基大利恩待耶利米
1耶利米帶著鎖鏈跟耶路撒冷和猶大被擄的人一起被帶往巴比倫，但護衛長尼布撒拉旦在拉瑪釋放了他。這事之後，耶和華的話傳給了耶利米。 2護衛長釋放耶利米之前對他說：「你的上帝耶和華曾說要在這裡降下災禍， 3現在果然應驗了。你們遭災是因為你們得罪了耶和華，不聽祂的話。 4現在我解除你手上的鎖鏈，釋放你。你可以跟我去巴比倫，我必善待你；如果你不想去，也可以。你看，整片土地都在你眼前，你想去哪裡都可以。 5巴比倫王委任沙番的孫子、亞希甘的兒子基大利管理猶大的城邑，如果你想留下來，可以去他那裡住在同胞中，或去其他你喜歡的地方。」於是，護衛長給耶利米乾糧和禮物，放他離去。 6耶利米就到米斯巴的基大利那裡，居住在留下來的人當中。
基大利管理猶大
7躲在鄉村的猶大將領和士兵聽說巴比倫王委任亞希甘的兒子基大利管理猶大的窮人，就是沒有被擄到巴比倫的男女婦孺， 8便來到米斯巴見基大利。他們是尼探雅的兒子以實瑪利、加利亞的兒子約哈難和約拿單、單戶篾的兒子西萊雅、尼陀法人以斐的兒子們、瑪迦人耶撒尼亞及他們的屬下。 9沙番的孫子、亞希甘的兒子基大利對他們起誓說：「你們不要怕臣服於迦勒底人，只管住在這裡做巴比倫王的臣民，你們會平安無事。 10至於我，我要留在米斯巴，代表你們與迦勒底人會面。你們要儲備酒、夏天的果子和油，存放在器皿內，在你們所住的城邑生活。」 11在摩押、亞捫、以東及各國的猶大人聽說巴比倫王留下一些人，並委任沙番的孫子、亞希甘的兒子基大利管理他們， 12便從各地回到猶大，去米斯巴見基大利。他們儲備了大量的酒和夏天的果子。
13加利亞的兒子約哈難和在鄉村的眾將領來到米斯巴見基大利， 14對他說：「亞捫王巴利斯派尼探雅的兒子以實瑪利來殺你，你知道嗎？」亞希甘的兒子基大利卻不相信他們的話。 15後來，加利亞的兒子約哈難在米斯巴私下對基大利說：「讓我去殺掉尼探雅的兒子以實瑪利吧！沒人會知道。何必讓他來殺害你，以致匯集到你這裡的猶大餘民再度分散、滅亡呢？」 16但亞希甘的兒子基大利說：「你不可殺他，你說他要殺我這件事不是真的。」
1The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, after that Nebuzar-adan 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.40.1 chains: or, manicles 2And the captain of the guard took Jeremiah, and said unto him, The LORD thy God hath pronounced this evil upon this place. 3Now 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. 4And 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.40.4 were…: or, are upon thine hand40.4 I will…: Heb. I will set mine eye upon thee 5Now 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. 6Then went Jeremiah unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah; and dwelt with him among the people that were left in the land.
7¶ 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; 8Then 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. 9And 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. 10As 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.40.10 to serve: Heb. to stand before 11Likewise 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; 12Even 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.
13¶ Moreover Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were in the fields, came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, 14And 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.40.14 to slay…: Heb. to strike thee in soul? 15Then Johanan the son of Kareah spake to Gedaliah in Mizpah secretly, saying, Let me go, I pray thee, and I will slay Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and no man shall know it: wherefore should he slay thee, that all the Jews which are gathered unto thee should be scattered, and the remnant in Judah perish? 16But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said unto Johanan the son of Kareah, Thou shalt not do this thing: for thou speakest falsely of Ishmael.
