Jeremiah 40

There is much of historical and political history here concerning dispersal of Judeans and fraternal warfare as well. The many names are largely unknown to me, but there they are and one could consult a good commentary to find out more.

The overture from Nebuzaradan to Jeremiah is curious. Is this overlord of the executioners a secret admirer of the prophet? He almost seems to speak Jeremiah's language, but I will have to wait to see if more is revealed. Based on the rough number of occurrences, I doubt we will hear any more of him. A derivative of נשא, lift up, is used for the idea of gift, a donation, or handout, or special interest gift from N to J. I have used ration card and care package somewhat anachronistically, remembering the treatment of citizens after the second war in the last century.

Jeremiah 40		Fn		Min	Max	Syll
הַדָּבָ֞ר אֲשֶׁר־הָיָ֤ה אֶֽל־יִרְמְיָ֙הוּ֙ מֵאֵ֣ת יְהוָ֔ה אַחַ֣ר ׀ שַׁלַּ֣ח אֹת֗וֹ נְבוּזַרְאֲדָ֛ן רַב־טַבָּחִ֖ים מִן־הָֽרָמָ֑ה בְּקַחְתּ֣וֹ אֹת֗וֹ וְהֽוּא־אָס֤וּר בָּֽאזִקִּים֙ בְּת֨וֹךְ כָּל־גָּל֤וּת יְרוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙ וִֽיהוּדָ֔ה הַמֻּגְלִ֖ים בָּבֶֽלָה	1		The word that happened to Jeremiah from Yahweh, after Nebuzaradan, the overlord of the slaughterers, set him loose from Ramah, when he took him and he was bound in chains, in the midst of all the exiled of Jerusalem and Judah, the exiles going toward Babel.	3d	4C	35 30
וַיִּקַּ֥ח רַב־טַבָּחִ֖ים לְיִרְמְיָ֑הוּ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלָ֔יו יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֗יךָ דִּבֶּר֙ אֶת־הָרָעָ֣ה הַזֹּ֔את אֶל־הַמָּק֖וֹם הַזֶּֽה	2		And the overlord of the slaughterers took Jeremiah, and said to him, Yahweh your God has spoken this evil to this place.	3e	4B	12 25
וַיָּבֵ֥א וַיַּ֛עַשׂ יְהוָ֖ה כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר דִּבֵּ֑ר כִּֽי־חֲטָאתֶ֤ם לַֽיהוָה֙ וְלֹֽא־שְׁמַעְתֶּ֣ם בְּקוֹל֔וֹ וְהָיָ֥ה לָכֶ֖ם הַדָּבָ֥ר הַזֶּֽה	3		And Yahweh came and did as he had spoken, because you sinned against Yahweh, and you did not hear with his voice, so it is for yourselves, this word.	3d	4C	13 23
וְעַתָּ֞ה הִנֵּ֧ה פִתַּחְתִּ֣יךָ הַיּ֗וֹם מִֽן־הָאזִקִּים֮ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עַל־יָדֶךָ֒ אִם־ט֨וֹב בְּעֵינֶ֜יךָ לָב֧וֹא אִתִּ֣י בָבֶ֗ל בֹּ֚א וְאָשִׂ֤ים אֶת־עֵינִי֙ עָלֶ֔יךָ וְאִם־רַ֧ע בְּעֵינֶ֛יךָ לָבֽוֹא־אִתִּ֥י בָבֶ֖ל חֲדָ֑ל רְאֵה֙ כָּל־הָאָ֣רֶץ לְפָנֶ֔יךָ אֶל־ט֨וֹב וְאֶל־הַיָּשָׁ֧ר בְּעֵינֶ֛יךָ לָלֶ֥כֶת שָׁ֖מָּה לֵֽךְ	4		And now behold, I open you today from the chains that are on your hand. If it is good in your eyes to come with me to Babel, come, and I will set my eyes over you, or if it is evil in your eyes to come with me to Babel, refrain. See, all the earth is before you, to what is good or to what is upright in your eyes, for you to walk there.	3c	4C	58 27
וְעוֹדֶ֣נּוּ לֹֽא־יָשׁ֗וּב וְשֻׁ֡בָה אֶל־גְּדַלְיָ֣ה בֶן־אֲחִיקָ֣ם בֶּן־שָׁפָ֡ן אֲשֶׁר֩ הִפְקִ֨יד מֶֽלֶךְ־בָּבֶ֜ל בְּעָרֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֗ה וְשֵׁ֤ב אִתּוֹ֙ בְּת֣וֹךְ הָעָ֔ם א֠וֹ אֶל־כָּל־הַיָּשָׁ֧ר בְּעֵינֶ֛יךָ לָלֶ֖כֶת לֵ֑ךְ וַיִּתֶּן־ל֧וֹ רַב־טַבָּחִ֛ים אֲרֻחָ֥ה וּמַשְׂאֵ֖ת וַֽיְשַׁלְּחֵֽהוּ	5		And while he had not turned, ... Or turn to Gedoliah, child of Ahiqam, child of Shaphan, to whom the king of Babel has entrusted the cities of Judah, and settle with him in the midst of the people, or to anywhere that is upright in your eyes for you to walk. And to him, the overlord of the slaughterers gave a ration card, and a care package, and set him loose.	3c	4C	56 18
וַיָּבֹ֧א יִרְמְיָ֛הוּ אֶל־גְּדַלְיָ֥ה בֶן־אֲחִיקָ֖ם הַמִּצְפָּ֑תָה וַיֵּ֤שֶׁב אִתּוֹ֙ בְּת֣וֹךְ הָעָ֔ם הַנִּשְׁאָרִ֖ים בָּאָֽרֶץ	6		And Jeremiah came to Gedoliah, child of Ahiqam, to Mizpah, and settled with him in the midst of the people, the residue in the land.	3c	4C	19 16
וַיִּשְׁמְעוּ֩ כָל־שָׂרֵ֨י הַחֲיָלִ֜ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר בַּשָּׂדֶ֗ה הֵ֚מָּה וְאַנְשֵׁיהֶ֔ם כִּֽי־הִפְקִ֧יד מֶֽלֶךְ־בָּבֶ֛ל אֶת־גְּדַלְיָ֥הוּ בֶן־אֲחִיקָ֖ם בָּאָ֑רֶץ וְכִ֣י ׀ הִפְקִ֣יד אִתּ֗וֹ אֲנָשִׁ֤ים וְנָשִׁים֙ וָטָ֔ף וּמִדַּלַּ֣ת הָאָ֔רֶץ מֵאֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹֽא־הָגְל֖וּ בָּבֶֽלָה	7		When all the chiefs of the forces who were in the field, they and their soldiers, heard that the king of Babel had entrusted Gedoliah, child of Ahiqam, in the land, and that he had entrusted him with men and women and little ones, and from the weak of the land, from those not exiled toward Babel,	3c	4C	41 30
וַיָּבֹ֥אוּ אֶל־גְּדַלְיָ֖ה הַמִּצְפָּ֑תָה וְיִשְׁמָעֵ֣אל בֶּן־נְתַנְיָ֡הוּ וְיוֹחָנָ֣ן וְיוֹנָתָ֣ן בְּנֵֽי־קָ֠רֵחַ וּשְׂרָיָ֨ה בֶן־תַּנְחֻ֜מֶת וּבְנֵ֣י ׀ עֵיפַ֣י הַנְּטֹפָתִ֗י וִֽיזַנְיָ֙הוּ֙ בֶּן־הַמַּ֣עֲכָתִ֔י הֵ֖מָּה וְאַנְשֵׁיהֶֽם	8		Then they came to Gedoliah, to Mizpah, both Yishmaeil, child of Nathaniah, and Jochanan and Yonathan, the children of Qareiach, and Saraiah, child of Tanhumeth, and the children of Ephai, the Netophatite, Yezeniah, child of the Maakatite, they and their soldiers.	3e	4B	11 53
וַיִּשָּׁבַ֨ע לָהֶ֜ם גְּדַלְיָ֨הוּ בֶן־אֲחִיקָ֤ם בֶּן־שָׁפָן֙ וּלְאַנְשֵׁיהֶ֣ם לֵאמֹ֔ר אַל־תִּֽירְא֖וּ מֵעֲב֣וֹד הַכַּשְׂדִּ֑ים שְׁב֣וּ בָאָ֗רֶץ וְעִבְד֛וּ אֶת־מֶ֥לֶךְ בָּבֶ֖ל וְיִיטַ֥ב לָכֶֽם	9		And to them Gedoliah, child of Ahiqam, child of Shaphan, and to their soldiers, swore to say, Do not fear service to the Chaldeans. Settle in the land, and serve the king of Babel, and it will be good for you.	3d	4C	32 18
וַאֲנִ֗י הִנְנִ֤י יֹשֵׁב֙ בַּמִּצְפָּ֔ה לַֽעֲמֹד֙ לִפְנֵ֣י הַכַּשְׂדִּ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר יָבֹ֖אוּ אֵלֵ֑ינוּ וְאַתֶּ֡ם אִסְפוּ֩ יַ֨יִן וְקַ֜יִץ וְשֶׁ֗מֶן וְשִׂ֙מוּ֙ בִּכְלֵיכֶ֔ם וּשְׁב֖וּ בְּעָרֵיכֶ֥ם אֲשֶׁר־תְּפַשְׂתֶּֽם	10		As for me, note me well. I will settle in Mizpah to stand before the Chaldeans that will come to us, but you, gather wine and summer fruits and oil, and put in your vessels, and settle in your cities that you have occupied.	3e	4C	25 28
וְגַ֣ם כָּֽל־הַיְּהוּדִ֡ים אֲשֶׁר־בְּמוֹאָ֣ב ׀ וּבִבְנֵֽי־עַמּ֨וֹן וּבֶאֱד֜וֹם וַאֲשֶׁ֤ר בְּכָל־הָֽאֲרָצוֹת֙ שָֽׁמְע֔וּ כִּֽי־נָתַ֧ן מֶֽלֶךְ־בָּבֶ֛ל שְׁאֵרִ֖ית לִֽיהוּדָ֑ה וְכִי֙ הִפְקִ֣יד עֲלֵיהֶ֔ם אֶת־גְּדַלְיָ֖הוּ בֶּן־אֲחִיקָ֥ם בֶּן־שָׁפָֽן	11		And even all the Judeans that were in Moab, and among the children of Amon, and in Edom, and wherever in all the lands, heard that the king of Babel had permitted a residue of Judah, and that he had entrusted over them Gedoliah, child of Ahiqam, child of Shaphan,	3c	4C	42 19
וַיָּשֻׁ֣בוּ כָל־הַיְּהוּדִ֗ים מִכָּל־הַמְּקֹמוֹת֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר נִדְּחוּ־שָׁ֔ם וַיָּבֹ֧אוּ אֶֽרֶץ־יְהוּדָ֛ה אֶל־גְּדַלְיָ֖הוּ הַמִּצְפָּ֑תָה וַיַּאַסְפ֛וּ יַ֥יִן וָקַ֖יִץ הַרְבֵּ֥ה מְאֹֽד	12		then all the Judeans returned from all the places where they were banished, and they entered the land of Judah to Gedoliah, to Mizpah, and gathered wine and very much summer fruit.	3c	4B	35 11
וְיֽוֹחָנָן֙ בֶּן־קָרֵ֔חַ וְכָל־שָׂרֵ֥י הַחֲיָלִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר בַּשָּׂדֶ֑ה בָּ֥אוּ אֶל־גְּדַלְיָ֖הוּ הַמִּצְפָּֽתָה	13		And Jochanan, child of Qareiach, and the chiefs of the forces that were in the field, came to Gedoliah, to Mizpah.	3e	4B	21 11
וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ אֵלָ֗יו הֲיָדֹ֤עַ תֵּדַע֙ כִּ֞י בַּעֲלִ֣יס ׀ מֶ֣לֶךְ בְּנֵֽי־עַמּ֗וֹן שָׁלַח֙ אֶת־יִשְׁמָעֵ֣אל בֶּן־נְתַנְיָ֔ה לְהַכֹּתְךָ֖ נָ֑פֶשׁ וְלֹא־הֶאֱמִ֣ין לָהֶ֔ם גְּדַלְיָ֖הוּ בֶּן־אֲחִיקָֽם	14		And they said to him, Did you know that Baalis, king of the children of Amon, has sent out Yishmaeil, child of Nathaniah, for him to strike you? But Gedoliah, child of Ahiqam, did not believe them.	3e	4C	37 14
וְיוֹחָנָ֣ן בֶּן־קָרֵ֡חַ אָמַ֣ר אֶל־גְּדַלְיָהוּ֩ בַסֵּ֨תֶר בַּמִּצְפָּ֜ה לֵאמֹ֗ר אֵ֤לְכָה נָּא֙ וְאַכֶּה֙ אֶת־יִשְׁמָעֵ֣אל בֶּן־נְתַנְיָ֔ה וְאִ֖ישׁ לֹ֣א יֵדָ֑ע לָ֧מָּה יַכֶּ֣כָּה נֶּ֗פֶשׁ וְנָפֹ֙צוּ֙ כָּל־יְהוּדָ֔ה הַנִּקְבָּצִ֣ים אֵלֶ֔יךָ וְאָבְדָ֖ה שְׁאֵרִ֥ית יְהוּדָֽה	15		Jochanan, child of Qareiach, said to Gedoliah in secret in Mizpah, saying, Let me go, please, and I will strike Yishmaeil, child of Nathaniah, and no-one will know. Why should he strike you and smash all Judah who are collected to you, and the residue of Judah perish.	3c	4C	43 31
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר גְּדַלְיָ֤הוּ בֶן־אֲחִיקָם֙ אֶל־יוֹחָנָ֣ן בֶּן־קָרֵ֔חַ אַֽל־תַּעֲשֵׂ֖ה אֶת־הַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֑ה כִּֽי־שֶׁ֛קֶר אַתָּ֥ה דֹבֵ֖ר אֶל־יִשְׁמָעֵֽאל	16		And Gedoliah, child of Ahiqam, said to Jochanan, child of Qareiach, You will not do this thing, for you are speaking falsehood of Yishmaeil.	3d	4C	29 11