²⁶ Then all the people, from the youngest to the oldest, and the commanders of the army, left and went to Egypt, for they were afraid of the Chaldeans.^(A)

⁵ When Jeremiah had not yet turned to go, Nebuzaradan said to him,^[a] ‘Return^[b] to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon has appointed over the cities of Judah, and stay with him among the people or go wherever it seems right for you to go.’ So the captain of the guards gave him a ration^(A) and a gift^(B) and released him.