Jeremiah Remains in Judah
This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD after Nebuzaradan captain of the guard had released him at Ramah, having found him bound in chains among all the captives of Jerusalem and Judah who were being exiled to Babylon. Act 12:6-7Act 21:13Eph 6:20Jer 31:15Jos 18:251Sa 7:17Act 28:20Jer 39:11-14
The captain of the guard found Jeremiah and said to him, “The LORD your God decreed this disaster on this place, Deu 29:24-28Jer 22:8-91Ki 9:8-92Ch 7:20-22Lam 2:15-17 and now the LORD 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. Rom 2:5Dan 9:11-12Jer 50:7Deu 29:25Neh 9:28Neh 9:33Rom 3:19 But 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, 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.” Jer 39:11-12Gen 20:15Gen 13:9
But before Jeremiah turned to go, Nebuzaradan added, “Return to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon has appointed over the cities of Judah, 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. Jer 39:142Ki 8:7-9Jer 41:22Ch 34:202Ki 22:122Ki 22:142Ki 25:22-24Act 27:3
So Jeremiah went to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah and stayed with him among the people who were left in the land. Jdg 20:1Jer 39:141Sa 7:5-6Jdg 21:1Jos 15:38
Gedaliah Governs in Judah
(2 Kings 25:22–24)
When all the commanders and men of the armies in the field heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam 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, Jer 39:102Ki 25:22-262Ki 25:4Ezk 33:24-29Ezk 45:16Jer 39:4 they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah—Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth, the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniah 1son of the Maacathite—they and their men. Jer 42:1Deu 3:142Sa 10:62Sa 10:82Sa 23:28-29Ezr 2:22Jer 40:6Jer 42:8
Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, swore an oath to them and their men, assuring them, “Do not be afraid to serve the Chaldeans. 2 Live in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it will go well with you. Jer 27:111Sa 20:16-172Ki 25:24Jer 38:17-20Gen 49:15Psa 128:2Psa 37:3 As for me, I will stay in Mizpah to represent you before the Chaldeans 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.” Jer 40:122Sa 16:1Deu 1:38Isa 16:9Jer 35:19Jer 39:10Jer 48:32Jer 40:6
When all the Jews in Moab, Ammon, Edom, and all the other lands heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant in Judah and had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, over them, Isa 16:41Sa 11:11Sa 12:12Ezk 25:12Ezk 25:2Ezk 25:6Ezk 25:8Ezk 35:15 they all returned from all the places to which they had been banished and came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah at Mizpah. And they gathered an abundance of wine grapes and summer fruit. Jer 43:5
The Plot against Gedaliah
Meanwhile, Johanan son of Kareah and all the commanders of the armies in the field came to Gedaliah at Mizpah Jer 40:8Jer 42:1 and said to him, “Are you aware that Baalis king of the Ammonites has sent Ishmael son of Nethaniah to take your life?” Jer 41:102Sa 10:1-6Jer 25:211Sa 11:1-31Co 13:5-7Amo 1:13-15Ezk 25:2-6Isa 26:10
But Gedaliah son of Ahikam did not believe them.
Then Johanan son of Kareah spoke privately to Gedaliah at Mizpah. “Let me go and kill Ishmael son of Nethaniah,” he said. “No one will know it. Why should he take your life and scatter all the people of Judah who have gathered to you, so that the remnant of Judah would perish?” 1Sa 26:82Sa 21:171Sa 24:42Sa 18:3Ezk 33:24-29Jer 12:3-4Jer 42:2Jhn 11:50
But Gedaliah son of Ahikam said to Johanan son of Kareah, “Do not do such a thing! What you are saying about Ishmael is a lie.” Jer 41:2Mat 10:16-17Rom 3:8