What does Jeremias Chapter 40 say, and which statements belong to its speaker?

Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary

A released captive is offered Babylonian care or residence in Juda. The appointed governor encourages dwelling and harvest. A reported assassination plot meets disbelief and a forbidden killing proposal.

Chapter breakdown

Jeremias 40 begins with Nabuzardan releasing Jeremias at Rama from chains among captives. The commander attributes the disaster to sins against the Lord. He offers going to Babylon under his care or remaining wherever Jeremias wishes, and then directs him toward Godolias son of Ahicam son of Saphan, appointed over Juda’s cities. Food and gifts accompany release. Jeremias goes to Godolias at Masphath and dwells among the people left in the land.

Captains and companions in the field hear of the appointment over men, women, children and the poor left behind. Named arrivals include Ismahel, Johanan, Jonathan, Sareas, Ophi’s sons and Jezonias. Godolias swears reassurance: dwell and serve the Chaldean king. He will answer the commandment of Chaldeans sent to them; they should gather vintage and oil, store them in vessels and dwell in cities they hold. Jews from Moab, Ammon, Edom and other countries return and gather a very great harvest and wine.

Johanan and captains report that Baalis king of Ammon sent Ismahel to kill Godolias. Godolias does not believe them. Johanan privately offers to kill Ismahel secretly, fearing the people’s scattering and the remnant’s destruction. Godolias forbids it and calls the report false. The chapter does not establish either man’s hidden motive or independently prove the accusation; a later outcome must not be imported into this decision.

The story inside

Opening: A released captive is offered Babylonian care or residence in Juda. Development: The appointed governor encourages dwelling and harvest. Conclusion: A reported assassination plot meets disbelief and a forbidden killing proposal.

Lessons worth keeping

1
A released captive is offered Babylonian care or residence in Juda.
2
The appointed governor encourages dwelling and harvest.
3
A reported assassination plot meets disbelief and a forbidden killing proposal.

Test your recall

Which images and requests does the speaker use, and what does the chapter leave unresolved?

Source edition and notes

Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.

Lines 88294–88306
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.
Lines 88308–88315
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.
Lines 88329–88337
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.
Lines 88344–88346
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.
Lines 88352–88363
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.