Chapter 40

This chapter through 45:5 are titled "After the Fall".

As they are leaving Jerusalem, the Captain of the Guard gives Jeremiah any option he chooses.  He will be treated well if he goes to Babylon, he can go to the new "governor" of Judah - Gedeliah - or he can go home.  Jeremiah goes to Gedeliah.

All those remaining in Judah, and the refugees in Moab and Ammon, return to Judah under Gedeliah.  He urges them to carry on as normal, and serve Babylon, and they will be treated well.  Bands of men who had been outside the city when it was besieged, men who had survived the destruction of towns and villages outside Jerusalem, and indeed roaming bands who had survived all over Israel, along with refugees to Moab and Ammon, all come back to Judah at Mizpah when they hear that Gedeliah is now governor.  These are the core of defense that is left in the country, and it would not have been much.  But the nation did survive.  There was a core capable of making some defense against Baalis and those who would destroy even this tiny remnant of what once was.  I hope we can do the same.

The returning refugees tell Gedeliah that Baalis, King of Ammon, is planning to have Gedeliah killed.  G won't believe it.  The one plotting against G is Ishmael, son of Baalis.  Despite two warnings, Gedeliah still won't believe.