Jeremiah 40:1-6 - Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

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Bible Comments

Jeremiah 40-44. The next five Chapter s continue the biography of Jeremiah, including connected events, after the capture of Jerusalem.

Jeremiah 40:1-6. Release of Jeremiah. This paragraph is possibly a later expansion of Jeremiah 39:11 f.; the opening words do not suit what follows, and Nebuzaradan, the Babylonian general, would not speak as in Jeremiah 40:2 f., whilst, according to Jeremiah 39:14, Jeremiah had been given into Gedaliah's charge a month before. Jeremiah, one of a band of captives to be deported to Babylon, was released at Ramah (Jeremiah 31:15) by the Babylonian commander, with full liberty of choice as to his future residence; he chose to join Gedaliah (Jeremiah 39:14) at Mizpah (4½ m. NW. of Jerusalem).

Jeremiah 40:5. Omit Now. gone back, with LXX; the Hebrew is strange, and the clause awkward.

Related Commentaries of Jeremiah 40:1

Jeremiah 40:1-6

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 chainsa among all that were carried away captive of Jerusalem and Judah, which were carried away captive unto Babylon.

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

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.

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.

5 Now while he was not yet gone back, he said, Go back also to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon hath made governor over the cities of Judah, and dwell with him among the people: or go wheresoever it seemeth convenient unto thee to go. So the captain of the guard gave him victuals and a reward, and let him go.

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.