The Watchtower
Jeremiah is released. Jerusalem is destroyed. Now what?
The Babylonians appointed Gedaliah over the land (Jeremiah 40:7). Translations generally add the word “governor” as his title, but this doesn’t appear in the text. We aren’t given a title. He appears to be the representative between the people remaining in Judah and the Babylonians. Jeremiah was given the option of where he wanted to go, and he opted to remain with Gedaliah in the land.
Gedaliah set up shop from the city of Mizpah (מִצְפָּה), located at the northern border of the territory of Benjamin. The name means “watchtower, lookout point”, coming from the verb (צָפָה) meaning “keep watch”. Unfortunately, Gedaliah wasn’t on the lookout as he should have been, with a looming threat over his life that he didn’t perceive.
To Ponder…
- What does it look like for you to be on the lookout? For what do you need to watch out?