Jeremiah 47
1 The word that came from the Lord to
Jeremiah, after that Nabuzardan the captain of the guard had let him go out of
Rama, when he had taken him in manacles in the midst of the captivity of Juda,
even those who were carried to Babylon.
2 And the chief captain of the guard
took him, and said to him, The Lord thy God has pronounced all these evils
upon this place: 3 and the Lord has
done it; because ye sinned against him, and hearkened not to his voice.
4 Behold, I have loosed thee from the
manacles that were upon thine hands. If it seem good to thee to go with me to
Babylon, then will I set mine eyes upon thee.
5 But if not, depart; return to
Godolias the son of Achicam, the son of Saphan, whom the king of Babylon has
appointed governor in the land of Juda, and dwell with him in the midst of the
people in the land of Juda: to whatsoever places it seems good in thine eyes
to go, do thou even go. And the captain of the guard made him presents, and
let him go. 6 And he came to Godolias
to Massepha, and dwelt in the midst of his people that was left in the land.
7 And all the leaders of the host that
was in the country, they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had
appointed Godolias governor in the land, and they
committed to him the men and their wives, whom
Nabuchodonosor had not removed to Babylon.
8 And there came to Godolias to
Massepha Ismael the son of Nathanias, and Joanan son of Caree, and Saræas the
son of Thanaemeth, and the sons of Jophe the Netophathite, and Ezonias son of
the Mochathite, they and their men.
9 And Godolias swore to them and to
their men, saying, Be not afraid before the children of the Chaldeans: dwell
in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be better for you.
10 And, behold, I dwell in your
presence at Massepha, to stand before the Chaldeans who shall come against
you: and do ye gather grapes, and fruits, and oil, and put
them into your vessels, and dwell in the cities which
ye have obtained possession of.
11 And all the Jews that were in
Moab, and among the children of Ammon, and those
that were in Idumea, and those
that were in all
the rest of the country, heard that the king of
Babylon had granted a remnant to Juda, and that he
had appointed over them Godolias the son of Achicam.
12 And they came to Godolias into the
land of Juda, to Massepha, and gathered grapes, and very much summer fruit,
and oil.
13 And Joanan the son of Caree, and
all the leaders of the host, who were in the fields, came to Godolias to
Massepha, 14 and said to him, Dost
thou indeed know that king Beleissa son of Ammon has sent Ismael to thee to
slay thee? But Godolias believed them not.
15 And Joanan said to Godolias
secretly in Massepha, I will go now and smite Ismael, and let no man know
it; lest he slay thee, and all the Jews that are
gathered to thee be dispersed, and the remnant of Juda perish.
16 But Godolias said to Joanan, Do
not the thing, for thou speakest lies concerning Ismael.