
Jeremiah 40:1-16
40:1-3 | In another example of how foreigners were more responsive to God’s word than the Lord’s own people. the Babylonian officer Nebuzaradan recognized that the fall of Jerusalem was the result of Judah’s sin (Deut. 29:24, 25)
40:4-6 | The Babylonians gave Jeremiah the choice of going to Babylon or remaining with the poor people in the land of Judah. Life in Babylon would likely have been easier, but Jeremiah chose to serve the struggling remnant that remained in the land. The Babylonians appointed Gedaliah from the family of Shaphan to serve as the governor of Judah. Gedaliah’s family had protected and supported Jeremiah during his ministry (26:24; 36:12).
40:7-12 | Gedaliah gave the same advice to the people as Jeremiah: Dwell in the land and serve the king of Babylon. At this time, submission to Babylon was obedience to the Lord. Even in this time of judgement, God was blessing His people, allowing refugees from various locations to return to the land and to experience a productive harvest (2 Kgs. 25:23, 24).