4-5 “But today, Jeremiah, I’m setting you free, taking the chains off your hands. If you’d like to come to Babylon with me, come along. I’ll take good care of you. But if you don’t want to come to Babylon with me, that’s just fine, too. Look, the whole land stretches out before you. Do what you like. Go and live wherever you wish. If you want to stay home, go back to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan. The king of Babylon made him governor of the cities of Judah. Stay with him and your people. Or go wherever you’d like. It’s up to you.”

The captain of the bodyguard gave him food for the journey and a parting gift, and sent him off.

Jeremiah went to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah and made his home with him and the people who were left behind in the land.

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But today I am freeing(A) you from the chains(B) 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.”(C) However, before Jeremiah turned to go,[a] Nebuzaradan added, “Go back to Gedaliah(D) son of Ahikam,(E) the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon has appointed(F) over the towns(G) of Judah, and live with him among the people, or go anywhere else you please.”(H)

Then the commander gave him provisions and a present(I) and let him go. So Jeremiah went to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah(J) and stayed with him among the people who were left behind in the land.

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 40:5 Or Jeremiah answered