Nebuzaradan releases Jeremiah at Ramah, giving him the choice to go to Babylon or stay. Jeremiah goes to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, whom Babylon appointed governor at Mizpah. Scattered Judean forces gather to Gedaliah; he urges them to serve the Chaldeans and harvest the land. Johanan warns Gedaliah that Ishmael plots to kill him, but Gedaliah does not believe it.
Read Jeremiah Chapter 40 Summary
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Ramah (also Ramathaim-zophim) was the hometown of Samuel the prophet. He lived here, judged Israel from here, and was buried here. It was a center for the prophets and the school of prophets. Saul first met Samuel here when searching for his father's donkeys.

Mizpah, meaning "watchtower," was a significant location in Israel's history. Jacob and Laban made a covenant here. Samuel gathered Israel here for prayer and they defeated the Philistines. It served as a place of assembly and judgment throughout Israel's early history.
Position in Book
Events before and after Jerusalem's fall, Jeremiah's suffering.
Bible Bites
The Longest Book by Word Count
While Psalms has more chapters, Jeremiah is actually the longest book in the Bible by total word count. The weeping prophet's 52 chapters contain approximately 33,000 words in Hebrew, chronicling Judah's final days before exile.
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