Introduction In the next few chapters of Jeremiah we are given the release of Jeremiah; and the return of some resistance fighters of refugees. In the next chapter we learn of the assassination of the Governor by Ishmael. The Babylonians attempt to help provide the genesis of a stable local government. The Lord promised a future restoration in the land. Jeremiah s Release (vv.1-6) Jeremiah 40:1 6 (NKJV) 1 The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord after Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had let him go from Ramah, when he had taken him bound in chains among all who were carried away captive from Jerusalem and Judah, who were carried away captive to Babylon. Jeremiah was released and given freedom from the King of Babylon. Somehow he was rearrested and taken with the captives who were being prepared at Ramah for the long march to Babylon. Jeremiah was given the choice of going to Babylon and being cared for by the King of Babylon or staying in the land with the people. Jeremiah was a man with a shepherd s heart and chose the shepherd s path. He would remain with the people. Our choices tell us something about our selves. 2 And the captain of the guard took Jeremiah and said to him: The Lord your God has pronounced this doom on this place. 3 Now the Lord has brought it, and has done just as He said. Because you people have sinned against the Lord, and not obeyed His voice, therefore this thing has come upon you. Does the Captain of the Guard really believe that? Remember his name Nebuzaradan means the chief slaughterer or chief butcher. 1
The statement probably has more to do with political awareness than personal conviction (see John Guest; The Communicator s Commentary; p.284). How ironic that a guy named the butcher acts with such kindness towards Jeremiah. In his book A Quick Overview of the Bible Douglas A. Jacoby writes; If the Israelites had lived by the Law of the Lord, they would have fulfilled their mission to be a light to the nations. They would have enjoyed a deep and rich relationship with her God. And they could have avoided centuries of heartache, dislocation, and alienation. Yet the Lord does not force us to follow him; we always have a choice (Deuteronomy 30:11-20; Joshua 24:14-15). This does not mean however, that he won t send us reminders of what is right and wrong (p.123). 4 And now look, I free you this day from the chains that were on your hand. If it seems good to you to come with me to Babylon, come, and I will look after you. But if it seems wrong for you to come with me to Babylon, remain here. See, all the land is before you; wherever it seems good and convenient for you to go, go there. The pagan officer preaches a message that sounds a lot like a believer. Clearly he is aware of Jeremiah s message. Wiersbe points out it must have been embarrassing for the Jews to hear from a pagan prince that they were sinners! How tragic that the world sees our sin--and tells us to obey the God we say we serve. As God s people, we have to bow in shame when the world publicly announces the sins of the saints (Gen.12:10-20; 20:1; 2 Sam. 12:14) (see p.154 BE Decisive). The Lord sent prophets to speak to God s people. The prophet Amos wrote; The Lord has roared--who will not fear? The Sovereign Lord has spoken--who can but prophecy? (Amos 3:8). The reoccurring themes in the reoccurring messages included--don t compromise with the pagan world around you; resist the allure of this world and its riches; turn back to the Lord and the Law of the Lord; faith and ethics are inseparable; take care of the poor and the needy and the destitute; there is hope for the people who will turn from their sin--but judgment awaits the ones who refuse to repent and return to the Lord! Was Jeremiah violating his own message? God revealed that the future was with those going to Babylon. He called the ones going to Babylon--the good figs--and the ones staying in the land -- the bad figs! Jeremiah knew how to discern the will of God--Jeremiah knew how God loved the people and the land. Ezekiel was taken to Babylon in 597 B.C. and would start his ministry some five years later (Ezek. 1-2). Daniel was taken there in 605 B.C. 2
There were prophets sent to the exiles--and God would allow Jeremiah to remain with the people in the land. Jeremiah made difficult decisions in the beginning of his ministry and at the end of his ministry. Jeremiah might have had a much easier life if he had remained a priest--instead of occupying the office of Prophet. In old age Babylon would have been much more comfortable. Jeremiah chose to remain in the land of his fathers--jeremiah is a shepherd and not a hired hand. 5 Now while Jeremiah had not yet gone back, Nebuzaradan said, Go back to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon has made governor over the cities of Judah, and dwell with him among the people. Or go wherever it seems convenient for you to go. So the captain of the guard gave him rations and a gift and let him go. It was in Babylon s interest that the prophet Jeremiah return to Gedaliah. Jeremiah s consistent message was don t resist Babylon. It was also in Babylon s interest to have the prophet s favor; or go wherever it seems convenient for you to go. Jeremiah s own people had made him a prisoner. The enemy Babylon granted him freedom! In Proverbs 16:17 we read; When a man s ways please the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. Jeremiah received food--rations and a gift (probably money) and let him go. 6 Then Jeremiah went to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, to Mizpah, and dwelt with him among the people who were left in the land. The word Mizpah means watchtower. There were several towns that bore this name--scholars suggest this is Mizpah in Benjamin near Ramah--not far from Jerusalem. Some archeologists identify this with Tell en Nasbeh--an elevation about 8 miles north of Jerusalem; another suggested site is Negby Samwill, 4 and 1/2 miles northwest of Jerusalem. Jeremiah s Reassurance (vv.7-10) 7 And when all the captains of the armies who were in the fields, they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam governor in the land, and had committed to him men, women, children, and the poorest of the land who had not been carried away captive to Babylon, 3
8 then they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth, the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniah the son of a Maachathite, they and their men. A group of resistance fighters returned from the field. The Governor senses their hesitancy to come out of hiding and into the open and help rebuild the nation. Johanan means the Lord is gracious. Loyal to Gedaliah--he warns of Ismael s plot; when Gedaliah ignores the warning--he leads the expedition that defeats Ishmael. He was one of those who asked Jeremiah to pray for divine guidance; when the Lord counseled remaining in Judah, Johanan was among the leaders perhaps the chief of the leaders--who organizes and leads the people in their flight to Egypt--dragging Jeremiah with them. Seriah--means the Lord has striven or ruled --according 2 Kings 25:23--he like the sons of Ephai, came from Netopha--a village near Bethlehem. Ephai--means flying or bird or dark --but the Hebrew pronounces a similar word meaning fatigued or gloomy --other wise unknown. 9 And Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, took an oath before them and their men, saying, Do not be afraid to serve the Chaldeans. Dwell in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you. 10 As for me, I will indeed dwell at Mizpah and serve the Chaldeans who come to us. But you, gather wine and summer fruit and oil, put them in your vessels, and dwell in your cities that you have taken. In the KJV we read standing before literally in the face of or here serve We think Jerusalem fell in early July or August--Nebuzaradan arrived about a month later to set up a military government--it would appear that the summer harvest had not yet been gathered-- and was usually harvested in the early part of the summer--the war meant the fields were largely neglected. Gedaliah orders the people to gather wine and summer fruit and oil. The instructions are in effect; live in the land, be fruitful, live in peace with each other and with Babylon. Paul the Apostle told the Romans; So far as it is possible live at peace with all men. The Scattered Return (vv.11-12) 4
11 Likewise, when all the Jews who were in Moab, among the Ammonites, in Edom, and who were in all the countries, heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant of Judah, and that he had set over them Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, 12 then all the Jews returned out of all places where they had been driven, and came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah at Mizpah, and gathered wine and summer fruit in abundance. The new provincial governor repeated Jeremiah s sermon--if you will serve the Babylonians-- you will dwell safely in the land. A small ray of hope began to shine. The nation was devastated and destroyed. The Jews that were scattered in Moab and Edom and the surrounding countries returned to Judah. People experience devastation and wonder how can they rebuild their lives? How do you go forward when you have lost a loved one or a job or some other loss? The Apostle Peter wrote to a group of Jews who also were holding on for dear life (1 Peter 1:3-4); Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again unto a lively (living) hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fades not away, reserved in heaven for you. A Soldier s Report (vv.13-16) 13Moreover Johanan the son of Kareah and all the captains of the forces that were in the fields came to Gedaliah at Mizpah, Bible teachers suspect this report came some five years after Gedaliah was installed as the regional or provisional Governor. We base this on inferences found in Jeremiah 52:28-30; which speaks of three Babylonian deportations; in 597; 586; (Jerusalem falls) and 581. We will learn later about Gedaliah s assassintion-- 14and said to him, Do you certainly know that Baalis the king of the Ammonites has sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to murder you? But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam did not believe them. The ancient Mossad--Israeli Secret police--was doing some investigation 5
Josephus relates a third deportation of Hebrews to Babylon--was part of a general expedition against Coelsyria (modern Syria), Moab and Ammon (modern Jordan) and Egypt; and that the Hebrew captives were taken from Egypt and not Judah (Antiq. X, ix,7). We later see a senseless slaughter of pilgrims (41:7) which might mean he was mentally unstable. Gedaliah could not bring himself to believe that a patriot and Hebrew would commit such an act of treason. 15Then Johanan the son of Kareah spoke secretly to Gedaliah in Mizpah, saying, Let me go, please, and I will kill Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and no one will know it. Why should he murder you, so that all the Jews who are gathered to you would be scattered, and the remnant in Judah perish? Johanan offers to kill Ishmael to avoid the threat to the Governor s life. Johanan understand how important Gedaliah is to the group of people who are left behind to begin the process of rebuilding a nation. Johanan also understands that if the Governor is killed--babylon will retaliate and the Jews who have returned to provide a meaningful existence will once again be scattered. The future of the Jews who remained in the land was dependent on a stable government and stable leadership. Remember--Gedaliah is appointed governor--not king. Zedekiah was the last king and the last in the line of David. There had been 21 kings; together they reigned 514 years--6 months--10 days as recorded by Josephus in his histories. There would not be another king--until Jesus--who comes with the words the kingdom of heaven is among you. Now you can understand why Matthew in his genealogy of Jesus was so excited to announce-- The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David (Matt. 1:1). People want strong leadership. People need strong leadership. And people will question strong leadership and depose strong leadership--when they want it for themselves. 16But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said to Johanan the son of Kareah, You shall not do this thing, for you speak falsely concerning Ishmael. Like so many leaders--johanan started off as a bold, courageous servant--and then something went wrong. Instead of pointing people to the Lord--he led them astray. 6
We are not told how he and his associates learned about the plot to assassinate Gedaliah--but the information was accurate. It is not paranoia if they really are after you. If Gedaliah had listened to them--the governor s life might have been spared. Why did Ishmael want to kill Gedaliah? We know the king of the Ammonites hired him (v.14) and that more might be involved. The Ammonites had been a part of the summit of leaders who were allied with Judah in order to resist the Babylonian occupation. Ishmael was unwilling to see the people submit to the King of Babylon even after the war was over. Ishmael was a patriot--but sometimes patriotism can take on a sinister and selfish flavor. Ishmael was a descendant of David through Elishama (41:1; 2 Samuel 5:16). Is it possible that Ishmael felt he should have been named provisional governor and ruler of the people because of his royal blood? Johanan wanted to kill Ishmael--but Gedaliah refused the offer. Some Bible teachers suggest that Gedaliah was right to refuse the offer--but wrong--in establishing a strong secret service who could watch for his safety. In Proverbs 11:14 we read For lack of guidance a nation falls, but many advisors make victory sure. We are sometimes naive about our enemies intentions. Ishmael was a deceiver and would in fact plan and carry out the plan to execute the Governor. Conclusion Jesus warned us to be as harmless as doves and wise as serpents. Jesus said, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves (Matt. 10:16). Gedaliah trusted human nature. Gedaliah trusted that people would act honorably. What a mistake. 7