Study Desk

So Jeremiah returned to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah, and he lived in Judah with the few who were still left in the land.

So they went to see Gedaliah at Mizpah. These included: Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan and Jonathan sons of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth, the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, Jezaniah son of the Maacathite, and all their men.

So he called for Johanan son of Kareah and the other military leaders, and for all the people, from the least to the greatest.

I will be merciful to you by making him kind, so he will let you stay here in your land.'

"This is what the Lord of Heaven's Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘Just as my anger and fury have been poured out on the people of Jerusalem, so they will be poured out on you when you enter Egypt. You will be an object of damnation, horror, cursing, and mockery. And you will never see your homeland again.'

So you can be sure that you will die from war, famine, and disease in Egypt, where you insist on going."

So Johanan and the other military leaders and all the people refused to obey the Lord 's command to stay in Judah.

"Again and again I sent my servants, the prophets, to plead with them, ‘Don't do these horrible things that I hate so much.'

And so my fury boiled over and fell like fire on the towns of Judah and into the streets of Jerusalem, and they are still a desolate ruin today.

Of that remnant who fled to Egypt, hoping someday to return to Judah, there will be no survivors. Even though they long to return home, only a handful will do so."

This is what the Lord of Heaven's Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘You and your wives have said, "We will keep our promises to burn incense and pour out liquid offerings to the Queen of Heaven," and you have proved by your actions that you meant it. So go ahead and carry out your promises and vows to her!'

Oh, that Moab had wings so she could fly away, for her towns will be left empty, with no one living in them.

So now I wail for Moab; yes, I will mourn for Moab. My heart is broken for the men of Kir-hareseth.

Shout war cries against her from every side. Look! She surrenders! Her walls have fallen. It is the Lord 's vengeance, so take vengeance on her. Do to her as she has done to others!

"Send out a call for archers to come to Babylon. Surround the city so none can escape. Do to her as she has done to others, for she has defied the Lord , the Holy One of Israel.

We would have helped her if we could, but nothing can save her now. Let her go; abandon her. Return now to your own land. For her punishment reaches to the heavens; it is so great it cannot be measured.

"Just as Babylon killed the people of Israel and others throughout the world, so must her people be killed.

Then say, ‘ Lord , you have said that you will destroy Babylon so that neither people nor animals will remain here. She will lie empty and abandoned forever.'

So on January 15, during the ninth year of Zedekiah's reign, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon led his entire army against Jerusalem. They surrounded the city and built siege ramps against its walls.

And there at Riblah, in the land of Hamath, the king of Babylon had them all put to death. So the people of Judah were sent into exile from their land.