Jeremiah 40:1-6

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 (Jeremiah 31:15) by the Babylonian commander, with full liberty of choice as to his future residence; he chose to join Gedaliah (Jeremiah 39:14) at Mizpah (4½ m. NW. of Jerusalem).

Jeremiah 40:5. Omit Now. gone back, with LXX; the Hebrew is strange, and the clause awkward.