Jeremiah 40: A Remnant Left in the Land
Released from his chains, Jeremiah stays with Gedaliah, the governor who gathers the scattered remnant and pleads with them to serve Babylon and live in peace.
Jeremiah 40 (WEB)
1 The word which came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, after that Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had let him go from Ramah, when he had taken him being bound in chains among all the captives of Jerusalem and Judah, who were carried away captive to Babylon.
2 The captain of the guard took Jeremiah, and said to him, Yahweh your God pronounced this evil on this place;
3 and Yahweh has brought it, and done according as he spoke: because you have sinned against Yahweh, and have not obeyed his voice, therefore this thing has come on you.
4 Now, behold, I release you this day from the chains which are on your hand. If it seems good to you to come with me into Babylon, come, and I will take care of you; but if it seems bad to you to come with me into Babylon, don’t: behold, all the land is before you; where it seems good and right to you to go, there go.
5 Now while he had not yet gone back, Go back then, he said, 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 right to you to go. So the captain of the guard gave him food and a present, and let him go.
6 Then went Jeremiah to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah, and lived with him among the people who were left in the land.
7 Now when all the captains of the forces who were in the fields, even 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, and women, and children, and of the poorest of the land, of those who were not carried away captive to Babylon;
8 then they came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth, and the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniah the son of the Maacathite, they and their men.
9 Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan swore to them and to their men, saying, Don’t 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, behold, I will dwell at Mizpah, to stand before the Chaldeans who shall come to us: but you, gather wine and summer fruits and oil, and put them in your vessels, and dwell in your cities that you have taken.
11 Likewise when all the Jews who were in Moab, and among the children of Ammon, and 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 were driven, and came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah, to Mizpah, and gathered wine and summer fruits very much.
13 Moreover Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces who were in the fields, came to Gedaliah to Mizpah,
14 and said to him, Do you know that Baalis the king of the children of Ammon has sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to take your life? But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam didn’t believe them.
15 Then Johanan the son of Kareah spoke to Gedaliah in Mizpah secretly, saying, Please let me go, and I will kill Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and no man shall know it: why should he take your life, that all the Jews who are gathered to you should be scattered, and the remnant of Judah perish?
16 But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said to Johanan the son of Kareah, You shall not do this thing; for you speak falsely of Ishmael.
Jeremiah 40 (KJV)
1 The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, after that Nebuzar–adan the captain of the guard had let him go from Ramah, when he had taken him being bound in chains among all that were carried away captive of Jerusalem and Judah, which were carried away captive unto Babylon.
2 And the captain of the guard took Jeremiah, and said unto him, The Lord thy God hath pronounced this evil upon this place.
3 Now the Lord hath brought it, and done according as he hath said: because ye have sinned against the Lord, and have not obeyed his voice, therefore this thing is come upon you.
4 And now, behold, I loose thee this day from the chains which were upon thine hand. If it seem good unto thee to come with me into Babylon, come; and I will look well unto thee: but if it seem ill unto thee to come with me into Babylon, forbear: behold, all the land is before thee: whither it seemeth good and convenient for thee to go, thither go.
5 Now while he was not yet gone back, he said, Go back also to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon hath made governor over the cities of Judah, and dwell with him among the people: or go wheresoever it seemeth convenient unto thee to go. So the captain of the guard gave him victuals and a reward, and let him go.
6 Then went Jeremiah unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah; and dwelt with him among the people that were left in the land.
7 Now when all the captains of the forces which were in the fields, even they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam governor in the land, and had committed unto him men, and women, and children, and of the poor of the land, of them that were not carried away captive to Babylon;
8 Then they came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, even Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth, and the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniah the son of a Maachathite, they and their men.
9 And Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan sware unto them and to 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.
10 As for me, behold, I will dwell at Mizpah to serve the Chaldeans, which will come unto us: but ye, gather ye wine, and summer fruits, and oil, and put them in your vessels, and dwell in your cities that ye have taken.
11 Likewise when all the Jews that were in Moab, and among the Ammonites, and in Edom, and that 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 Even all the Jews returned out of all places whither they were driven, and came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah, unto Mizpah, and gathered wine and summer fruits very much.
13 Moreover Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were in the fields, came to Gedaliah to Mizpah,
14 And said unto him, Dost thou certainly know that Baalis the king of the Ammonites hath sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to slay thee? But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam believed them not.
15 Then Johanan the son of Kareah spake to Gedaliah in Mizpah secretly, saying, Let me go, I pray thee, and I will slay Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and no man shall know it: wherefore should he slay thee, that all the Jews which are gathered unto thee should be scattered, and the remnant in Judah perish?
16 But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said unto Johanan the son of Kareah, Thou shalt not do this thing: for thou speakest falsely of Ishmael.
Jeremiah 40 (ASV)
1 The word which came to Jeremiah from Jehovah, after that Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had let him go from Ramah, when he had taken him being bound in chains among all the captives of Jerusalem and Judah, that were carried away captive unto Babylon.
2 And the captain of the guard took Jeremiah, and said unto him, Jehovah thy God pronounced this evil upon this place;
3 and Jehovah hath brought it, and done according as he spake: because ye have sinned against Jehovah, and have not obeyed his voice, therefore this thing is come upon you.
4 And now, behold, I loose thee this day from the chains which are upon thy hand. If it seem good unto thee to come with me into Babylon, come, and I will look well unto thee; but if it seem ill unto thee to come with me into Babylon, forbear: behold, all the land is before thee; whither it seemeth good and right unto thee to go, thither go.
5 Now while he was not yet gone back, Go back then, said he, to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon hath made governor over the cities of Judah, and dwell with him among the people; or go wheresoever it seemeth right unto thee to go. So the captain of the guard gave him victuals and a present, and let him go.
6 Then went Jeremiah unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah, and dwelt with him among the people that were left in the land.
7 Now when all the captains of the forces that were in the fields, even they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam governor in the land, and had committed unto him men, and women, and children, and of the poorest of the land, of them that were not carried away captive to Babylon;
8 then they came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, to wit, Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth, and the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniah the son of the Maacathite, they and their men.
9 And Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan sware unto them and to 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.
10 As for me, behold, I will dwell at Mizpah, to stand before the Chaldeans that shall come unto us: but ye, gather ye wine and summer fruits and oil, and put them in your vessels, and dwell in your cities that ye have taken.
11 Likewise when all the Jews that were in Moab, and among the children of Ammon, and in Edom, and that 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 whither they were driven, and came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah, unto Mizpah, and gathered wine and summer fruits very much.
13 Moreover Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were in the fields, came to Gedaliah to Mizpah,
14 and said unto him, Dost thou know that Baalis the king of the children of Ammon hath sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to take thy life? But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam believed them not.
15 Then Johanan the son of Kareah spake to Gedaliah in Mizpah secretly, saying, Let me go, I pray thee, and I will slay Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and no man shall know it: wherefore should he take thy life, that all the Jews that are gathered unto thee should be scattered, and the remnant of Judah perish?
16 But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said unto Johanan the son of Kareah, Thou shalt not do this thing; for thou speakest falsely of Ishmael.
Summary
After Jerusalem's fall, the captain of the guard releases Jeremiah from the chains in which he was bound among the captives, openly acknowledging that Yahweh had brought this disaster because the people had sinned against him. Free to go anywhere, Jeremiah chooses to stay with Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam, whom Babylon has appointed governor over the poor remnant left in Judah. From his seat at Mizpah, Gedaliah urges the scattered captains and their men not to fear the Chaldeans but to settle down, gather wine and summer fruits, and serve the king of Babylon so that it may go well with them. As word spreads, Jews who had fled to Moab, Ammon, and Edom return to the land and reap a rich harvest. Yet a shadow falls over this fragile peace: Johanan warns Gedaliah that Ishmael, sent by Baalis king of Ammon, intends to kill him. Trusting and generous to a fault, Gedaliah refuses to believe the report and forbids Johanan from striking first. The chapter ends in quiet tension, the remnant's brief calm resting on a governor who will not guard himself against treachery.
Main Characters
- Jeremiah — The prophet, freed from chains, who chooses to remain in the land with the remnant rather than seek comfort in Babylon.
- Gedaliah — Babylon's appointed governor at Mizpah, a peacemaker who gathers the remnant and trustingly refuses to believe warnings of a plot against him.
- Johanan the son of Kareah — A captain of the scattered forces who warns Gedaliah of Ishmael's murderous intent and offers to act, only to be told to stand down.
- Nebuzaradan — The Babylonian captain of the guard who releases Jeremiah, testifying that Yahweh had done exactly as he warned.
Key Verse
Jeremiah 40:9 (WEB)
Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan swore to them and to their men, saying, Don’t be afraid to serve the Chaldeans: dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you.
Lessons Learned
- Even a pagan officer can recognize the hand of God; Nebuzaradan names the LORD's judgment more clearly than Judah ever did.
- God preserves a remnant; after the worst of judgment, he leaves seed for new life in the land.
- Faithfulness sometimes means staying in a hard place rather than seeking ease; Jeremiah remains with the poor of the land.
- Trust must be paired with discernment; Gedaliah's refusal to weigh a credible warning sets the stage for tragedy.
- God always keeps a remnant. Babylon “had left a remnant of Judah” under Gedaliah (Jeremiah 40:11, WEB), so that God's purposes for his people would not be utterly cut off.
- God's judgments are righteous and announced. Even Nebuzaradan confesses, “because you have sinned against Yahweh… therefore this thing has come on you” (Jeremiah 40:3, WEB). The LORD does nothing without warning.
- Peace is a gift to be stewarded. Gedaliah promises, “it shall be well with you” if they serve and settle (Jeremiah 40:9, WEB). God gives seasons of calm in which to gather and rebuild.
- Wisdom listens to warning. “But Gedaliah… didn’t believe them” (Jeremiah 40:14, WEB). Trust untempered by discernment can leave us, and others, defenseless against evil.
- Why might Jeremiah have chosen to stay with the poor remnant in the land rather than accept Babylon's offer of comfort?
- What does Nebuzaradan's speech in verses 2-3 reveal about how clearly God's judgment had been announced?
- How does the return of the scattered Jews and the rich harvest show God's mercy even in the aftermath of disaster?
- Gedaliah refuses to believe Johanan's warning. When is trust a virtue, and when does it become dangerous?
- Where in your life do you need both faith to settle into a hard place and wisdom to heed a warning you would rather ignore?
- Jeremiah had spent his ministry calling Judah to submit to Babylon and to find life in obedience rather than flight; staying with the remnant embodies that message. He casts his lot with the lowly people God had preserved, modeling a shepherd's heart over self-interest.
- Nebuzaradan, a pagan, plainly states that Yahweh pronounced and brought this evil because the people disobeyed his voice (40:2-3). The judgment was no accident and no surprise—God had spoken through Jeremiah for decades, and even Judah's conquerors could see it.
- Jews who had fled to surrounding nations stream back, and they gather “wine and summer fruits very much” (40:12). After unimaginable loss, God grants a harvest and a gathering, a small but real token that he has not abandoned his people.
- Gedaliah's openness is admirable, but he dismisses a specific, credible warning and even forbids action (40:14-16). Help the group see that godly trust does not mean naivety; love is to be “wise as serpents” while remaining gentle.
- This is a personal-application question. Invite members to name a hard place God may be calling them to embrace, and also a warning or counsel they have been brushing aside. As leader, hold both faith and discernment together without forcing disclosure.