What did Hashem say to Yirmeyah?
Rashi: It is what is written below (42:7).
Rashi citing Eichah Rabah, Pesichah 34: 'Return to Gedalyah.' Hashem told Yirmeyah, either you descend with [the exiles, to Bavel] and I will remain with here, or you remain here, and I will descend with them. Yirmeyah said, if I descend with them - what can I help them? Rather, their King and Creator should descend with them - He can help them greatly!
Why was Yirmeyah in Ramah?
Rashi: He went in exile by himself with them. He saw a group chained by their necks - he entered his neck among them, like it says in Pesikta of Aftarta, Divrei Yirmeyah 1 . You cannot say that Nevuzaradan fettered him, for Nebuchadnetzar commanded not to do anything bad to him (39:12)!
Malbim: Chazal say that he fettered his own hands, like the exiles, to be pained with them. Therefore it says "v'Hu Asur ba'Zikim."
Why was Nevuzaradan in Ramah?
Radak: He remained in Ramah when the rest of Sarei Bavli entered Yerushalayim, for he is not mentioned with them.
What is "ba'Zikim"?
Rashi: It is fettered.
Radak: It is handcuffed.
QUESTIONS ON RASHI
Rashi writes that Hashem told Yirmeyah what is written below (42:7). Why are there more than two Perakim in between?
Rashi: First the Navi teaches [the background] about what Hashem said to him.
Radak: Because it says that Hashem spoke to him when he was in Chatzer ha'Matarah, it teaches that Hashem did not speak to him again until after the entire matter that it tells, after the conquest of Yerushalayim. The verse means, Hashem's word to Yirmeyah - when was this? After Nevuzaradan sent him from Ramah. After the entire matter, it tells about Gedalyah, until the matter finishes.
