Jeremiah Stays in Judah

40 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord after Nebuzaradan, captain of the guards, released him at Ramah.(A) When he found him, he was bound in chains with all the exiles of Jerusalem and Judah who were being exiled to Babylon. The captain of the guards took Jeremiah and said to him, “The Lord your God decreed this disaster on this place,(B) and the Lord has fulfilled it. He has done just what he decreed. Because you people have sinned against the Lord(C) and have not obeyed him, this thing has happened. Now pay attention: Today I am setting you free from the chains that were on your hands.(D) If it pleases you to come with me to Babylon, come, and I will take care of you. But if it seems wrong to you to come with me to Babylon, go no farther.[a] Look—the whole land is in front of you.(E) Wherever it seems good and right for you to go, go there.” When Jeremiah had not yet turned to go, Nebuzaradan said to him,[b] “Return[c] to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon has appointed over the cities of Judah, and stay with him among the people or go wherever it seems right for you to go.” So the captain of the guards gave him a ration(F) and a gift(G) and released him.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 40:4 Lit Babylon, stop
  2. 40:5 Nebuzaradan said to him supplied for clarity
  3. 40:5 LXX reads “But if not, run, return; Hb obscure

Jeremiah Decides to Remain in the Land

40 The word that came to Jeremiah from Yahweh after Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard,[a] had let him go from Ramah, where he had been taken[b] bound in chains in the midst of all the exiles[c] of Jerusalem and Judah who were being deported to Babylon. And the captain of the guard[d] took Jeremiah and said to him, “Yahweh your God threatened this disaster to this place, and now he has brought it about,[e] and Yahweh has done just as[f] he threatened. Because you sinned against Yahweh and did not listen to his voice, so this thing has happened to you. And so then look, I have released you today[g] from the chains that were on your hands.[h] If it is good in your eyes to come with me to Babylon, then come, and I will take care of you.[i] But if it is bad in your eyes to come with me to Babylon, then refrain. Look, the whole land is before you.[j] To wherever it is good and right in your eyes to go, then go there.” While he still had not turned back, Nebuzaradan added, “Return to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon has appointed in an official position over the towns of Judah, and stay with him in the midst of the people. Or to wherever it is right in your eyes to go, then go there.”[k] Then the captain of the guard[l] gave him an allowance of provisions and a present, and let him go.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 40:1 Hebrew “guards”
  2. Jeremiah 40:1 Literally “at his taking him
  3. Jeremiah 40:1 Hebrew “exile”
  4. Jeremiah 40:2 Hebrew “guards”
  5. Jeremiah 40:3 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  6. Jeremiah 40:3 Literally “as that”
  7. Jeremiah 40:4 Literally “the day”
  8. Jeremiah 40:4 Hebrew “hand”
  9. Jeremiah 40:4 Literally “I will place my eye on you”
  10. Jeremiah 40:4 Literally “to the face of you”
  11. Jeremiah 40:5 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  12. Jeremiah 40:5 Hebrew “guards”