Keraia
Jeremiah 40

Jeremiah 40:12

Gedaliah Governs in Judah · Jeremiah 40:7–12
Read Jeremiah 40

Translations

Modern
…they all returned from all the places to which they had been banished and came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah at Mizpah. And they gathered an abundance of wine grapes and summer fruit.
Traditional
Even all the Jews returned out of all places whither they were driven, and came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah, unto Mizpah, and gathered wine and summer fruits very much.
Literal
And all the Jews from all of the places to which they had been driven there returned, and they came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah at Mizpah, and they gathered wine and summer fruit in great abundance.
Latin
…reversi sunt, inquam, omnes Judæi de universis locis ad quæ profugerant, et venerunt in terram Juda ad Godoliam in Masphath, et collegerunt vinum et messem multam nimis.

Original

Hebrew
English
…they all returned from all the places to which they had been banished and came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah at Mizpah. And they gathered an abundance of wine grapes and summer fruit.

Notes

Jeremiah 40:11–12

The new governor's promises encouraged the people of Judah, who had fled to nearby countries, to return to their land. The mention of a great harvest shows that the Babylonians did not destroy the crops when they attacked Jerusalem.

Jeremiah 40:7–12

The new government was organized under Gedaliah, who came from a high-ranking family. His grandfather, Shaphan, had given King Josiah the scroll of the law that started a reformation (2 Kings 22:10). Gedaliah’s father, Ahikam, held a high position among Jehoiakim’s officials and saved Jeremiah’s life (Jeremiah 26:24).

Theme notes and profiles

Baruch Jeremiah

Events

Parallels

2 Kings 25:22–24

People

Gedaliah: Appointed governor of Judah by Babylonians; assassinated by Ishmael Judah: Israelite tribe, kingdom, and province

Places

Mizpah: A city in Benjamin; a place of gathering and judgment

Glossary

Ahikam Book of Jeremiah Gedaliah Johanan Kareah Nethaniah

Topics

Ahikam: Son of Shaphan Canaan: Land of Fruits Ishmael: Assassinated Gedaliah, Governor of Judah Under King of Babylon, and Takes Many Jews Captive Israel, Prophecies Concerning: The Poorest of the People Were Left to Occupy the Country Mizpah: Temporarily the Capitol of the Country After the People of Israel had been Carried Away Captive Prophecies Concerning Israel: Gedaliah's Adminstration Was Favorable to the People Summer: Fruits of Wine: Made from Grapes