Jeremiah Remains in Judah
The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD after Nebuzaradan the chief of the guards sent him away from Ramah, when he took him — and he was bound in chains among all the exile of Jerusalem and Judah who were being exiled to Babylon.
And the chief of the guards took Jeremiah and said to him: The LORD your God spoke this evil against this place.
And the LORD brought it and did as he spoke, because you sinned against the LORD and did not obey his voice; and this thing has come to you.
And now, see, I have loosed you today from the chains that were on your hand. If it is good in your eyes to come with me to Babylon, come, and I will set my eye on you; and if it is evil in your eyes to come with me to Babylon, stop. See, all the land is before you; to wherever is good and right in your eyes to go, go there.
And while he had not yet turned back: Then go back to Gedaliah son of Ahikam son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon has appointed over the cities of Judah, and dwell with him among the people; or wherever it is right in your eyes to go, go. And the chief of the guards gave him a food allowance and a gift and sent him away.
And Jeremiah came to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah and dwelt with him among the people who remained in the land.
Gedaliah Governs in Judah
And all the princes of the forces who were in the field, they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam over the land, and that he had committed to him men and women and little ones, and of the poor of the land, of those who had not been exiled to Babylon.
And they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah — Ishmael son of Nethaniah, and Johanan and Jonathan sons of Kareah, and Seraiah son of Tanhumeth, and the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniah son of the Maacathite — they and their men.
And Gedaliah son of Ahikam son of Shaphan swore to them and to their men, saying: Do not fear to serve the Chaldeans. Dwell in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it will be good for you.
And I — see, I am dwelling at Mizpah to stand before the Chaldeans who come to us. And you, gather wine and summer fruit and oil, and put them in your vessels, and dwell in your cities that you have seized.
And also all the Judeans who were in Moab and among the sons of Ammon and in Edom, and who were in all the lands, heard that the king of Babylon had given a remnant to Judah, and that he had appointed over them Gedaliah son of Ahikam son of Shaphan.
And all the Judeans returned from all the places where they had been driven, and they came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah at Mizpah; and they gathered wine and summer fruit in great abundance.
The Plot against Gedaliah
And Johanan son of Kareah and all the princes of the forces who were in the field came to Gedaliah at Mizpah,
and said to him: Do you know surely that Baalis king of the sons of Ammon has sent Ishmael son of Nethaniah to strike your soul? But Gedaliah son of Ahikam did not believe them.
And Johanan son of Kareah said to Gedaliah in secret at Mizpah, saying: Let me go now and strike Ishmael son of Nethaniah, and no man will know. Why should he strike your soul, and all Judah who are gathered to you be scattered, and the remnant of Judah perish?
And Gedaliah son of Ahikam said to Johanan son of Kareah: Do not do this thing, for falsehood you are speaking about Ishmael.