By Eugene Garner

JEREMIAH - CHAPTER 40

JEREMIAH CHOOSES TO REMAIN IN JUDAH

    Chapters 40-44 deal with events in the land of Judah following the fall of Jerusalem. When the city fell, Nebuchadnezzar was at his general base of operation in Riblah. Thus, Jeremiah was rounded up with others, whom it seemed appropriate to deport to Babylon, and taken to Riblah. There Nebuchadnezzar, who was aware of his office, and persistent counseling of Zedekiah to surrender, ordered his release, and gave him the liberty to choose where he would live.

    The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, after that Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had let him go from Ramah, when he had taken him being bound in chains among all that were carried away captive of Jerusalem and Judah, which were carried away captive unto Babylon. 2 And the captain of the guard took Jeremiah, and said unto him, The LORD thy God hath pronounced this evil upon this place. 3 Now the LORD hath brought it, and done according as he hath said: because ye have sinned against the LORD, and have not obeyed his voice, therefore this thing is come upon you. 4 And now, behold, I loose thee this day from the chains which were upon thine hand. If it seem good unto thee to come with me into Babylon, come; and I will look well unto thee: but if it seem ill unto thee to come with me into Babylon, forbear: behold, all the land is before thee: whither it seemeth good and convenient for thee to go, thither go. 5 Now while he was not yet gone back, he said, Go back also to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon hath made governor over the cities of Judah, and dwell with him among the people: or go wheresoever it seemeth convenient unto thee to go. So the captain of the guard gave him victuals and a reward, and let him go. 6 Then went Jeremiah unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah; and dwelt with him among the people that were left in the land.

    1. Some see a contradiction between verse 1 and the account of Jeremiah's release recorded in 39:11-14; it is probably only an addition of details.
    2. The captain is aware that the fall of Jerusalem has come as a judgment from Jehovah, the God of Judah, because of her sins, (vs. 2-3).
    3. Setting Jeremiah free, the captain offers him the choice of going to Babylon (where he will be treated with honor and respect), or of remaining in the land with the poor remnant, (vs. 4).
      a. If he comes to Babylon, the Captain will, personally, see to his welfare.
      b. If he chooses to dwell in the land, he may select any place that he desires; the whole land is before him!
    4. Seeing Jeremiah's hesitancy, the Captain then suggested that he might want to go back and encourage Gedaliah, whom Nebuchadnezzar had appointed governor over the cities of Judah; but, he was free to go wherever it seemed right to him that he should go, (vs. 5).
    5. Nebuzar-adan then gave to Jeremiah a supply of food, and a present, and let him go to Gedaliah who dwelt among the people at Mizpah, (vs.6).
    6. Having been used of God, for the past 40 years, to "pluck up", "break down", "destroy" and "overthrow"; it was now his desire to assist in "building and planting" - the reconstruction of the nation.

    7 Now when all the captains of the forces which were in the fields, even they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam governor in the land, and had committed unto him men, and women, and children, and of the poor of the land, of them that were not carried away captive to Babylon; 8 Then they came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, even Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth, and the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniah the son of a Maachathite, they and their men. 9 And Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan sware unto them and to their men, saying, Fear not to serve the Chaldeans: dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you. 10 As for me, behold, I will dwell at Mizpah to serve the Chaldeans, which will come unto us: but ye, gather ye wine, and summer fruits, and oil, and put them in your vessels, and dwell in your cities that ye have taken. 11 Likewise when all the Jews that were in Moab, and among the Ammonites, and in Edom, and that were in all the countries, heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant of Judah, and that he had set over them Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan; 12 Even all the Jews returned out of all places whither they were driven, and came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah, unto Mizpah, and gathered wine and summer fruits very much.

    1. The responsibility of Gedaliah, as governor, was to assist the remnant to settle down, cultivate the land and pay the appointed tribute to Babylon from their harvests.
    2. Since Jerusalem was devastated, he selected Mizpah (where the first king of Judah was selected) as his seat of government, and many leaders of Judah's scattered forces came to him there, (vs. 7; comp. I Sam. 10:17-25).
    3. Knowing that there could be no political or economic stability until guerilla activity was halted, Gedaliah endeavored to gain the confidence of the guerilla leaders.
      a. They were urged not to fear the Babylonian officials who dwelt in the land, (vs. 8-9; 2 Kings 25:24).
      b. Promising to represent them before the king, he set them to harvesting the crops that had been neglected during the conflict (vs. 10), and urged them to dwell in the cities they had taken.
    4. When news of a Gedaliah governorship was spread abroad, many Jews who had fled to Moab, Ammon, Edom, etc., returned to the land of Judah also, (vs. 11-12).

    13 Moreover Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were in the fields, came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, 14 And said unto him, Dost thou certainly know that Baalis the king of the Ammonites hath sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to slay thee? But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam believed them not. 15 Then Johanan the son of Kareah spake to Gedaliah in Mizpah secretly, saying, Let me go, I pray thee, and I will slay Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and no man shall know it: wherefore should he slay thee, that all the Jews which are gathered unto thee should be scattered, and the remnant in Judah perish? 16 But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said unto Johanan the son of Kareah, Thou shalt not do this thing: for thou speakest falsely of Ishmael.

    1. A number of officers, under the leadership of Johanan, came to Gedaliah to warn of a plot against his life, (vs. 13-14).
      a. They inquired whether he was aware that Baalis, the king of the Ammonites, had sent Ishmael, the son of Nethaniah, to assassinate him, (vs. 14a).
      b. But Gedaliah refused to give any credit to the report, (vs. 14b).
    2. Later Johanan conferred secretly with Gedaliah - pleading for permission to slay Ishmael before he could carry out his treacherous mission, (vs. 15).
      a. If he succeeds in taking the life of the governor, all who have gathered around his leadership will be scattered.
      b. Nebuchadnezzar will quite likely avenge the murder in such away that the remnant of Judah will utterly perish!
    3. Gedaliah, however, refused the plea of Johanan - accusing him, rather, of lying against a fellow-officer! (vs. 16).