1
The Word that came to Yirmeyahu from Yahuah after Nevuzaradan chief of the guards sent him from Ramah, when he had taken him while he was bound in chains among all the exiles of Yerushalayim and Yehudah who were being exiled to Bavel.
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And the chief of the guards took Yirmeyahu and said to him, “Yahuah your Elohim spoke this evil against this place.
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And Yahuah has brought it and done according to what He spoke, because you sinned against Yahuah and did not hear His voice; therefore this Word has come upon you.
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And now, see, I have opened you this day from the chains that were upon your hand. If it is good in your eyes to come with me to Bavel, come, and I shall set my eye upon you. But if it is evil in your eyes to come with me to Bavel, refrain. See, all the land is before your face. Go wherever it is good and upright in your eyes to go.”
5
And while he had not yet returned, he said, “Return to Gedalyahu son of Achiqam son of Shaphan, whom the sovereign of Bavel appointed over the cities of Yehudah, and dwell with him in the midst of the people. Or go wherever it is upright in your eyes to go.” And the chief of the guards gave him provisions and a gift and sent him away.
6
Then Yirmeyahu went to Gedalyahu son of Achiqam at Mitzpah and dwelt with him in the midst of the people remaining in the land.
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And all the captains of the armies in the field, they and their men, heard that the sovereign of Bavel had appointed Gedalyahu son of Achiqam over the land, and had committed to him men, women, and children from the poor of the land who had not been exiled to Bavel.
8
Then they came to Gedalyahu at Mitzpah: Yishma’el son of Netanyahu, Yochanan and Yonatan sons of Qareach, Serayahu son of Tanchumet, the sons of Ophai the Netophatiy, and Yezanyahu son of the Maakhatiy— they and their men.
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And Gedalyahu son of Achiqam son of Shaphan swore to them and to their men, saying, “Do not fear serving the Kasdim. Dwell in the land and serve the sovereign of Bavel, and it shall be good for you.
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And as for me, see, I dwell at Mitzpah to stand before the Kasdim who come to us. But you, gather wine, summer fruit, and oil; place them in your vessels and dwell in your cities that you have taken.”
11
And also all the ish of Yehudah who were in Moav, among the sons of Ammon, in Edom, and in all the lands heard that the sovereign of Bavel had given a remnant to Yehudah and appointed over them Gedalyahu son of Achiqam son of Shaphan.
12
Then all the ish of Yehudah returned from all the places to which they had been driven, and came to the land of Yehudah, to Gedalyahu at Mitzpah. And they gathered wine and summer fruit in great abundance.
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And Yochanan son of Qareach and all the captains of the armies in the field came to Gedalyahu at Mitzpah.
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And they said to him, “Knowing, do you know that Baalis, sovereign of the sons of Ammon, sent Yishma’el son of Netanyahu to strike your being?” But Gedalyahu son of Achiqam did not trust them.
15
Then Yochanan son of Qareach spoke secretly to Gedalyahu at Mitzpah, saying, “Please let me go, and I shall strike Yishma’el son of Netanyahu, and no ish shall know. Why should he strike your being, so that all Yehudah gathered to you is scattered and the remnant of Yehudah perishes?”
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But Gedalyahu son of Achiqam said to Yochanan son of Qareach, “Do not do this Word, for you speak falsehood concerning Yishma’el.”