Jeremiah 40:16

Jeremiah 40:1-6. Jeremiah is released and returns to Gedaliah

Du., Co. and Erbt agree in the view that there were different legendary accounts in connexion with Jeremiah's fortunes immediately subsequent to the capture of the city and that this section represents one of them. It is certainly difficult, in the absence of further information, to reconcile satisfactorily Jeremiah 39:11-14 with the present passage. It is, however, possible that, in the absence of his protector Gedaliah from Jerusalem, he was again put in fetters through ignorance of his right to immunity and only set free after reaching Ramah, when the mistake was rectified by the intervention of Gedaliah or otherwise. In any case Jeremiah 40:1 is a later addition, as no utterance from the Lord follows. The captain of the guard's words in Jeremiah 40:2 are obviously unsuited to the speaker, although they are such as a Hebrew writer would put into Nebuzaradan's mouth. Cp. 2 Kings 18:25.

The section may be summarized thus.

Jeremiah 40:1. Jeremiah is taken in chains to Ramah. There Nebuzaradan, after declaring that Jerusalem's fall was a just consequence of the people's sins, gives the prophet his choice between going with him to Babylon, and dwelling with Gedaliah or elsewhere as he may choose. Jeremiah decides on going to Gedaliah at Mizpah.