Yaram'Yahu (Jeremiah) — 40

Yaramyahu with Gadalyahu the Governor

1 The Dabar that came to Yaramyahu from  𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH after Nabuzaradan the captain of the guard had let him go from Ramah, when he had taken him bound in chains among all who were carried away captive from Yahushalam and Yahudah, who were carried away captive to Babylun.

2 And the captain of the guard took Yaramyahu and said to him: “𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH your 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH has pronounced this doom on this place. 

3 Now 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH has brought it, and has done just as He said. Because you people have sinned against 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, and not obeyed His Dabar, therefore this thing has come upon you. 

4 And now look, I free you this day from the chains that were on your hand. If it seems good to you to come with me to Babylun, come, and I will look after you. But if it seems wrong for you to come with me to Babylun, remain here. See, all the land is before you; wherever it seems good and convenient for you to go, go there.”

5 Now while Yaramyahu had not yet gone back, Nabuzaradan said, “Go back to Gadalyahu the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylun has made governor over the cities of Yahudah, and dwell with him among the people, Or go wherever it seems convenient for you to go.” So the captain of the guard gave him rations and a gift and let him go. 

6 Then Yaramyahu went to Gadalyahu the son of Ahikam, to Mizpah, and dwelt with him among the people who were left in the land.

7 And when all the captains of the armies who were in the fields, they and their men, heard that the king of Babylun had made Gadalyahu the son of Ahikam governor in the land, and had committed to him men, women, children, and the poorest of the land who had not been carried away captive to Babylun, 

8 then they came to Gadalyahu at Mizpah, Ishmaal the son of Nathanyahu, Yuhanan and Yunathan the sons of Karaah, Sarayahu the son of Tanhumath, the sons of Aphai the Natuphathite, and Yazanyahu the son of a Maachathite, they and their men. 

9 And Gadalyahu the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, took an oath before them and their men, saying, “Do not be afraid to serve the Chaldaans. Dwell in the land and serve the king of Babylun, and it shall be well with you.

10 As for me, I will indeed dwell at Mizpah and serve the Chaldaans who come to us. But you, gather wine and summer fruit and oil, put them in your vessels, and dwell in your cities that you have taken.” 

11 Likewise, when all the Yahudym who were in Muab, among the Ammunites, in Adum, and who were in all the countries, heard that the king of Babylun had left a remnant of Yahudah, and that he had set over them Gadalyahu the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, 

12 then all the Yahudym returned out of all places where they had been driven, and came to the land of Yahudah, to Gadalyahu at Mizpah, and gathered wine and summer fruit in abundance.

13 Moreover Yuhanan the son of Karaah and all the captains of the forces that were in the fields came to Gadalyahu at Mizpah, 

14 and said to him, “Do you certainly know that Baalis the king of the Ammunites has sent Ishmaal the son of Nathanyahu to murder you?” But Gadalyahu the son of Ahikam did not believe them.

15 Then Yuhanan the son of Karaah spoke secretly to Gadalyahu in Mizpah, saying, “Let me go, please, and I will kill Ishmaal the son of Nathanyahu, and no one will know it. Why should he murder you, so that all the Yahudym who are gathered to you would be scattered, and the remnant in Yahudah perish?”

16 But Gadalyahu the son of Ahikam said to Yuhanan the son of Karaah, “You shall not do this thing, for you speak falsely concerning Ishmaal.”