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Jeremiah 40 Summary

Jeremiah Goes to Gedaliah at Mizpah

Nebuzar-adan frees Jeremiah from chains and tells him God's judgment has fallen on the land. Jeremiah goes to Gedaliah, the Babylonian governor, at Mizpah. Captains of the forces return and gather with Gedaliah. Johanan warns that the Ammonite king sent Ishmael to slay Gedaliah, but Gedaliah does not believe the warning.

Key themes

Captive freedGedaliah governorCaptains returnThreat unheeded

Key verses

Jeremiah 40:1

The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, after that Nebuzar-adan 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.

Jeremiah 40:5

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.

Jeremiah 40:9

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.

Jeremiah 40:14

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.

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