Jeremiah 40:1-6

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

TRAGEDY BEYOND TRAGEDY

Jeremiah 40:1 to Jeremiah 45:5

Chapter s 40-44 are a continuation of the narrative begun in chapter 37 which was interrupted briefly by the oracle to Ebed-melech in Jeremiah 39:15-18. The events take place in two geographical areasJudah (Jeremiah 40:1 to Jeremiah 43:7) and Egypt (Jeremiah 43:8 to Jeremiah 44:30). Chapter 45 serves as an appendix to the entire second division of the Book of Jeremiah (Chapter s 26-45).

The introductory formula at the beginning of Jeremiah 40:1 would lead one to expect a prophetic utterance to follow. The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord. As a matter of fact no oracle or prophecy occurs until Jeremiah 42:9. Some suppose that a prophetic word or prophecy originally followed this introduction and that it has been lost or removed to some other part of the book.[338] Others think that the word includes all the revelations given at various times during the critical period pictured in Chapter s 40-44.[339] Probably, however, the expression the word should be taken in a wider sense, including history as well as prophecy.[340]

[338] Cheyne, op. cit., II, 156.

[339] Laetsch. op. cit. p. 302.

[340] Streane. op. cit., p. 261.

I. EVENTS IN JUDAH Jeremiah 40:1 to Jeremiah 43:7

The events in Judah following the fall of Jerusalem center around the Babylonian appointed Gedaliah, his administration (Jeremiah 40:1-12), his assassination (Jeremiah 40:13 to Jeremiah 41:16) and the aftermath of his death (Jeremiah 41:17 to Jeremiah 43:7). This section contains biographical narrative[341] (Jeremiah 40:1 to Jeremiah 42:6; Jeremiah 43:1-7) and one prose sermon (Jeremiah 42:7-22).

[341] With the exception of Jeremiah 40:1-6, a brief account of the release of Jeremiah, the life of the prophet is not mentioned in Chapter s 40 or 41. The term biographical narrative is still appropriate however in that these Chapter s are the necessary transition to the last chapter of the prophet's life, his forced immigration to Egypt.

A. The Preferential Treatment of Jeremiah 40:1-6

TRANSLATION

(1) The word which came unto Jeremiah from the LORD after Nebuzaradan, the commander of the guard, had let him go from Ramah, when he had taken him bound with chains in the midst of all the captives from Jerusalem and Judah who were being deported to Babylon. (2) And the captain of the guard took Jeremiah and said unto him, the LORD your God spoke all this evil against this place; (3) and the LORD has brought about and accomplished all that He spoke. Because you have sinned against the LORD and you have not obeyed His voice, this thing has happened to you. And now behold, I have set you free this day from the chains which are upon your hands. If it is good in your eyes to come with me to Babylon, come, and I will look after you; but if in your opinion it is not good for you to come to Babylon, then do not come. See, all the land is before you. Go wherever you think it good and proper to go. (5) When he did not turn away, he added, Or return to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan whom the king of Babylon has appointed over the cities of Judah and dwell with him in the midst of the people, or go wherever you think is proper to go. So the commander of the guard gave him provisions, and a present, and released him. (6) And Jeremiah went unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah and dwelled with him in the midst of the people who remained in the land.

COMMENTS

In chapter 39 Jeremiah was freed from prison and committed to the care of Gedaliah. He was taken to his home where he must have remained for some time. Evidently while mingling with the people, Jeremiah was picked up by Babylonian soldiers under orders to fetter the Jews and prepare them for deportation. Perhaps Gedaliah was away from Jerusalem on business for Nebuchadnezzar at the time. In the absence of his protector Jeremiah did not receive any special favor from the soldiers who were in charge of the deportation. When Jerusalem was put to the torch the captives Were removed to Ramah which appears to have been the processing point for deportation to Babylon (Jeremiah 40:1).

Nebuzaradan, the commander of the occupational forces, found Jeremiah among the captives in Ramah. He quickly and apologetically removed the chains from the wrists of the prophet. How embarrassed Nebuzaradan must have been to discover that Jeremiah had been subjected to the indignities of being a captive when Nebuchadnezzar had expressly given orders that he be treated with kindness. This seems to be the first face to face meeting between Jeremiah and this powerful general. Nebuzaradan must have been quite accurately informed about the preaching of Jeremiah. He certainly speaks the very language of the prophet in Jeremiah 40:2-3. Most commentators regard these two verses as later insertion by some pious reader. A heathen could never have spoken in this manner! But is it not possible that this heathen might have heard of the predictions of Jeremiah? Perhaps he was impressed with the way in which these predictions had been so accurately fulfilled. It is, of course, possible that Jeremiah is merely paraphrasing the words of Nebuzaradan and putting his thoughts into language that would be meaningful to an Israelite. At any rate there are several other examples in Scripture of amazingly perceptive language attributed to heathen leaders.[342]

[342] As for example the edicts of Cyrus (Ezra 1:3-4) and Darius (Ezra 6:1-12), of Huram of Tyre (2 Chronicles 2:11-12); Pharaoh Necho at the battle of Megiddo (2 Chronicles 35:21) and Rabshakeh's boast outside the walk of Jerusalem (2 Kings 18:25).

Upon freeing Jeremiah, Nebuzaradan allows the prophet to choose his own course of action. He may either go to Babylon with the other captives or remain in the homeland with the remnant of the people. If he should choose the former alternative, Nebuzaradan promises to personally see to his welfare. NOW while he was not yet gone back, i.e., while he was still in the process of making up his mind, Nebuzaradan suggested that if he should choose to remain in the homeland he should join Gedaliah the newly appointed governor. Jeremiah chose to cast his lot with the humble people who remained in the land. Like Moses before him, he chose to suffer ill treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the prestige and pleasure of a royal court. So Jeremiah was given a supply of food, a present of some kind, and then was sent on his way. The prophet elected to follow the advice of Nebuzaradan and join Gedaliah who had set up his headquarters at Mizpah.

Mizpah is generally identified with Tell en-Nasbeh, seven miles north of Jerusalem on the main road to Shechem. This town had played an important role in the history of Israel. Here Samuel led the nation in a great revival (1 Samuel 7:5); Saul was publicly named king of Israel (1 Samuel 10:17). Excavations have revealed no signs of a destruction of Mizpah in the sixth century B.C. It may be that Mizpah opened its gates to the Babylonians and as a result was made an administrative center by the conquerors.