II Kings 25:22-24, Jeremiah 39:11-40:12
“And as for the people that remained in the land of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had left, even over them he made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, ruler.” (II Kings 25:22)
After the second revolt, Nebuchadnezzar carried away all the leaders, military, businessmen and trades people as well to prevent any further rebellion. However, he left the poor behind to care for the farms and orchards and produce crops for the Babylonians, unlike the Assyrians who carried away everybody. He put Gedaliah, a jewish man in charge as governor.
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“Now Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon gave charge concerning Jeremiah to Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, saying, Take him, and look well to him, and do him no harm; but do unto him even as he shall say unto thee. So Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard sent, and Nebushasban, Rabsaris, and Nergalsharezer, Rabmag, and all the king of Babylon's princes; 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.” (Jeremiah 39:11-14)
Jeremiah had been considered a traitor because he told Judah God was judging Judah by bringing the Babylonians against them and that they should just surrender. He had been thrown into a flooded dungeon in hopes he would drown but was rescued by Ebedmelech the Ethiopian. Subsequently he was held in chains in the court of the prison until Jerusalem fell.
Nebuchadnezzar ordered the man he placed in charge of sacking and razing Jerusalem to set him free and protect him, providing anything Jeremiah asked for.
“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.
And the captain of the guard took Jeremiah, and said unto him, The LORD thy God hath pronounced this evil upon this place. 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. 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.
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.
Then went Jeremiah unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah; and dwelt with him among the people that were left in the land.” (Jeremiah 40:1-6)
Upon freeing Jeremiah, Nebuzaradan offered to take him to Babylon if that was where he wanted to go and Jeremiah agreed. Nebuzaradan recommended he go and stay with the Jews under Gedeliah until he was ready to go to Babylon, providing food and money for him to get what he needed. Jeremiah then went to Mizpeh where Gedeliah had his base.
“Now when all the captains of the forces which were in the fields, even they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam governor in the land, and had committed unto him men, and women, and children, and of the poor of the land, of them that were not carried away captive to Babylon; Then they came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, even Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth, and the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniah the son of a Maachathite, they and their men.” (Jeremiah 40:7-8)
When Jerusalem fell, many of the troops escaped and went into hiding in the surrounding area. Learning that Nebuchadnezzar was allowing some of the people to remain and farm the land, they contacted Gedaliah to see if they would be allowed to stay as well.
“And Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan sware unto them and to their men, saying, Fear not to serve the Chaldeans: dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you. 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.” (Jeremiah 40:9-10)
Gedaliah assured them that if they would cooperate, they would be free to live pretty much as they had for centuries on their own land. There would be minimal interference from Gedeliah as governor.
“Likewise when all the Jews that were in Moab, and among the Ammonites, and in Edom, and that were in all the countries, heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant of Judah, and that he had set over them Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan; 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.” (Jeremiah 40:11-12)
Jews that had lived among the Ammonites, Moabites and Edomites for years to escape the Assyrian and Babylonian, began to return to Mizpeh and rally around Gedaliah.
“And as for the people that remained in the land of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had left, even over them he made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, ruler.” (II Kings 25:22)
After the second revolt, Nebuchadnezzar carried away all the leaders, military, businessmen and trades people as well to prevent any further rebellion. However, he left the poor behind to care for the farms and orchards and produce crops for the Babylonians, unlike the Assyrians who carried away everybody. He put Gedaliah, a jewish man in charge as governor.
.
“Now Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon gave charge concerning Jeremiah to Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, saying, Take him, and look well to him, and do him no harm; but do unto him even as he shall say unto thee. So Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard sent, and Nebushasban, Rabsaris, and Nergalsharezer, Rabmag, and all the king of Babylon's princes; 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.” (Jeremiah 39:11-14)
Jeremiah had been considered a traitor because he told Judah God was judging Judah by bringing the Babylonians against them and that they should just surrender. He had been thrown into a flooded dungeon in hopes he would drown but was rescued by Ebedmelech the Ethiopian. Subsequently he was held in chains in the court of the prison until Jerusalem fell.
Nebuchadnezzar ordered the man he placed in charge of sacking and razing Jerusalem to set him free and protect him, providing anything Jeremiah asked for.
“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.
And the captain of the guard took Jeremiah, and said unto him, The LORD thy God hath pronounced this evil upon this place. 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. 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.
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.
Then went Jeremiah unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah; and dwelt with him among the people that were left in the land.” (Jeremiah 40:1-6)
Upon freeing Jeremiah, Nebuzaradan offered to take him to Babylon if that was where he wanted to go and Jeremiah agreed. Nebuzaradan recommended he go and stay with the Jews under Gedeliah until he was ready to go to Babylon, providing food and money for him to get what he needed. Jeremiah then went to Mizpeh where Gedeliah had his base.
“Now when all the captains of the forces which were in the fields, even they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam governor in the land, and had committed unto him men, and women, and children, and of the poor of the land, of them that were not carried away captive to Babylon; Then they came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, even Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth, and the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniah the son of a Maachathite, they and their men.” (Jeremiah 40:7-8)
When Jerusalem fell, many of the troops escaped and went into hiding in the surrounding area. Learning that Nebuchadnezzar was allowing some of the people to remain and farm the land, they contacted Gedaliah to see if they would be allowed to stay as well.
“And Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan sware unto them and to their men, saying, Fear not to serve the Chaldeans: dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you. 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.” (Jeremiah 40:9-10)
Gedaliah assured them that if they would cooperate, they would be free to live pretty much as they had for centuries on their own land. There would be minimal interference from Gedeliah as governor.
“Likewise when all the Jews that were in Moab, and among the Ammonites, and in Edom, and that were in all the countries, heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant of Judah, and that he had set over them Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan; 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.” (Jeremiah 40:11-12)
Jews that had lived among the Ammonites, Moabites and Edomites for years to escape the Assyrian and Babylonian, began to return to Mizpeh and rally around Gedaliah.
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