The Strand Study Bible

JEREMIAH 39:13

JEREMIAH 40:7

1210

13 So Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard sent, and Nebushasban, Rab-saris, and Nergal-sharezer, Rabmag, and all the king of Babylon’s princes; 14 1 Even they sent, and took Jeremiah out of the court of the prison, and committed him unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, that he should carry him home: so he dwelt among the people. PF 15 Now the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah, while he was shut up in the court of the prison, saying, 16 Go and speak to 2 Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring my words upon this city for evil, and not for good; and they shall be accomplished in that day before thee. 17 But I will deliver thee in that day, saith the LORD: and thou shalt not be given into the hand of the men of whom thou art afraid. 18 For I will surely deliver thee, and thou shalt not fall by the sword, but thy life shall be for a prey unto thee: because thou hast put thy trust in me, saith the LORD. READ NEXT - Ezekiel 30:20 - 31:18 Jeremiah 40 Jeremiah is taken and released by the Babylonians (Note - This portion of Jeremiah’s prophecy took place in the 19th year of King Nebuchadnezzar’s reign) Date Written - 586 BC/AM 3414 1 The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, 1 after that Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard had let him go from Ramah, when he had taken him being READ NEXT - Jeremiah 40:1-6 Ebed-melech is personally rewarded by the LORD

bound in chains among all that were carried away captive of Jerusalem and Judah, 3 which were carried away captive unto Babylon. PF Jeremiah is committed to Gedaliah 2 And the captain of the guard took Jeremiah, and said unto him, The LORD thy God hath pronounced this evil upon this place. 3 Now the LORD hath brought it, and done 4 according as he hath said: because ye have sinned against the LORD, and have not obeyed his voice, therefore this thing iscome upon you. 4 And now, behold, 1 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. PF 5 Now while he was not yet gone back, he said, Go back also to 5 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. PF 6 Then went Jeremiah unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah; and dwelt with him among the people that were left in the land. READ NEXT - Lamentations 1-5 Ishmael’s conspiracy against Gedaliah (S/A - II Ki 25:23,24) 7 6 Now when all the captains of the forc- es which were in the fields, even they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam

1. See -

Jere 15:11 2. Jere 38:7-12 3. II Ki 25:3-11 4. Deut 29:23-25

5. II Ki 25:22 6. II Ki 25:23

40:1 All the events and prophecies in Jeremiah 40-44 describe what takes place after the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC. 40:2 Neb’u-zar-a’dan admits that the LORD of the Jews is Jeremiah’s God ( thy God ), not his. Just because you know God’s name doesn’t mean you know God (Isa 45:1-4). Learn to know Him, not just stuff about Him (Acts 19:13-16). Not all who profess God possess God (Mt 7:21-23). It’s going to be an extremely sad day come eternity when people like Neb’u-zar-a’dan come to the realization of how close they really came to knowing Him. Question: What keeps a person from truly knowing God? Ignorance or arrogance? Answer –arrogance ( Rom 1 :18- 32 ). 40:4 The apparent discrepancy of Jeremiah’s release from Jerusalem (Jere 39:11-14) and then again from Ramah ( from the chains which were upon thine hand ) can be easily explained. No doubt, Jeremiah was released in Jerusalem and somehow got caught up among the deportees, where he was shackled and brought to Ramah. Once the captain recognized who Jeremiah was, he let him go. 40:5 Real freedom, the kind that’s hard to imagine ( or go wheresoever it seemeth convenient unto thee to go ), will always be the experience of those who do God’s will first (Mt 6:33). Although this freedom can be delayed momentarily, it is sure to come to those who put God first (Mt 11:28-30, Lk 16:19-22 and Rev 7:13-17).