Jeremiah Remains in Judah

1This is the word that came to Jeremiah (whom YHWH has appointed) from the LORD {YHWH} after Nebuzaradan (Nebo has given seed) captain of the guard had released him at Ramah (hill), having found him bound in chains among all the captives of Jerusalem (city of peace) and Judah (praised) who were being exiled to Babylon (confusion by mixing).

2The captain of the guard found Jeremiah (whom YHWH has appointed) and said to him, “The LORD your God {YHWH Eloheka} decreed this disaster on this place, 3and now the LORD {YHWH} has fulfilled it; He has done just as He said. Because you⁺ people have sinned against the LORD and have not obeyed His voice, this thing has happened to you⁺. 4But now, behold, I am freeing you today from the chains that were on your wrists. If it pleases you to come with me to Babylon (confusion by mixing), then come, and I will take care of you. But if it seems wrong to you to come with me to Babylon, go no farther. Look, the whole land is before you. Wherever it seems good and right to you, go there.”

5But before Jeremiah turned to go, Nebuzaradan added, “Return to Gedaliah (YHWH is great) son of Ahikam (my brother has arisen), the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon (confusion by mixing) has appointed over the cities of Judah (praised), and stay with him among the people, or go anywhere else that seems right.” Then the captain of the guard gave him a ration and a gift and released him.

6So Jeremiah (whom YHWH has appointed) went to Gedaliah (YHWH is great) son of Ahikam (my brother has arisen) at Mizpah (watchtower) and stayed with him among the people who were left in the land.

Gedaliah Governs in Judah
(2 Kings 25:22–24)

7When all the commanders and men of the armies in the field heard that the king of Babylon (confusion by mixing) had appointed Gedaliah (YHWH is great) son of Ahikam (my brother has arisen) over the land and that he had put him in charge of the men, women, and children who were the poorest of the land and had not been exiled to Babylon, 8they came to Gedaliah (YHWH is great) at Mizpah (watchtower)—Ishmael (God hears) son of Nethaniah (given of YHWH), Johanan (YHWH has graced) and Jonathan (YHWH has given) the sons of Kareah (bald), Seraiah (YHWH is ruler) son of Tanhumeth (consolation), the sons of Ephai (gloomy) the Netophathite, and Jezaniah (Jaazaniah)a son of the Maacathite (she has pressed)—they and their men.

9Gedaliah (YHWH is great) son of Ahikam (my brother has arisen), the son of Shaphan, swore an oath to them and their men, assuring them, “Do not be afraid to serve the Chaldeans (the Babylonians).b Live in the land and serve the king of Babylon (confusion by mixing), and it will go well with you⁺. 10As for me, I will stay in Mizpah (watchtower) to represent you before the Chaldeans (clod-breakers) who come to us. As for you⁺, gather wine grapes, summer fruit, and oil, place them in your⁺ storage jars, and live in the cities you⁺ have taken.”

11When all the Jews in Moab (of his father), Ammon, (tribal) Edom (red), and all the other lands heard that the king of Babylon (confusion by mixing) had left a remnant in Judah (praised) and had appointed Gedaliah (YHWH is great) son of Ahikam (my brother has arisen), the son of Shaphan, over them, 12they all returned from all the places to which they had been banished and came to the land of Judah (praised), to Gedaliah (YHWH is great) at Mizpah (watchtower). And they gathered an abundance of wine grapes and summer fruit.

The Plot against Gedaliah

13Meanwhile, Johanan (YHWH has graced) son of Kareah (bald) and all the commanders of the armies in the field came to Gedaliah (YHWH is great) at Mizpah (watchtower) 14and said to him, “Are you aware that Baalis (lord of the banner) king of the Ammonites (tribal) has sent Ishmael (God hears) son of Nethaniah (given of YHWH) to take your life?”

But Gedaliah (YHWH is great) son of Ahikam (my brother has arisen) did not believe them.

15Then Johanan (YHWH has graced) son of Kareah (bald) spoke privately to Gedaliah (YHWH is great) at Mizpah (watchtower). “Let me go and kill Ishmael (God hears) son of Nethaniah (given of YHWH),” he said. “No one will know it. Why should he take your life and scatter all the people of Judah (praised) who have gathered to you, so that the remnant of Judah would perish?”

16But Gedaliah (YHWH is great) son of Ahikam (my brother has arisen) said to Johanan (YHWH has graced) son of Kareah (bald), “Do not do such a thing! What you are saying about Ishmael (God hears) is a lie.”