(KJV) Jeremiah 40¹

⥃Jeremiah Remains in Judah

[1] The word² that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, after³ that Nebuzar–adan the captain of the guard had let him go from Ramah⁴, when he had taken him being bound⁵ in chains⁶ 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 Lord⁷ thy God hath pronounced this evil upon this place. [3] Now the Lord hath brought [it], and done according as he hath said: because⁸ 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 back⁹ also to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam¹⁰ 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 go¹¹ wheresoever it seemeth convenient unto thee to go. So the captain of the guard gave him¹² victuals and a reward¹³, and let him go. [6] Then¹⁴ went Jeremiah unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah¹⁵; and dwelt with him among the people that were left in the land.

⥃Gedaliah Governs in Judah ^{[ 2 Kings 25:22–24 ]}

[7] Now when all the¹⁶ 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 poor¹⁷ of the land, of them that were not carried away captive to Babylon; [8] Then they came¹⁸ to Gedaliah to Mizpah, even¹⁹ Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan²⁰ and Jonathan²¹ the sons of Kareah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth, and the sons of Ephai the Netophathite²², and Jezaniah the son of a Maachathite²³, they and their men. [9] And Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan sware²⁴ unto them and to their men, saying, Fear²⁵ 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 serve²⁶ the Chaldeans, which will come unto us: but ye, gather²⁷ ye wine, and summer²⁸ fruits, and oil, and put [them] in your vessels, and dwell in your cities that ye have taken. [11] Likewise when all the Jews²⁹ 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.

⥃The Plot against Gedaliah

[13] [¶]Moreover Johanan³⁰ 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 Ammonites³¹ hath sent Ishmael³² the son of Nethaniah to slay thee³³? But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam believed³⁴ them not. [15] Then Johanan the son of Kareah spake to Gedaliah in Mizpah secretly, saying, Let³⁵ me go, I pray thee, and I will slay Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and no man shall know [it]: wherefore³⁶ 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 shalt³⁷ not do this thing: for thou speakest falsely of Ishmael.