Jeremiah 47

The Prophet Set Free Among the Captives

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Jeremiah Released at Ramah

47:1The word that came from the Lord to Jeremiah afterward, after Nebuzaradan, the chief guard from Daman, sent him away, when he took him in handcuffs among Judah’s exiles who were being led to Babylon.

47:2The chief guard took him and said to him, The Lord your God spoke these calamities against this place.

47:3And the Lord acted, because you sinned against Him and did not obey His voice.

47:4Look, I have released you from the handcuffs on your hands. If it seems good to you to come with me to Babylon, come, and I will look after you.

47:5But if not, go off and return to Gedaliah son of Ahikam son of Shaphan, whom Babylon’s king appointed in Judah’s land, and live with him among the people in Judah’s land. Go wherever it seems good in your eyes to go. The chief guard gave him gifts and sent him away.

47:6He came to Gedaliah at Mizpah and lived among the people left in the land.

The Commanders Come to Gedaliah

47:7All the commanders of the force in the countryside, they and their men, heard that Babylon’s king had appointed Gedaliah in the land and had entrusted to him men and their wives whom he had not deported to Babylon.

47:8Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan son of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth, the sons of Ophe the Netophathite, and Jezaniah son of the Maacathite came to Gedaliah at Mizpah, they and their men.

47:9Gedaliah swore to them and their men, saying, Do not be afraid of the Chaldeans’ servants. Live in the land and work for Babylon’s king, and it will be better for you.

47:10Look, I am staying before you at Mizpah to stand before the Chaldeans who come against you. Gather wine and summer fruit, gather oil, put them in your containers, and live in the cities you have taken over.

47:11All the Judeans in Moab’s land, among Ammon’s people, in Idumea, and in all the land heard that Babylon’s king had left a remnant for Judah and appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam over them.

47:12They came to Gedaliah in Judah’s land at Mizpah and gathered a very great amount of wine and summer fruit, and oil.

Johanan Warns of Ishmael’s Plot

47:13Johanan son of Kareah and all the commanders of the force in the countryside came to Gedaliah at Mizpah.

47:14They said to him, Do you really know that Belisa king of Ammon’s people has sent Ishmael to you to take your life? But Gedaliah did not believe them.

47:15Johanan spoke secretly to Gedaliah at Mizpah: Let me go and strike down Ishmael, and let no one know, lest he take your life and all Judah gathered to you be scattered, and Judah’s survivors perish.

47:16Gedaliah said to Johanan, Do not do this thing, for you are speaking falsehoods about Ishmael.

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Saints Translation · Liturgical reading edition · V1 · working draft awaiting specialist review.