Jeremiah · chapter 40 of 52
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Jeremiah 40 tells how Nebuzaradan frees Jeremiah from his chains at Ramah and lets him choose where to live; the prophet stays with Gedaliah, the governor appointed by Babylon at Mizpah. The scattered Jews return and gather a great harvest. Johanan warns Gedaliah that Ishmael plans to kill him, but Gedaliah does not believe him and refuses to let Ishmael be killed.
After the fall of Jerusalem, the book follows the fate of those left in the land. Babylon appoints a Jewish governor, Gedaliah, and for a moment a chance seems to open to rebuild life. This chapter presents that fragile hope and the threat that will destroy it in the next chapter.
Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard, finds Jeremiah in chains among the other captives at Ramah. He tells him that the Lord had announced this disaster against this place, and brought it about because they sinned and did not obey. He releases him from his chains and lets him choose: come with him to Babylon, where he will look after him, or stay in the land. He suggests going to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, whom the king of Babylon has set over the cities of Judah. Jeremiah stays with him at Mizpah and receives provisions and a gift.
The army commanders who were in the open country with their men hear that the king of Babylon has made Gedaliah governor and entrusted the poor of the land to him. They come to Mizpah, among them Ishmael son of Nethaniah and Johanan son of Kareah. Gedaliah swears to them that they need not fear to serve the Chaldeans: let them live in the land, serve the king of Babylon, and it will go well with them, while he stays at Mizpah to represent them. The Jews who were in Moab, Ammon, Edom and other countries hear the same, return to Judah and gather wine and summer fruit in great abundance.
Johanan and the commanders go to Gedaliah and tell him that Baalis, king of the Ammonites, has sent Ishmael to take his life. Gedaliah does not believe them. Johanan secretly offers to kill Ishmael without anyone knowing, so that those gathered will not be scattered and the remnant of Judah perish. Gedaliah tells him not to do it, because what he says about Ishmael is false.
References follow ESV book names and verse numbers. Read each verse in your Bible before the explanation.
The Babylonian captain recognizes that the Lord announced this disaster and brought it about because his people sinned and did not obey. A foreigner confirms what Jeremiah had said, and the voice the people refused to hear is acknowledged by a pagan.
Nebuzaradan offers Jeremiah to go to Babylon or stay in the land, and lets him choose. The prophet, who could enjoy a comfortable life as Babylon's protege, chooses to stay among the poor who remained in Judah.
Gedaliah urges the scattered to serve the Chaldeans, live in the land and gather wine, fruit and oil. His government is a simple attempt to rebuild life, in line with what Jeremiah had taught.
Johanan and the commanders warn that the king of Ammon sent Ishmael to kill Gedaliah, but Gedaliah does not believe them. A good leader can make the mistake of trusting too much and not taking warnings seriously.
6 questions with answers and references, ready for Sunday school, small group or a Bible quiz night.
Answer: At Ramah, among the captives of Jerusalem and Judah headed for Babylon. — Jeremiah 40:1
Answer: To go with him to Babylon, where he would look after him, or to stay in the land, for example with Gedaliah. — Jeremiah 40:4-5
Answer: To stay with Gedaliah at Mizpah, among the people left in the land. — Jeremiah 40:6
Answer: Wine and summer fruit in great abundance. — Jeremiah 40:12
Answer: That Baalis, king of the Ammonites, has sent Ishmael to take his life. — Jeremiah 40:14
Answer: He does not believe them, and refuses Johanan's offer to kill Ishmael in secret. — Jeremiah 40:14-16
Jeremiah 40 shows a prophet who chooses to accompany the weakest. He could have gone to Babylon in comfort, but he stayed with the poor whom God had not forgotten. In a small group you can talk about where God places each of you, and whether there is a difficult but needed place where you are called to stay.
There is also a lesson about discernment. Gedaliah was a good man, but his trust blinded him. Listening carefully to warnings from sensible people, even unpleasant ones, is a form of wisdom. Ask God for humility to weigh warnings without dismissing them out of pride or naivete.
The chapter ends with a threatened hope: Gedaliah does not believe Johanan's warning. In chapter 41 the plot comes true and Mizpah becomes the scene of violence that changes the course of those who had remained.
The son of Ahikam, from the same family that had protected Jeremiah on other occasions, and appointed by Nebuchadnezzar as governor of Judah after the fall of Jerusalem. He governed from Mizpah and sought to have those left live in peace under Babylon.
The text only says that he stayed with Gedaliah among the people who remained. Many see it as an act of loyalty: Jeremiah had foretold the exile, but his heart was with those still in the land who might need his guidance.