THE Word that came to El-Yirmeyahu from Yahuah, after that Nevuzar'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 Yerushalayim and Yahudah, which were carried away captive unto Babel.
And the captain of the guard took Yirmeyahu, and said unto him, Yahuah Elohayka has pronounced this evil upon this place.
Now Yahuah has brought it, and done according as he has said: because ye have sinned against Yahuah, and have not obeyed his voice, therefore this thing is come upon you.
And now, behold, I loose you this day from the chains which were upon your hand. If it seem good unto you to come with me into Babel, come; and I will look well unto you: but if it seem ill unto you to come with me into Babel, forbear: behold, all the land is before you: whither it seems good and convenient for you to go, thither go.
Now while he was not yet gone back, he said, Go back also to Gadolyahu the son of Achiyqam the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babel has made governor over the cities of Yahudah, and dwell with him among the people: or go wheresoever it seems convenient unto you to go. So the captain of the guard gave him victuals and a reward, and let him go.
Then went Yirmeyahu unto Gadolyahu the son of Achiyqam to Mitspah; and dwelt with him among the people that were left in the land.
Now when all the captains of the forces which were in the fields, even they and their men, heard that the king of Babel had made Gadolyahu the son of Achiyqam 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 Babel;
Then they came to Gadolyahu to Mitspah, even Yishma`el the son of Nethanyahu, and Yochanon and Yonathan the sons of Qareach, and Serayahu the son of Tanchumeth, and the sons of Ophai the Netophathiy, and Yezanyahu the son of a Ma`akathiy, they and their men.
And Gadolyahu the son of Achiyqam the son of Shaphan swore unto them and to their men, saying, Fear not to serve the Kasdiym: dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babel, and it shall be well with you.
As for me, behold, I will dwell at Mitspah to serve the Kasdiym, 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.
Likewise when all the Yahudiym that were in Mo'av, and among the Ammoniym, and in Edom, and that were in all the countries, heard that the king of Babel had left a remnant of Yahudah, and that he had set over them Gadolyahu the son of Achiyqam the son of Shaphan;
Even all the Yahudiym returned out of all places whither they were driven, and came to the land of Yahudah, to Gadolyahu, unto Mitspah, and gathered wine and summer fruits very much.
Moreover Yochanon the son of Qareach, and all the captains of the forces that were in the fields, came to Gadolyahu to Mitspah,
And said unto him, Do you certainly know that Ba`aliyc the king of the Ammoniym has sent Yishma'el the son of Nethanyahu to slay you? But Gadolyahu the son of Achiyqam believed them not.
Then Yahuchanon the son of Qareach spoke to Gadolyahu in Mitspah secretly, saying, Let me go, I pray you, and I will slay Yishma'el the son of Nethanyahu, and no man shall know it: wherefore should he slay you, that all the Yahudiym which are gathered unto you should be scattered, and the remnant in Yahudah perish?
But Gadolyahu the son of Achiyqam said unto Yochanon the son of Qareach, You shall not do this thing: for you speak falsely of Yishma`el.