Jeremiah 47

1 The word that came from the Lord to Jeremiah after Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, from Daman, sent him away — when he had taken him, bound in handcuffs, from among the exiles of Judah who were being led to Babylon. [a] 2 The captain of the guard took him and said to him, “The Lord your God pronounced these disasters against this place,” 3 “and the Lord has done it, because you sinned against him and did not listen to his voice.” 4 “Look, I have freed you from the handcuffs on your hands. If it seems good to you to come with me to Babylon, come, and I will keep my eye on you.” 5 “But if not, go on your way; go back to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon has put in charge of the land of Judah, and live with him among the people in the land of Judah — or go wherever it seems good to you to go.” The captain of the guard gave him gifts and sent him away. [b] 6 So he came to Gedaliah at Mizpah and lived among the people who were left in the land.

7 All the commanders of the forces in the open country, they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had put Gedaliah in charge of the land and had entrusted to him the men and their wives whom he had not taken into exile to Babylon. 8 And they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah — Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan son of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth, the sons of Ophe the Netophathite, and Jezaniah son of the Maacathite — they and their men. [c] 9 Gedaliah swore to them and to their men: “Do not be afraid of the Chaldeans’ servants. Live in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it will go well for you.” 10 “As for me, look, I am staying here before you at Mizpah, to stand before the Chaldeans who come to us. You gather wine and summer fruit, and gather oil, and put them in your jars, and live in the cities you have taken hold of.” 11 And all the Jews in the land of Moab, among the Ammonites, in Edom, and in every other land heard that the king of Babylon had left a remainder for Judah and had put Gedaliah son of Ahikam over them, 12 and they came to Gedaliah in the land of Judah at Mizpah and gathered wine and a great deal of summer fruit, and oil.

13 Now Johanan son of Kareah and all the commanders of the forces in the open country came to Gedaliah at Mizpah 14 and said to him, “Do you know for certain that Baalis, king of the Ammonites, has sent Ishmael to you to take your life?” But Gedaliah did not believe them. [d] 15 Then Johanan said to Gedaliah secretly at Mizpah, “Let me go and strike Ishmael down, and no one will know. Why should he take your life, and all Judah who have gathered to you be scattered, and those who remain of Judah perish?” 16 But Gedaliah said to Johanan, “Do not do this thing, because what you are saying about Ishmael is false.”