Jeremiah Chapter 40
So, the word dropped on Jeremiah from the Lord after Nebuzar–adan, the captain of the guard, cut him loose from Ramah, all shackled up with the squad taken from Jerusalem and Judah to Babylon.
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. {chains: or, manicles}
The guard captain was like, “Yo, the Lord your God is saying this place is about to go down.”
And the captain of the guard took Jeremiah, and said unto him, The LORD thy God hath pronounced this evil upon this place.
Now the Lord came through just like He said He would, 'cause y’all messed up and didn’t listen, so this is the vibe you’re in, for real.
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.
“Aight, I’m breaking you free from those chains today. If you wanna roll with me to Babylon, bet; I got you. But if that’s not your vibe, do your thing—land’s all yours, go where it feels right.”
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. {were...: or, are upon thine hand} {I will...: Heb. I will set mine eye upon thee}
While he was still chillin’, he was like, “Go back to Gedaliah, son of Ahikam, the governor the Babylon king set over Judah’s cities, and kick it with him or bounce wherever feels best.” So the guard hooked him up with food and some cash, then let him dip.
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.
Then Jeremiah cruised to Gedaliah at Mizpah and kicked it with the homies still in the land.
Then went Jeremiah unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah; and dwelt with him among the people that were left in the land.
When all the captains in the fields peeped that Gedaliah was made governor by the Babylon king, they rolled up with their crew, including men, women, and the poor who didn’t get taken.
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;
They pulled up to Gedaliah at Mizpah: Ishmael, Johanan, Jonathan, Seraiah, and the crew from Ephai and Jezaniah, all together.
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.
Gedaliah was like, “Don’t be sus about serving the Chaldeans; just chill here and serve the Babylon king, and everything will be solid for you.”
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.
“As for me, I’m staying at Mizpah to serve the Chaldeans when they roll through; you guys gather wine, summer fruits, and oil, and stash them in your cities.”
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. {to serve: Heb. to stand before}
When all the Jews in Moab, Ammon, Edom, and all over heard the Babylon king left a crew in Judah and set Gedaliah as their governor,
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;
all the Jews bounced back to Judah, to Gedaliah at Mizpah, and loaded up on wine and summer fruits like crazy.
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.
Johanan, son of Kareah, and all the captains in the fields showed up to Gedaliah at Mizpah,
Moreover Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that {were} in the fields, came to Gedaliah to Mizpah,
and said, “Yo, you know Baalis, the king of the Ammonites, sent Ishmael to take you out? But Gedaliah was like, “Nah, I’m not buying that.”
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. {to slay...: Heb. to strike thee in soul?}
Then Johanan whispered to Gedaliah at Mizpah, “Let me deal with Ishmael, fam, and nobody will even know. Why let him take you out and scatter the Jews?”
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?
But Gedaliah told Johanan, “Chill, you can’t do that; you’re trippin’ about Ishmael.”
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.