Jeremiah 39:11–40:6
11 Now Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had given these orders about Jeremiah through Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard: 12 “Take him and look after him; don’t harmp him but do for him whatever he asks.” 13 So Nebuzaradan the commander of the guard, Nebushazban a chief officer, Nergal-Sharezer a high official and all the other officersq of the king of Babylon 14 sent and had Jeremiah taken out of the courtyard of the guard.r They turned him over to Gedaliahs son of Ahikam,t the son of Shaphan,u to take him back to his home. So he remained among his own people.v
15 While Jeremiah had been confined in the courtyard of the guard, the word of the Lord came to him: 16 “Go and tell Ebed-Melekw the Cushite, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: I am about to fulfill my wordsx against this city—words concerning disaster,y not prosperity. At that time they will be fulfilled before your eyes. 17 But I will rescuez you on that day, declares the Lord; you will not be given into the hands of those you fear. 18 I will savea you; you will not fall by the swordb but will escape with your life,c because you trustd in me, declares the Lord.’ ”
40 The word came to Jeremiah from the Lord after Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard had released him at Ramah.e He had found Jeremiah bound in chains among all the captivesf from Jerusalem and Judah who were being carried into exile to Babylon. 2 When the commanderg of the guard found Jeremiah, he said to him, “The Lord your God decreedh this disasteri for this place.j 3 And now the Lord has brought it about; he has done just as he said he would. All this happened because you people sinnedk against the Lord and did not obeyl him. 4 But today I am freeingm you from the chainsn 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.”o 5 However, before Jeremiah turned to go,a Nebuzaradan added, “Go back to Gedaliahp son of Ahikam,q the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon has appointedr over the townss of Judah, and live with him among the people, or go anywhere else you please.”t
Then the commander gave him provisions and a presentu and let him go. 6 So Jeremiah went to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpahv and stayed with him among the people who were left behind in the land.