Jeremiah 40
Summary for Jer 40:1-6: 40:1-6 a This passage provides some details about what happened to Jeremiah immediately after the fall of Jerusalem.Summary for Jer 40:2-3: 40:2-3 b The captain of the guard quoted the prediction of the Lord through Jeremiah that had now been fulfilled.
40:6 c Gedaliah’s new headquarters were in Mizpah, eight miles north of the ruined Jerusalem.
Summary for Jer 40:7-12: 40:7-12 d The new government was organized under Gedaliah, who belonged to a family of high rank. His grandfather Shaphan had taken King Josiah the scroll of the law that sparked reformation (2 Kgs 22:10 e). Gedaliah’s father, Ahikam, had held a high post in Jehoiakim’s close circle of officials, and he had saved Jeremiah’s life (Jer 26:24 f).
Summary for Jer 40:7-8: 40:7-8 g News spread swiftly among the Judean guerrilla bands and the poor people who were left behind about Gedaliah’s appointment as governor. A small group of guerrilla leaders arranged to meet with Gedaliah in order to gain a better understanding of the new governor’s plans.
Summary for Jer 40:9-10: 40:9-10 h Gedaliah did his best to assure the Judean guerrillas that peaceful settlement under the rule of the Babylonians would bring prosperity.
Summary for Jer 40:11-12: 40:11-12 i The new governor’s promises encouraged people of Judah who had fled to neighboring countries to move back to their land. The mention of a great harvest indicates that the Babylonians had not destroyed the crops when they laid siege to Jerusalem.
40:14 j Ammon was a small highland nation east of the Jordan Valley.
• Ishmael son of Nethaniah had royal blood in his veins (2 Kgs 25:25 k).
40:16 l Gedaliah’s response betrayed his naiveté and the lack of trust in advisers that infected the whole chaotic situation.
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