The Book of the Prophet Jeremiah
Jeremiah 40
Chapter XL · Vol. III, pp. 1281–1282
1 Jeremiah, being set free by Nebuzar-adan, goeth to Gedaliah. 7 The dispersed Jews resort unto him. 13 Johanan, revealing Ishmael's conspiracy, is not believed.
1 The aword1 that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, after that bNebuzar-adan the captain of the guard had let him go from cRamah, when he had taken him, being bound in chains2 among all that were carried away captive of Jerusalem and Judah, which were carried away captive unto Babylon.
a ch.37.6;39.15.
1 The word, that is the prophecy delivered, ch.42.7. This and the four following chapters being historic notes of events in Judea, till the remnant of the Jews fled into Egypt.—C.
b ch.39.11-14.
c Ju.19.10,13. Jos.18.25. ch.31.15.
2 See note * below.
* Or, manacles.——[It does not appear that Nebuzar-adan was at Jerusalem when it was taken; but I think, from ver.13 of the foregoing chapter, he sent to the other chiefs to take care of Jeremiah; or if we suppose that he was at Jerusalem, he might depart after Zedekiah, and having conducted him to Riblah, then return to Ramah, and send for the prophet to be brought to him there, that he might grant him a full release; and it appears that he was conducted there like other captives (Boothroyd).—I.?
2 And the captain of the guard took Jeremiah, and said unto him, dThe LORD thy God hath pronounced this evil upon this place.3
d ch.50.7. De.29.24-28. ch.22.8,9;16.10-13.
3 This place. Not Ramah, where they then were, but Jerusalem; or it may include the entire depopulated country. The fact of God's denunciations he had learned either from the report of the deserters, or, being himself a believer—a thing by no means improbable—he may have learned it from the record that Baruch wrote.—C.
3 Now the LORD hath brought it, and done according as he hath esaid: because ye have sinned against the LORD, and have not obeyed his voice, therefore this thing is come upon you.
e De.29.24,25. Ne.9.28,33. Da.9.11.
4 And now, behold, I loose thee this day from the chains which were4 upon thine hand. If it seem good unto thee to come with me into Babylon, come, and I will look well unto thee:5 but if it seem ill unto thee to come with me into Babylon, forbear: behold, gall the land is before thee: whither it seemeth good and convenient for thee to go, thither go.
5 Now, while he was not yet gone back, he said, Go back also to hGedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon hath made governor over the cities of Judah, and dwell with him among the people; or igo wheresoever it seemeth convenient unto thee to go. So the captain of the guard jgave him victuals and a reward, and let him go.
A.M. cir. 3416. B.C. cir. 588.
h 2 Ki.25.22; 22.12,14. ch.26.24;41.2.
i Ne.2.6. Pr.21.1. Mat.6.33. 1 Pe.3.13.
j Pr.15.16,17. Ge.22.14. ch.52.34. 1 Sa.2.30. ch.15.11. 1 Ti.4.8; 6.8. Ps.58.10,11. Job 22.29.
6 Then went Jeremiah unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, to kMizpah;6 and dwelt with him among the people that were left in the land.
k Jos.18.26;15.38. Ju.20.1. 1 Sa.7.5,6. 1 Ki.15.22.
6 A city originally of Judah, subsequently of Benjamin, about 18 miles south-west of Jerusalem, Jos.15.38, 18.26; a city famous in the Jewish annals, but of which not even a ruin remains to tell where it stood. See Ju.20.1. 1 Sa.vii.;10.17. 1 Ki.15.22. Ne.3.7,15,19. C.——The site of Mizpah has been disputed. It was a city of Benjamin, one of the great gathering places of Israel, a noted sanctuary, and situated, as the name indicates, on a hill. I have reason to believe that the commanding village called Neby Samwil, situated about five miles north-west of Jerusalem, is the true site of Mizpah.—P.
7 Now when all lthe captains of the forces which were in the fields,7 even they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam governor in the land, and had committed unto him men, and women, and children, and of the npoor of the land, of them that were not carried away captive to Babylon;
l ch.39.4. 2 Ki.25.4,22,23.
7 The army had disbanded themselves and scattered through the country, and they now reassemble when the Chaldeans have withdrawn.—C.
n ch.39.10;52.16.
8 Then they came to Gedaliah to oMizpah, peven Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and qJohanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth, and the sons of Ephai the rNetophathite, and Jezaniah the son of a sMaachathite, they and their men.
9 And Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, tsware unto them, and to their men, saying, uFear not to serve the Chaldeans: dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you.
t 2 Ki.25.14. He.6.16. 1 Sa.20.16,17;30.15.
u ch.27.11; 29.7; 38.17-20.
10 As for me, behold, I will dwell at Mizpah, to serve8 the Chaldeans9 which will come unto us: but ye, vgather ye wine, and summer fruits, and oil, and put them in your vessels, and dwell in your cities that ye have taken.
11 Likewise, when all the Jews xthat were in Moab, and among the Ammonites, and in Edom, and that were in all the countries, heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant of Judah, and that he had set over them 1Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan;
x Eze.25.2. ch.24.9; 15.4. Is.16.4. Ob.14.
1 The choice of Gedaliah by Nebuchadnezzar, did it stand alone, would merely prove that he was considered friendly to the Babylonians; but the return of the people on hearing of his appointment proves that his advancement originated from his character for wisdom and integrity.—C.
12 Even yall the Jews returned out of all places whither they were driven, and came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah, unto Mizpah, and gathered wine and summer fruits very much.
y Eze.5.3.
13 Moreover, Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were in the fields, came to Gedaliah to Mizpah,
14 And said unto him, Dost thou certainly know that Baalis the king of the Ammonites hathz sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to slay thee?2 But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam believed them not.3
A.M. cir. 3416. B.C. cir. 588.
z Job 6.14. La.1.2. Zec.1.15. ch.41.2,10.
2 Heb. to strike thee in soul, Nu.35.11. Ho.4.2.
3 This unbelief was just what was to be expected in a man of Gedaliah's character. Himself unconscious of malice or deceit, he cannot imagine it possible in another. The most virtuous are always the least suspicious; and though they may occasionally suffer from misplaced confidence, they enjoy a peace of mind to which conscious guilt and a suspicious temper must always be strangers. The man of a 'sprinkled conscience,' and a 'pure heart,' is untroubled by fear, and dies but once; the guilty and the suspicious are always in dread and death.—C.
15 Then Johanan the son of Kareah spake to Gedaliah in Mizpah secretly, saying, Let me go, I pray thee, and I will slay Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and no man shall know it: wherefore should he slay thee, that all the Jews which are gathered unto thee should be scattered, and the remnant in Judah perish?
Notes
Reflections.—Heathens sometimes honour God and his ministers more than many professors. It will at last appear that God is faithful, and sin ruinous. And all loss sustained for God will be made up in the end. If his servants have hardships when sinners have liberty, they will obtain liberty when sinners shall be in misery.—What honour God puts on the son of Jeremiah's late protector, ch. 26. 24! But short glimmerings of prosperity often introduce fearful strokes of adversity. It is only the deputies and servants of heaven's great Monarch who are secured in complete and lasting protection. O what baseness and barbarity can human minds contrive and perpetrate! Great men have need to be cautious of their own preservation, as well as charitable concerning their neighbours. But of little worth are earthly honours, which but tempt miscreants to murder us.