More violence faces the remnant in Jerusalem.
The Babylonians set Gedaliah as the king of Judah. He advises his people to settle down and obey the laws of Babylon.
Meanwhile, Jews that rode out the war in neighboring regions (Ammon, Edom, etc...) start returning back to Judah. They even cultivate and harvest the land. Things are looking up for the people of Judah.
However, a troublemaker named Ishmael lives among them. A few Jewish soldiers remain after exile and they advise Gedaliah that the king of the Ammonites sent Ishmael to kill Gedaliah. Sure enough, Ishmael kills Gedaliah and goes on a murderous rampage killing many other people. He even kills many old men bringing grain offerings to the temple, or whatever is left of it by now.
The remnant decide that it is better to leave Judah and head for Egypt. They ask Jeremiah for God's input. God, through Jeremiah, tells them that if they go to Egypt, they will die by the sword, plague, and famine.
This is not what they want to hear and they go to Egypt anyway. Jeremiah actually accompanies them, perhaps he is a captive or he feels he should remain with the people. I am not sure why Jeremiah goes to Egypt after telling them not to.
The people settle down in Egypt and begin serving the local gods. They believe that they Queen of Heaven provided them peace, even in Jerusalem and they will not stop serving this god.
Uh oh. We have been there before. Jeremiah then tells them that Egypt will soon be invaded and nearly all the Jews living in Egypt will be killed. A remnant will return to Judah, but most will die.
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