" would|strong="H4100" mean that|strong="H3045" the|strong="H3605" few survivors|strong="H7611" of|strong="H1121" Judah|strong="H3063" would|strong="H4100" be|strong="H3808" lost|strong="H0006".”
16 But|strong="H3588" Gedaliah|strong="H1436" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Ahikam|strong="H0296" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" Johanan|strong="H3110" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Kareah|strong="H7143", “Don’t|strong="H0408" kill Ishmael|strong="H3458". The|strong="H0853" things|strong="H1697" you|strong="H0859" are|strong="H1121" saying|strong="H0559" about|strong="H0413" Ishmael|strong="H3458" are|strong="H1121" not|strong="H0408" true.”