1
Jeremiah 40:1
繁體中文
영문 원문
As what follows is mainly a historical narrative, it seems that the title "The word ..." was appropriate not merely to a prediction of the future, but to an account of the past, if written by a prophet. The Jews regarded history as inspired if written by a seer, and thus their historical books are called "the early prophets."
Ramah - Probably all the prisoners of note were collected at Ramah indiscriminately, and examined there.
Bound in chains - The prisoners were probably fastened together in couples by one hand, and a rope passed down the center to bind them in a long line, and prevent attempts at escape.
5
Jeremiah 40:5
繁體中文
Now while…gone back（他還未回去）——大多數現代譯者將此句譯作「And…nothing（他還未回答甚麼），Return…Gedaliah（他就說：你回去，到基大利那裏去）……」
Victuals（口糧）——指一份食物的配給。
A reward（賞賜）——指一份禮物。
영문 원문
Now while he was not yet gone back - Most modern commentators render "And as he yet answered nothing, Return then, he said, to Gedaliah ..."
Victuals - A ration of food.
A reward - A present.
7
Jeremiah 40:7
繁體中文
男人應是年老體弱的人；女人則是丈夫和保護者已在戰爭中喪命的人（例如 Jeremiah 41:10）。「孩童」一詞包括家中一切身分較低的成員。
영문 원문
The men would be the old and infirm: the women those whose husbands and protectors had perished in the wars (e. g. Jeremiah 41:10). The word children includes all the inferior members of a household.
9
Jeremiah 40:9
繁體中文
「服事迦勒底人」——直譯如旁註，即作他們的臣屬與副官。基大利料想將不時有高級官員從巴比倫來照料王的事務；但無論有何吩咐，都必透過他這首相來執行。
「收藏酒」——耶路撒冷既於第五月（八月）被攻陷，此時應是秋天，樹上必有果子，足以養活稀少的人口過冬。
「佔據」——或作「強佔」。各軍長大概都已強行佔據某處作為總部，基大利便吩咐他們繼續保有。他坦然接受既成的一切局面，視之為重建信任的必要一步。
영문 원문
To serve the Chaldeans - literally, as margin; to be their minister and lieutenant. Gedaliah supposed that officers of high rank would come from time to time from Babylon to look after the king's interests. But whatever was ordered would be done through him, as being the prime minister.
Gather ye wine - As Jerusalem was captured in the fifth month, August, it would now be autumn, and there would be fruit upon the trees, enough to maintain the scanty population during the winter.
Taken - Or, seized. Every captain had probably occupied some place by force as his head quarters, and Gedaliah bids them retain them. He frankly accepts the whole existing state of things, as a necessary step toward re-establishing confidence.
14
Jeremiah 40:14
繁體中文
巴利斯謀害基大利能有何目的，很難說明。他既是西底家的盟友（Jeremiah 27:3），可能因亞希甘家族——大概由於耶利米的勸促——反對過所提議的聯盟（Jeremiah 27），而對他們懷恨。以實瑪利的動機則是出於嫉妒與惡意：他眼看一個始終反對戰爭的臣民，如今取代王室獲得了君王般的權力。
영문 원문
It is difficult to say what object Baalis can have had in murdering Gedaliah. As an ally of Zedekiah Jeremiah 27:3, he may have had a spite against the family of Ahikam for opposing, as most probably they did at Jeremiah's instigation, the league proposed Jeremiah 27. Ishmael's motive was envy and spite at seeing a subject who had always opposed the war now invested with kingly power, in place of the royal family.
由於接下來的內容主要是歷史敘事，可見「耶和華的話……」這樣的標題不僅適用於對將來的預言，也適用於先知所寫的已往事之記載。猶太人認為，先見所寫的歷史也是出於靈感，因此他們的歷史書被稱為「前先知書」。
「拉瑪」——大概所有重要的囚犯都被不分彼此地集合在拉瑪，並在那裡受查問。
「被鎖鏈捆鎖」——囚犯大概兩人一組、以一隻手互相繫在一起，中間還有一條繩索穿過，把他們縛成長長的一列，以防有人企圖逃脫。