Jeremiah 40:5

Now while he was not yet gone back, he said, Go back also to 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. WHILE HE WAS NOT YET GONE BACK - parenthetical. When Jeremiah hesitated where it would be best for him to go, Nebuzar-adan proceeded to say, 'Go, then, to Gedalish,' etc. (not as the English version, "Go to back also"), if thou preferrest (as Nebuzaradan inferred from Jeremiah's hesitancy) to stop here rather than go with me. VICTUALS - (, "Bread shall be given him"). REWARD - rather a present. This must have been a seasonable relief to the prophet, who probab...

Jeremiah goes on with the same discourse, that Nebuzar-adan dealt bountifully with him, and permitted him to go wherever he wished. We hence conclude that Nebuchadnezzar was fully convinced of the honesty and uprightness of Jeremiah. For he knew how he was regarded among his own people, and that he might rouse great disturbances, except he was upright and quiet. As, then, Nebuchadnezzar had no doubt respecting’ the character of Jeremiah, he wished to grant him free liberty to choose his own habitation in any city he pleased, or to remove wherever it seemed good to him. Invitation was given him to go to Babylon, and a promise of favor was added; but it was further permitted to him to remain in his own country. I have said that this was done according to the divine purpose, that the Prophet might give a proof of his religion. For if he had gone to Chaldea, it might have been that the confi...

1-6 The captain of the guard seems to glory that he had been God's instrument to fulfil, what Jeremiah had been God's messenger to foretell. Many can see God's justice and truth with regard to others, who are heedless and blind as to themselves and their own sins. But, sooner or later, all men shall be made sensible that their sin is the cause of all their miseries. Jeremiah has leave to dispose of himself; but is advised to go to Gedaliah, governor of the land under the king of Babylon. It is doubtful whether Jeremiah acted right in this decision. But those who desire the salvation of sinners, and the good of the church, are apt to expect better times from slight appearances, and they will prefer the hope of being useful, to the most secure situations without it....

Verse Jeremiah 40:5. _GO BACK ALSO TO GEDALIAH_] If thou wilt stay in thy own land, thou hadst best put thyself under the protection of thy countryman Gedaliah, whom the King of Babylon has made governor of the land....

NOW WHILE HE WAS NOT YET GONE BACK - Most modern commentators render “And as he yet answered nothing, Return then, he said, to Gedaliah ...” VICTUALS - A ration of food. A REWARD - A present....

EXPOSITION The first of a series of chapters (40-45.) describing Jeremiah's fortunes and ministry after the fall of Jerusalem. JEREMIAH 40:1 The liberation of Jeremiah. JEREMIAH 40:1 THE WORD THAT CAME TO JEREMIAH. The formula seems to announce a prophecy; but no prophecy follows. It is not allowable to suppose, with Keil and others, that "the word" describes the entire body of prophetic utterance in ch. 40-45 (in spite of the fact that Jeremiah 44:1. and 45. have special headings). The use would be unexampled; and a prologue of forty verses (see...

NOW WHILE HE WAS NOT YET GONE BACK, [HE SAID], GO BACK ALSO TO GEDALIAH,.... These words, by different versions, are made difficult to be understood, both, whose words they are, and of whom they are spoken. Jarchi makes them to be words of God, and the sense this, "and by all this he (Jeremiah) had no mind to return; and God said to him, go back to Gedaliah.'' According to the Targum, they are the words of Nebuzaradan, which paraphrases them thus; "if thou wilt not return (that is, with him to Babylon, or rather to Jerusalem, or best to his own native place), or if thou wilt not dwell (that is, in this place), go back to Gedaliah.'' But of whom they are spoken interpreters differ. Some say of Zedekiah, as Cocceius; while he (Zedekiah) does not return, that is, to Jerusalem; which possibly he might, though as yet not determined by the king of Babylon; in the mean while is bid to go to...

III. AFTER THE FALL OF JERUSALEM (40-45) Chapter S 40-41 The Treachery in the Land and the Flight to Egypt _ 1. Jeremiah's choice (Jeremiah 40:1) _ 2. Gedaliah and Ishmael's deed (Jeremiah 40:7; Jeremiah 41:1) 3. Ishmael's further atrocities and retreat (Jeremiah 41:4) Jeremiah 40:1. The opening paragraph of this chapter tells us of the choice which was given to Jeremiah. He was loosed from the prisoner's chains and told by the captain of the guard “If it seems good unto thee to come with me i

JEREMIAH 40-44. The next five Chapter s continue the biography of Jeremiah, including connected events, after the capture of Jerusalem. JEREMIAH 40:1. RELEASE OF JEREMIAH. This paragraph is possibly a later expansion of Jeremiah 39:11 f.; the opening words do not suit what follows, and Nebuzaradan, the Babylonian general, would not speak as in Jeremiah 40:2 f., whilst, according to Jeremiah 39:14, Jeremiah had been given into Gedaliah's charge a month before. Jeremiah, one of a band of captives to be deported to Babylon, was released at Ramah ...

NOW WHILE HE WAS NOT YET GONE BACK. And ere yet he could make reply. GEDALIAH. See note on Jeremiah 26:24, and Compare Jeremiah 39:14. SHAPHAN. See note on 2 Kings 22:3. REWARD. present....