Jeremiah Remembered and Rewarded (Jeremiah 40)

Scripture reading – Jeremiah 40

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* Please note that words and phrases in brackets are the author’s amplification.

 As foretold by the prophets, God’s judgment was fulfilled against Judah, and Jerusalem lay in ruins. With the arrest of King Zedekiah and the slaying of his sons (Jeremiah 39:5-7), all was lost. Only a remnant survived the fall of Jerusalem, and Babylon’s army gathered them in chains at Ramah, from which they were taken to Babylon (Jeremiah 40:1). 

Jeremiah wrote of the great lamentation in Ramah (Jeremiah 31:15). Still, the prophetic significance of that place would later be noted by Matthew, who wrote: “Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, ¹⁸In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not” (Matthew 2:17-18).  

Jeremiah Set at Liberty (Jeremiah 40:1-4) 

Despite Nebuchadnezzar’s orders (Jeremiah 39:11-14), Jeremiah somehow found himself among those in chains (Jeremiah 40:1). The captain of the guard, Nebuzaradan (Jeremiah 40:1), intervened and “took Jeremiah, and said unto him, The Lord thy God hath pronounced this evil upon this place” (Jeremiah 40:2). Nebuzaradan knew Jeremiah had warned his people that their sins against the LORD would result in Jerusalem’s destruction (Jeremiah 40:3). 

In an extraordinary act of respect, Nebuzaradan set Jeremiah free and allowed him to go to Babylon in peace under his protection, or to remain in Judah and serve the remnant that would remain in the land (Jeremiah 40:4-5). Jeremiah chose to stay in his homeland with his people (Jeremiah 40:6) and received food and a parting gift from Nebuchadnezzar’s officer (Jeremiah 40:5).

Gedaliah, Governor of Judah (Jeremiah 40:5-16)

Nebuchadnezzar installed a man of Judah named Gedaliah, who was to serve Babylon’s interests and rule Judah as governor (Jeremiah 40:5). Upon hearing that Gedaliah was governor, some of the factions that had fled Judah began returning (Jeremiah 40:7), and among them were five men (Jeremiah 40:8). Among the five was Ishmael, who, according to Jeremiah 41:1, was “of the seed royal” and distant kin of David.

Gedaliah appealed to Ishmael and his companions, encouraging them to lay down their weapons and harvest the land (Jeremiah 40:10). Still, others among the Jews who were scattered among the nations returned to Judah and began rebuilding their lives (Jeremiah 40:11-12).

Some who returned to farming soon learned of a plot to kill Gedaliah. Leaving their fields, they came to the governor and asked, “Dost thou certainly know that Baalis the king of the Ammonites hath sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to slay thee?” (Jeremiah 40:13-14a). Gedaliah, however, refused to believe the report (Jeremiah 40:14b) and dismissed Johanan’s offer to kill Ishmael (Jeremiah 40:15).

Johanan, however, feared that Gedaliah’s death would cause the people to scatter and that “the remnant in Judah [would] perish” (Jeremiah 40:15). Gedaliah, however, failed to foresee the evil and dismissed the men who came to him, who were speaking “falsely of Ishmael” (Jeremiah 40:16). 

Closing thought –

Perhaps a fitting way to conclude this study is to remember that Jeremiah had been a friend to King Zedekiah and to all of Judah. God’s prophet faithfully warned the king and his countrymen that they would perish if they did not accept that the LORD had determined that Babylon would punish Judah for that nation’s sins and failure to obey God’s law and keep His commandments. Instead, the king and the people rejected Jeremiah’s message and would have killed him. Nevertheless, the LORD spared His prophet, and Jeremiah chose to remain in Judah with the remnant of the people. 

Note – The next Bible study on Jeremiah 41 will continue to focus on the plot to assassinate Gedaliah. Tragically, the governor’s failure to discern his friends from his enemies would inevitably cost him his life (Jeremiah 41).

Copyright © 2026 – Travis D. Smith 

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