1 I was led away in chains along with the people of Judah and Jerusalemwho were being taken to Babylonia. Nebuzaradanwas the officer in charge of the guard, and while we were stopped at Ramah, the Lordcaused him to set me free. 2 Nebuzaradan said:
Jeremiah, the Lordyour God warned your people that he would bring disaster on this land. 3 But they continued to rebel against him, and now he has punished them just as he threatened.
4 Today I am taking the chains off your wrists and setting you free! If you want to, you can come with me to Babylonia, and I will see that you are taken care of. Or if you decide to stay here, you can go wherever you wish. 5 King Nebuchadnezzar40.5 Nebuchadnezzar: See the note at 21.2.has chosen Gedaliahto rule Judah. You can live near Gedaliah, and he will provide for you, or you can live anywhere else you choose.
Nebuzaradan gave me a supply of food, then let me leave. 6 I decided to stay with the people of Judah, and I went to live near Gedaliahin Mizpah.
The Harvest Is Brought In
7,8 2 K 25.22-24.Ishmaelthe son of Nethaniah, together with Johananand Jonathan, the two sons of Kareah, had been officers in Judah’s army. And so had Seraiahthe son of Tanhumeth, the sons of Ephaithe Netophathite, and Jezaniahfrom Maacah. They and their troops had been stationed outside Jerusalem and had not been captured. They heard that Gedaliahhad been chosen to rule Judah, and that the poorest men, women, and children had not been taken away to Babylonia. So they went to Mizpahand met with their new ruler.
9 Gedaliahtold them, "There’s no need to be afraid of the Babylonians. Everything will be fine, if we live peacefully and obey King Nebuchadnezzar.40.9 Nebuchadnezzar: See the note at 21.2.10 I will stay here at Mizpahand meet with the Babylonian officials on each of their visits. But you must go back to your towns and bring in the harvest, then store the wine, olive oil, and dried fruit."
11,12 Earlier, when the Babylonianshad invaded Judah, many of the Jews escaped to Moab, Ammon, Edom, and several other countries. But these Jews heard that the king of Babyloniahad appointed Gedaliahas ruler of Judah, and that only a few people were left there. So the Jews in these other countries came back to Judah and helped with the grape and fruit harvest, which was especially large that year.
Gedaliah Is Murdered
13 One day, Johanangot together with some of the other men who had been army officers, and they came to Mizpahand met with Gedaliah. 14 They said, "Gedaliah, we came to warn you that King Baalisof Ammonhired Ishmaelto murder you!"
Gedaliahrefused to believe them, 15 so Johananwent to Gedaliahprivately and said, "Let me kill Ishmael. No one will find out who did it. There are only a few people left in Judah, but they are depending on you. And if you are murdered, they will be scattered or killed."
16 Gedaliahanswered, "Don’t kill Ishmael! What you’ve said about him can’t be true."
Lugar Bíblico
Cidade / Povoado
Jerusalem
Hoje: Jerusalem, Israel
יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫םyerushalaimἹερουσαλήμHierousalēm
Jerusalem is the city of the house of God, where children of Judah and Benjamin lived; the Babylonian army broke down the walls of the city (2 Kings 25:10).
Ramah was the place that Baasha king of Israel fortified to prevent anyone from leaving or entering the territory of Asa king of Judah; Asa carried away its stones and timber and built Geba and Mizpah (1 Kings 15:22).
Jeremiah, a priest from Anathoth, prophesied to Judah in the final days of the kingdom, announced the destruction of Jerusalem by Babylon, and was persecuted and imprisoned for this (Jeremiah 1:1).
Mizpah is the place where the Israelites gathered as one man before the Lord and where Gedaliah, appointed governor by the king of Babylon, received the army officers (2 Kings 25:23).
Mizpah is the place where the Israelites gathered as one man before the Lord and where Gedaliah, appointed governor by the king of Babylon, received the army officers (2 Kings 25:23).
Mizpah is the place where the Israelites gathered as one man before the Lord and where Gedaliah, appointed governor by the king of Babylon, received the army officers (2 Kings 25:23).
Moab is a land ruled by kings, such as Eglon and Balak, where David asked the king to shelter his parents; fire and punishment are proclaimed against it (Amos 2:2).
Ammon is the land of the Ammonites, descendants of Ben-Ammi, with Rabbah as its capital. The Ammonites fought against Israel in the days of Jephthah, and Joab laid waste their land while David remained in Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 20:1).
Edom is the land of Seir, where Jacob’s brother Esau lived. The king of Edom refused Israel passage through his land, and Edom rebelled against Judah (2 Kings 8:22).
Mizpah is the place where the Israelites gathered as one man before the Lord and where Gedaliah, appointed governor by the king of Babylon, received the army officers (2 Kings 25:23).
Ammon is the land of the Ammonites, descendants of Ben-Ammi, with Rabbah as its capital. The Ammonites fought against Israel in the days of Jephthah, and Joab laid waste their land while David remained in Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 20:1).