1 ¶ This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, after Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had released him at Ramah, where he had taken him bound in chains with all who were carried away captive from Jerusalem and Judah, who were being taken to Babylon.

2 And the captain of the guard took Jeremiah, and said to him, The LORD your God has pronounced this evil upon this place.

3 Now the LORD has brought it about, and done just as he said: because all of you have sinned against the LORD, and have refused to obey him, that is why this has happened to you.

4 And now, this very day, I am removing the chains from your hands. If you would like to go with me to Babylon, come; and I will look after you: but if you do not want to come with me to Babylon, don’t: look, the whole country is before you: go anywhere you like or feel is convenient for you to go.

5 Now while Jeremiah was hesitating, he said, Go back then to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon has made governor over the cities of Judah, and stay with him among the people: or go anywhere you would like to go. So the captain of the guard gave him food and a reward, and let him go.

6 Then Jeremiah went to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam at Mizpah; and stayed with him among the people who were left in the land.

7 ¶ Now when all the captains of the troops who were in the country, with their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam governor in the land, and put under his charge the poorest men, women, and children in the land, those who had not been carried away captive to Babylon;

8 They came to Gedaliah at 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 with their men.

9 And Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan swore to them and to their men, saying, Do not be afraid to serve the Chaldeans: stay in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it will be well with you.

10 As for me, behold, I will be living at Mizpah to represent you before the Chaldeans, who will come to us: but you should, gather wine, summer fruits, and oil, and store them in your containers, and live in the towns that you occupy.

11 Likewise when all the Jews who were in Moab, and among the Ammonites, and in Edom, and who were in all the countries, heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant in Judah, and that he had placed over them Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan;

12 All those Jews returned from all the places where they had been driven, and came to the land of Judah, and to Gedaliah, at Mizpah, and gathered a large store of wine and summer fruits.

13 Meanwhile Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the troops that were still in the country, came to Gedaliah at Mizpah,

14 And asked him, Do you know that Baalis the king of the Ammonites has sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to kill you? But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam did not believe them.

15 Then Johanan the son of Kareah secretly said to Gedaliah at Mizpah, Please let me go and kill Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and no one will know it: why should he kill you, causing all the Jews who have gathered around you to be scattered, so that what is left of Judah perishes?

16 But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said to Johanan the son of Kareah, You must not do this thing: for what you say about Ishmael is a lie.