Jeremiah 40:9-10

40:9 Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam and grandson of Shaphan, took an oath so as to give them and their troops some assurance of safety. 1  “Do not be afraid to submit to the Babylonians. 2  Settle down in the land and submit to the king of Babylon. Then things will go well for you. 40:10 I for my part will stay at Mizpah to represent you before the Babylonians 3  whenever they come to us. You for your part go ahead and harvest the wine, the dates, the figs, 4  and the olive oil, and store them in jars. Go ahead and settle down in the towns that you have taken over.” 5 

1 tn The words “so as to give them some assurance of safety” are not in the text but are generally understood by all commentators. This would be a case of substitution of cause for effect, the oath, put for the effect, the assurance of safety (NJPS translates directly “reassured them”).

2 tn Heb “Chaldeans.” See the study note on 21:4 for explanation.

3 tn Heb “Chaldeans.” See the study note on 21:4 for explanation.

4 tn Heb “summer fruit.” “Summer fruit” is meaningless to most modern readers; dates and figs are what is involved.

5 tn This plus “Things will go well with you” is in essence the substance of the oath. The pronouns are emphatic, “And I, behold I will stay…and you, you may gather.” The imperatives in the second half of the verse are more a form of permission than of command or advice (cf. NJPS, REB, TEV and compare the usage in 40:4 and the references in the translator’s note there).