Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord after Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, had released him from Ramah. He had taken Jeremiah bound in chains among all those carried away captive from Jerusalem and Judah who were being led into exile to Babylon.

The captain of the guard took Jeremiah and said to him, "The Lord your God has pronounced this evil upon this place because you have sinned against him and not obeyed his voice. Therefore, this thing has come upon you." Then the captain released Jeremiah from the chains that bound his hands and said, "If it seems good to you to come with me into Babylon, I will take care of you. But if it seems bad to you to come with me into Babylon, stay where you are, for all the land is before you: go wherever it seems right to you to go."

While Jeremiah was still in Babylon, the captain of the guard said, "Go back to Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam, whom the king of Babylon has appointed governor over Judah. Live among his people; or go wherever you think best." The captain gave him food and a gift and let him go.

Then Jeremiah went to Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam, in Mizpah, and dwelt with him among the people who were left in the land. When all the captains of the forces in the fields and their men heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah, son of Ahikam, governor over the land, they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah.

Gedaliah, son of Ahikam, swore to them and 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 will dwell at Mizpah to serve the Chaldeans who are coming to us." He told them to gather wine and summer fruits and oil, put them in their vessels, and live in the cities they had taken.

When all the Jews who were in Moab, among the Ammonites, in Edom, and throughout the surrounding countries heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant of Judah and appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam as their leader, they returned to the land of Judah. They came to Gedaliah in Mizpah, where they gathered a great abundance of wine and summer fruits.

Moreover, Johanan son of Kareah and all the captains of the forces who were in the fields came to Gedaliah at Mizpah. However, Gedaliah did not believe them when they said that Baalis, king of the Ammonites, had sent Ishmael, son of Nethaniah, to kill him.

Johanan son of Kareah spoke to Gedaliah in Mizpah secretly, saying, "Let me go and I will kill Ishmael son of Nethaniah. Why should he take your life, causing all the Jews gathered to you to be scattered and the remnant of Judah to perish?" But Gedaliah said to Johanan, "You must not do this thing, because you are speaking falsely about Ishmael."