Jeremias remains with Godolias the governor; who receives all the Jews
that resort to him.
40:1. The word that came to Jeremias from the Lord, after that
Nabuzardan the general had let him go from Rama, when he had taken him,
being bound with chains, among all them that were carried away from
Jerusalem and Juda, and were carried to Babylon.
40:2. And the general of the army taking Jeremias, said to him: The
Lord thy God hath pronounced this evil upon this place,
40:3. And he hath brought it: and the Lord hath done as he hath said:
because you have sinned against the Lord, and have not hearkened to his
voice, and this word is come upon you.
40:4. Now then behold I have loosed thee this day from the chains which
were upon thy hands: if it please thee to come with me to Babylon,
come: and I will set my eyes upon thee: but if it do not please thee to
come with me to Babylon, stay here: behold all the land is before thee,
as thou shalt choose, and whither it shall please thee to go, thither
go.
40:5. And come not with me: but dwell with Godolias the son of Ahicam
the son of Saphan, whom the king of Babylon hath made governor over the
cities of Juda: dwell therefore with him in the midst of the people: or
whithersoever it shall please thee to go, go. And the general of the
army gave him victuals and presents, and let him go.
40:6. And Jeremias went to Godolias the son of Ahicam to Masphath: and
dwelt with him in the midst of the people that were left in the land.
40:7. And when all the captains of the army that were scattered through
the countries, they and their companions, had heard that the king of
Babylon had made Godolias the son of Ahicam governor of the country,
and that he had committed unto him men and women, and children, and of
the poor of the land, them that had not been carried away captive to
Babylon:
40:8. They came to Godolias to Masphath: and Ismahel the son of
Nathanias, and Johanan, and Jonathan, the sons of Caree, and Sareas the
son of Thanehumeth, and the children of Ophi, that were of Netophathi,
and Jezonias the son of Maachati, they and their men.
40:9. And Godolias the son of Ahicam the son of Saphan swore to them
and to their companions, saying: Fear not to serve the Chaldeans: dwell
in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with
you.
40:10. Behold I dwell in Masphath, that I may answer the commandment of
the Chaldeans that are sent to us: but as for you, gather ye the
vintage, and the harvest, and the oil, and lay it up in your vessels,
and abide in your cities which you hold.
40:11. Moreover all the Jews that were in Moab, and among the children
of Ammon, and in Edom, and in all the countries, when they heard that
the king of Babylon had left a remnant in Judea, and that he had made
Godolias the son of Ahicam the son of Saphan ruler over them:
40:12. All the Jews, I say, returned out of all the places to which
they had fled, and they came into the land of Juda to Godolias to
Masphath: and they gathered wine, and a very great harvest.
40:13. Then Johanan the son of Caree, and all the captains of the army,
that had been scattered about in the countries, came to Godolias to
Masphath.
40:14. And they said to him: Know that Baalis the king of the children
of Ammon hath sent Ismahel the son of Nathanias to kill thee. And
Godolias the son of Ahicam believed them not.
40:15. But Johanan the son of Caree, spoke to Godolias privately in
Masphath, saying: I will go, and I will kill Ismahel the son of
Nathanias, and no man shall know it, lest he kill thee, and all the
Jews be scattered, that are gathered unto thee, and the remnant of Juda
perish.
40:16. And Godolias the son of Ahicam said to Johanan the son of Caree:
Do not this thing: for what thou sayst of Ismahel is false.