(A)When all the captains of the forces in the open country and their men heard that (B)the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah the son of Ahikam governor in the land and had committed to him men, women, and children, those of (C)the poorest of the land who had not been taken into exile to Babylon, they went to Gedaliah at (D)Mizpah—(E)Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, (F)Johanan the son of Kareah, Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth, the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, (G)Jezaniah the son of the Maacathite, they and their men. Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, swore to them and their men, saying, “Do not be afraid to serve the Chaldeans. Dwell in the land and serve the king of Babylon, (H)and it shall be well with you. 10 As for me, I will dwell at (I)Mizpah, to represent you before the Chaldeans who will come to us. But as for you, (J)gather wine and summer fruits and oil, and store them in your vessels, and dwell in your cities that you have taken.”

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Gedaliah Governs in Judah

The leaders of the Judean military groups in the countryside heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam as governor over the poor people who were left behind in Judah—the men, women, and children who hadn’t been exiled to Babylon. So they went to see Gedaliah at Mizpah. These included: Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan and Jonathan sons of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth, the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, Jezaniah son of the Maacathite, and all their men.

Gedaliah vowed to them that the Babylonians[a] meant them no harm. “Don’t be afraid to serve them. Live in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and all will go well for you,” he promised. 10 “As for me, I will stay at Mizpah to represent you before the Babylonians who come to meet with us. Settle in the towns you have taken, and live off the land. Harvest the grapes and summer fruits and olives, and store them away.”

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Footnotes

  1. 40:9 Or Chaldeans; also in 40:10.