[Brother V]

Jeremiah 40-42

Jeremiah 40

1 The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, after that Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had let him go from Ramah, when he had taken him being bound in chains among all that were carried away captive of Jerusalem and Judah, which were carried away captive unto Babylon.

So Jeremiah was part of the group that was being taken away in chains, just like when he was walking around earlier with the yoke on.

This verse seems at odds with Jeremiah 39:14. Even they sent, and took Jeremiah out of the court of the prison, and committed him unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, that he should carry him home: so he dwelt among the people. Which seems to say that Jeremiah was released from the prison and sent on his merry way. But now we see Jeremiah being taken away, if only for a bit.

2 And the captain of the guard took Jeremiah, and said unto him, The LORD thy God hath pronounced this evil upon this place.

Odd, that a guy for the other side would be saying the same things that Jeremiah had said. It's as though the guy was prophesying (real prophecy). But it actually makes some sense.

3 Now the LORD hath brought it, and done according as he hath said: because ye have sinned against the LORD, and have not obeyed his voice, therefore this thing is come upon you.

Back in that time (as now, a bit) if you lost in a war it was because your god was either angry at you, or not as strong as the other people's gods. The hebe's aren't going to say that they lost because their god was weaker, they are going to say (in THEIR history book) that it's because their god was mad at them.

4 And now, behold, I loose thee this day from the chains which were upon thine hand. If it seem good unto thee to come with me into Babylon, come; and I will look well unto thee: but if it seem ill unto thee to come with me into Babylon, forbear: behold, all the land is before thee: whither it seemeth good and convenient for thee to go, thither go.

Jeremiah was loosed from his chains and told he could go anywhere. He was even given a reward and some papers that said "This is Jeremiah, he is not to be messed with".

6 Then went Jeremiah unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah; and dwelt with him among the people that were left in the land.

Gedaliah was the person who was set as governor appointed by Nebuchadnezzar.

10 As for me, behold, I will dwell at Mizpah, to serve the Chaldeans, which will come unto us: but ye, gather ye wine, and summer fruits, and oil, and put them in your vessels, and dwell in your cities that ye have taken.

Gedaliah set up his governorship in Mizpah. Under him, the people grew a bit prosperous. So much so, that the people who went into hiding came out to take back their lands.

12 Even all the Jews returned out of all places whither they were driven, and came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah, unto Mizpah, and gathered wine and summer fruits very much.

So, even though most of the people had been taken away, the ones who were left had it pretty good.

One of the remaining captains Johanan, went to Gedaliah.

14 And said unto him, Dost thou certainly know that Baalis the king of the Ammonites hath sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to slay thee? But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam believed them not.


Johanan offered to go kill Ishmael, and even said no one would know about it (of course the story is in the best selling book of all time, so the whole "keeping it a secret" thing didn't go over too good.)

16 But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said unto Johanan the son of Kareah, Thou shalt not do this thing: for thou speakest falsely of Ishmael.

Looking back, I bet Gedaliah regrets this decision.

Jeremiah 41

1 Now it came to pass in the seventh month, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah the son of Elishama, of the seed royal, and the princes of the king, even ten men with him, came unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah; and there they did eat bread together in Mizpah.

Gedaliah even invited Ishmael to have dinner with him.

2 Then arose Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and the ten men that were with him, and smote Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan with the sword, and slew him, whom the king of Babylon had made governor over the land.

Aww crap.

3 Ishmael also slew all the Jews that were with him, even with Gedaliah, at Mizpah, and the Chaldeans that were found there, and the men of war.

Ishmael has killed the governor, and pretty much everyone who was with him.

5 That there came certain from Shechem, from Shiloh, and from Samaria, even fourscore men, having their beards shaven, and their clothes rent, and having cut themselves, with offerings and incense in their hand, to bring them to the house of the LORD.

Wait a second. What kind of Jewish worship is this? Beards shaven, clothes rent and having cut themselves. In all my reading of the Bible (KJV1611) so far, I haven't come across any verse that says that cutting yourself is an appropriate form of worship. That's something that muslims do. And something that cathylicks do in the Philippines. It's not something that jews do.

7 And it was so, when they came into the midst of the city, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah slew them, and cast them into the midst of the pit, he, and the men that were with him.

Ishmael killed them too.

Well, he let 10 go because they said they had wheat, barley, oil and honey.

10 Then Ishmael carried away captive all the residue of the people that were in Mizpah, even the king's daughters, and all the people that remained in Mizpah, whom Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had committed to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam: and Ishmael the son of Nethaniah carried them away captive, and departed to go over to the Ammonites.

Congratulations, you have survived the invasion of the Chaldeans, you managed to not get taken away to Babylon, everything seemed to be going good... Then a guy who you thought you could trust, Ishmael, the son of Nethaniah (Nataniah), who was the son of Elishama, who was related to Zedekiah.

So then Johanan (who offered to kill Ishmael) chases after Ishmael to rescue the people being taken away.

15 But Ishmael the son of Nethaniah escaped from Johanan with eight men, and went to the Ammonites.

Ishmael was sneaky.

17 And they departed, and dwelt in the habitation of Chimham, which is by Bethlehem, to go to enter into Egypt,

18 Because of the Chaldeans: for they were afraid of them, because Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had slain Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, whom the king of Babylon made governor in the land.

So now, all the people who were left pretty much packed up and headed towards Egypt. They were afraid that Nebuchadnezzar would be pissed at the remaining people for allowing the governor he appointed be killed.

Jeremiah 42

1 Then all the captains of the forces, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and Jezaniah the son of Hoshaiah, and all the people from the least even unto the greatest, came near,

2 And said unto Jeremiah the prophet, Let, we beseech thee, our supplication be accepted before thee, and pray for us unto the LORD thy God, even for all this remnant; (for we are left but a few of many, as thine eyes do behold us

3 That the LORD thy God may shew us the way wherein we may walk, and the thing that we may do.

That's a long sentence. It says, Johanan said to Jeremiah: "Ask God what we should do".

There's also a smiley face in it.

Jeremiah prayed, ten days later he got the answer.

10 If ye will still abide in this land, then will I build you, and not pull you down, and I will plant you, and not pluck you up: for I repent me of the evil that I have done unto you.

Stay, and God will make you better.

Wait, what else did God say?

"I repent me of the evil that I have done unto you"

God repented of the evil that he did. What do the other "bible versions" say about this verse?

NIV

or I am grieved over the disaster I have inflicted on you

NLT

For I am sorry about all the punishment I have had to bring upon you

NASB

for I will relent concerning the calamity that I have inflicted on you

God's Word Translation

will change my plans about the disaster I've brought on you

American KJV

I repent me of the evil that I have done unto you

Basic English

for my purpose of doing evil to you has been changed

Douay-Rheims Bible

for now I am appeased for the evil that I have done to you.

Darby Bible Translation

for I repent me of the evil that I have done unto you.

English Revised Version

for I repent me of the evil that I have done unto you.

Webster's Bible Translation

for I repent of the evil that I have done to you.

World English Bible

for I grieve over the distress that I have brought on you.

Young's Literal Translation

for I have repented concerning the evil that I have done to you.

The Message

I feel deep compassion on account of the doom I have visited on you.

Amplified

for I will relent and comfort and ease Myself concerning the evil that [in chastisement] I have done to you [and I will substitute mercy and loving-kindness for judgment]

Wow, so many of the "translations" have such soft language. Intent, meaning, inflection, tone, all of it has been changed. From the Amplified where God actually says he's going to comfort and ease himself, to the NIV where God is just grieved. So many versions have God just a bit sad, and not to the point where God had to actually ask forgiveness. God did EVIL, not a disaster, not a calamity, distress, punishment, all those words are so soft. Evil is pretty much what happened. God allowed the king, who he set up in an EVERLASTING COVENANT to watch his sons be killed and have his eyes gouged out, that's not a calamity. God allowed most everyone to be taken away, that's not distress.

11 Be not afraid of the king of Babylon, of whom ye are afraid; be not afraid of him, saith the LORD: for I am with you to save you, and to deliver you from his hand.

Don't be afraid of Nebuchadnezzar, God will take care of you, just stay here.

If you go to Egypt:

16 Then it shall come to pass, that the sword, which ye feared, shall overtake you there in the land of Egypt, and the famine, whereof ye were afraid, shall follow close after you there in Egypt; and there ye shall die.

Go to Egypt and die.

18 For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; As mine anger and my fury hath been poured forth upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem; so shall my fury be poured forth upon you, when ye shall enter into Egypt: and ye shall be an execration, and an astonishment, and a curse, and a reproach; and ye shall see this place no more.


I'm sorry for the evil I did, but if you go to Egypt, it will be worse.

22 Now therefore know certainly that ye shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, in the place whither ye desire to go and to sojourn.

I wonder what happened?

Stay tuned for the next reading...

So what have we learned today?

1. Jeremiah's wooden stocks became metal chains.

2. Gedaliah was killed by Ishmael.

3. The remnant was scared thinking Nebuchadnezzar would be really pissed about Gedaliah being killed. So scared that they though going to Egypt would be the best option.

YIC
V