As for me, behold, I will dwell at Mizpah to serve the Chaldeans, which will come unto us: but ye, gather ye wine, and summer fruits, and oil, and put [them] in your vessels, and dwell in your cities that ye have taken.
As for me, behold, I will dwell {H3427} at Mizpah {H4709} to serve {H5975}{H6440} the Chaldeans {H3778}, which will come {H935} unto us: but ye, gather {H622} ye wine {H3196}, and summer fruits {H7019}, and oil {H8081}, and put {H7760} them in your vessels {H3627}, and dwell {H3427} in your cities {H5892} that ye have taken {H8610}.
As for me, I will live in Mitzpah and be responsible to the Kasdim who come to us. But you - harvest wine, summer fruits and olive oil; put them in your containers; and live in your cities that you have taken over."
As for me, I will stay in Mizpah to represent you before the Chaldeans who come to us. As for you, gather wine grapes, summer fruit, and oil, place them in your storage jars, and live in the cities you have taken.”
As for me, behold, I will dwell at Mizpah, to stand before the Chaldeans that shall come unto us: but ye, gather ye wine and summer fruits and oil, and put them in your vessels, and dwell in your cities that ye have taken.
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Jeremiah 40:12
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. -
Deuteronomy 1:38
[But] Joshua the son of Nun, which standeth before thee, he shall go in thither: encourage him: for he shall cause Israel to inherit it. -
Jeremiah 35:19
Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Jonadab the son of Rechab shall not want a man to stand before me for ever. -
2 Samuel 16:1
¶ And when David was a little past the top [of the hill], behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of asses saddled, and upon them two hundred [loaves] of bread, and an hundred bunches of raisins, and an hundred of summer fruits, and a bottle of wine. -
Jeremiah 39:10
But Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left of the poor of the people, which had nothing, in the land of Judah, and gave them vineyards and fields at the same time. -
Isaiah 16:9
Therefore I will bewail with the weeping of Jazer the vine of Sibmah: I will water thee with my tears, O Heshbon, and Elealeh: for the shouting for thy summer fruits and for thy harvest is fallen. -
Jeremiah 48:32
O vine of Sibmah, I will weep for thee with the weeping of Jazer: thy plants are gone over the sea, they reach [even] to the sea of Jazer: the spoiler is fallen upon thy summer fruits and upon thy vintage.
Jeremiah 40:10 marks a pivotal moment in the aftermath of Jerusalem's fall to the Babylonians. Following the destruction of the city and the temple, and the initial wave of deportations, the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar appointed Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam, as governor over the remaining Jewish population in Judah. This verse records Gedaliah's instructions to the scattered Jewish military leaders and the people who were returning to the land.
Historical and Cultural Context
The setting for this verse is the desolate land of Judah, specifically after the siege and capture of Jerusalem by the Chaldeans (Babylonians) in 586 BC. Many prominent citizens had been exiled to Babylon, but a remnant, primarily the poor and those who had surrendered, were left behind. Mizpah, a town north of Jerusalem, became the new administrative center under Gedaliah. His appointment was a gesture from Babylon, aiming to stabilize the region and ensure tribute. The land, though devastated, still held the promise of agricultural produce, which was crucial for the survival of the remaining community.
Key Themes and Messages
Linguistic Insights
The Hebrew term for "serve" (עָבַד - 'avad) used here for Gedaliah's commitment to the Chaldeans implies both servitude and general work or labor. It denotes a practical engagement with the new overlords, not necessarily willing allegiance, but a necessary function to maintain peace and order. The mention of "wine, summer fruits, and oil" highlights the staple agricultural products of ancient Israel, underscoring the return to basic sustenance and economic activity.
Related Scriptures
This verse directly follows Gedaliah's appointment and his initial assurances to the people (Jeremiah 40:7). The counsel to gather produce and settle in their cities contrasts sharply with the earlier prophecies of desolation but offers a glimpse of the remnant's immediate future. The tragic end of Gedaliah's governorship is detailed in Jeremiah 41, underscoring the instability of this period.
Practical Application
Jeremiah 40:10 offers timeless lessons on resilience and adapting to challenging circumstances. Even after profound loss and national devastation, there is a call to engage with life, to cultivate what remains, and to find a way forward under new realities. It speaks to the importance of leadership that seeks stability and encourages productivity, even when operating under foreign rule. For believers, it can be a reminder that even in times of judgment or personal hardship, God often provides a means for survival and a call to responsible living, echoing the principle found in Jeremiah 29:7 to "seek the peace of the city... for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace."