Jeremiah 40: Group Study Handout

How to use: read Jeremiah 40 aloud together, then take the questions in order. One page is enough for an evening.

Overview

After Nebuzaradan released Jeremiah from chains at Ramah, he spoke about the punishment Yahweh had brought upon Jerusalem (vv. 1-3). The captain of the guard offered Jeremiah a choice: he could go to Babylon or stay in the land (vv.

Key verse

“As for me, behold, I will dwell at Mizpah, to stand before the Chaldeans who will come to us; but you, gather wine and summer fruits and oil, and put them in your vessels, and dwell in your cities that you have taken.”
Jeremiah 40:10 (WEB)

Outline

Jeremiah 40:1–3 Jeremiah's Release from Custody
Jeremiah 40:4–5 Choice Given to Jeremiah
Jeremiah 40:6 Jeremiah Joins Gedaliah
Jeremiah 40:7–10 Gedaliah Appointed Governor
Jeremiah 40:11–12 Jews Return to Judah
Jeremiah 40:13–15 Warning of a Threat
Jeremiah 40:16 Gedaliah's Rejection of Violence

Discussion questions

In v4, what choice does Nebuzaradan give Jeremiah about where to go?
What does Gedaliah assure the people in vv. 9-10 to encourage them?
Gedaliah's response to Johanan in v16 shows what about his view of Ishmael?
In v15, Johanan's secretive warning suggests what about the political tensions in Judah?
When have you needed to trust someone despite warnings, like Gedaliah did with Ishmael?

Go deeper

Passages that echo Jeremiah 40: Jeremiah 41, Jeremiah 39, 2 Kings 25.

Before next time: read Jeremiah 41.