Study Desk

The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD after ^(C1)Nebuzaradan captain of the bodyguard had released him from ^(C2)Ramah, when he had taken him bound in ^(C3)chains among all the exiles of Jerusalem and Judah who were being exiled to Babylon.

Now the captain of the bodyguard had taken Jeremiah and said to him, "The ^(C1)LORD your God promised this disaster against this place;

and the LORD has brought it and done just as He promised. Because you people ^(C1)sinned against the LORD and did not listen to His voice, this thing has happened to you.

"But now, behold, I am ^(C1)setting you free today from the chains that are on your hands. If ^(F1)you would prefer to come with me to Babylon, come along, and I will ^(F2)look after you; but if ^(F3)you would prefer not to come with me to Babylon, ^(F4)do not come. Look, the ^(C2)whole land is before you; go wherever it seems good and right for you to go."

As ^(F1)Jeremiah was still not going back, ^(F2)he said, "Go on back then to ^(C1)Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon has ^(C2)appointed over the cities of Judah, and stay with him among the people; or else go anywhere it seems right for you to go." So the captain of the bodyguard gave him a ^(C3)ration and a ^(C4)gift, and let him go.