Jeremiah 40 - Gedaliah

by Katrina

LINK: Jeremiah 40

BACKGROUND
This chapter begins with another account of the same event in chapter 39 of the destruction of Jerusalem and what to do with Jeremiah. Apparently Jeremiah was taken with the other captives to Ramah for "processing." There, Nebuzaradan released him and gave him the choice of where to go. Jeremiah chose to stay in the land among those left behind. We assume he ministered to his fellow Jews there.

Nebuchadnezzar had appointed Gedaliah to rule over those who remained in the land, and the army left only the very poorest of people there.

A plot to assassinate Gedaliah was discovered and reported to him by Johanan. Ishmael, son of Nethaniah, was planning to take Gedaliah's life, and Johanan offered to kill Ishmael first. Gedaliah did not believe that Ishmael was planning to kill him . . . .

to be continued in the next chapter . . .