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When the captain of the imperial guard learned of the mix-up, he took Jeremiah aside and spoke to him.

In the aftermath of war, confusion and mistakes are rampant. Nebuchadnezzar himself has ordered that Jeremiah be placed in the care of Gedaliah (39:11–12), but some incompetent staff member has sent Jeremiah to be processed for exile in Babylon. It falls to Nebuzaradan to try to fix the mistake, before it is too late.

Nebuzaradan: Your God, the Eternal, commanded all of this to happen. He brought this disaster on this land, just as He said He would. And it all happened because your people sinned against the Eternal and refused to obey His voice. But today I am giving you your freedom. I am ordering the chains removed from your wrists. I am also giving you the chance to decide where you will live. If you’d like, you can come with me to Babylon, and I will look out for you. But if you’d rather not come to Babylon, then don’t. Look around you; you can go from here today and live anywhere you want. You decide.

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When the commander(A) of the guard found Jeremiah, he said to him, “The Lord your God decreed(B) this disaster(C) for this place.(D) And now the Lord has brought it about; he has done just as he said he would. All this happened because you people sinned(E) against the Lord and did not obey(F) him. But today I am freeing(G) you from the chains(H) on your wrists. Come with me to Babylon, if you like, and I will look after you; but if you do not want to, then don’t come. Look, the whole country lies before you; go wherever you please.”(I)

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