The Book of the Prophet Jeremiah
Jeremiah 41
Chapter XLI · Vol. III, pp. 1282–1283
1 Ishmael, having treacherously killed Gedaliah and others, purposeth with the rest to flee unto the Ammonites. 11 Johanan recovereth the captives, and mindeth to flee into Egypt.
1 Now it came to pass in the aseventh1 month, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, bof the seed royal, and cthe princes of the king, even ten2 men, with him, came unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, to Mizpah; and there they did deat bread3 together in Mizpah.
a Zec.7.5;8.19. 2 Ki.25.25. ch.40.6,8.
1 This was in our month of October, and three months after the taking of the city. In commemoration of the murder of Gedaliah here recorded, the fast of the seventh month was instituted and observed by the Jews after the captivity.—I.
b Pr.13.10. Ge.37.3. 1 Sa.18.8. Da.1.3.
c ch.36.12,21;38.4.
2 These ten men, who had been chief officers of the state under Zedekiah, no doubt had with them a considerable number of followers, who would aid them in their work of destruction.—I.
3 This was the same as making a solemn covenant, for he who ate bread with another was ever reputed a friend. Gedaliah's unsuspecting generosity aggravated the baseness of Ishmael's conduct.—I.
2 Then arose Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and the ten men that were with him, and esmote Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, with the sword, and slew him, whom the king of Babylon had made governor over the land.
e 2 Ki.25.25. La.1.2.
3 Ishmael also slew gall the Jews that were with him, even with Gedaliah at Mizpah, and the Chaldeans that were found there, and the men of war.
4 And it came to pass, the second day after he had slain Gedaliah, and no man hknew it,4
h 1 Sa.27.11.
4 The public ignorance concerning the murder will not be surprising, when the depopulated condition of the city and country is considered.—C.
5 That there came certain from iShechem, from jShiloh, and from kSamaria, even fourscore men, having their beards shaven, and their clothes rent, and having cut5 themselves, with offeringsl and incense in their hand, to bring them to the 6house7 of the LORD.
i Ju.9.1. 1 Ki.12.1,20. Jos.24.32.
j Jos.18.1. Ju.18.31. Ps.78.60. ch.7.12,14.
k 2 Sa.10.4. 1 Ki.16.24,29. Le.19.27,28. De.14.1. Is.15.2.
5 See note on ch.16.6.—C.
6 Probably some altar built by Gedaliah, as 1 Sa.7.7,9. Ps.102.14.
7 That is, to the place where the temple formerly stood, which was used for religious service. See Ezr.3.3,10.—C.
6 And Ishmael the son of Nethaniah went forth from Mizpah to meet them, 8weeping9 all along as he went: and it came to pass, as he met them, he said unto them, Come to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam.
7 And it was so, when they came into the midst of the city, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah nslew them, and cast them into the midst of the pit, he, and the men that were with him.
n Ro.3.15,16. Pr.1.16;4.16. Ps.55.23.
8 But ten men were found among them that said unto Ishmael, Slay us not; for owe have treasures1 in the field, of wheat, and of barley, and of oil,2 and of honey. So he forbare,3 and slew them not among their brethren.
A.M. cir. 3416. B.C. cir. 588.
o Job 2.4. Pr.13.8. Mat.6.25. ch.40.7,13.
1 In many eastern countries, where the soil is very dry, the granaries are pits sunk in the earth, being carefully constructed for the exclusion of vermin. They are still common in Barbary, at Aleppo, &c. In the Holy Land they are still found at Joppa, Ramah, &c.—C.
2 The modern Greeks do not keep their oil in cellars, but generally in large jars sunk in the earth; and it is probable a similar custom prevailed among the Jews.—C.
3 In hopes of obtaining their treasures.
9 Now the pit wherein Ishmael had cast all the dead bodies of the men, whom he had slain because of4 Gedaliah, was it which pAsa5 the king had made for fear of Baasha king of Israel: and Ishmael the son of Nethaniah filled it with them that were slain.
4 Or, near, ver.3,7. Heb. by the hand or side of, 1 Sa.19.3.
p 1 Ki.15.22. 2 Ch.16.6. Is.22.9.
5 This was a tank or reservoir for rain-water, which Asa made for supplying the inhabitants and the garrison (1 Ki.15.22), when he had demolished Ramah and built Geba and Mizpah with the materials as cities of defence against Baasha.—C.
10 Then Ishmael carried away captive qall the residue of the people that were in Mizpah, even the king's daughters, and all the people that remained in Mizpah, whom Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard had committed to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam: and Ishmael the son of Nethaniah carried them away captive, and departed rto go over to the Ammonites.6
q 2 Ch.16.6. ch.40.11,12;38.23;39.6;43.5,6.
r ch.40.14. Ne.6.17,18; 2.10,19. Ac.20.29,30.
6 How is this to be reconciled with the statement (ch.39.10) which describes the remnant as 'the poor of the people which had nothing?' By the probability that these were 'the king's daughters' by his concubines; who, not being considered of the royal family, were little valued by the king of Babylon, and whose establishment being broken up, were now, by reason of their more delicate education, poorer than those that were born to poverty.—C.
11 But when sJohanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were with him, heard of all the tevil that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had done,
s ch.40.8; 42.1; 43.2,4,5.
t ver.2,3,7.
12 Then they took all the men, and uwent to fight with Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and found him by the vgreat waters7 that are in Gibeon.8
13 Now it came to pass, that when all the people which were with Ishmael saw Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were with him, xthen they were glad.
x De.32.36. Ps.124.6,7.
14 So all the people that Ishmael had carried away captive from Mizpah cast about,9 and returned, yand went into Johanan the son of Kareah.
9 Cast about. Devised plans—took measures for escaping.—C.
y 1 Co.12.21. Ga.5.1.
15 But Ishmael the son of Nethaniah zescaped from Johanan with eight men, and went to the Ammonites.
z 1 Sa.30.17. Job 21.30.
16 Then took Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were with him, all the remnant of the people whom he had recovered afrom Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, from Mizpah, after that he had slain Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, even mighty men of war,1 and the women, and the children, and bthe eunuchs, whom he had brought again from Gibeon:
17 And they departed, and dwelt in the habitation of cChimham,2 which is by Beth-lehem, to go to enter into Egypt,
c 2 Sa.19.37,38,40, with Eze.46.17.
2 Most probably an estate that had originally belonged to David, and which he had conveyed to Chimham the son of Barzillai, 2 Sa.19.38,40.—C.
18 Because of3 the Chaldeans: for they were afraid4 of them, because Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had slain Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, dwhom the king of Babylon made governor in the land.
3 Heb. from the face of, 1 Sa.30.15.
A.M. cir. 3416. B.C. cir. 588.
4 They were afraid lest the crime of Ishmael should be charged upon the whole remnant of the Jews.—C.
d ch.40.5.
Notes
Reflections.—By the most unexpected and unnatural means God can punish men who have ripened themselves in wickedness. And a righteous God can make the malice, the baseness, the barbarity of the most hardened monsters in iniquity to glorify himself and ruin his enemies. Misery, death, and despair often meet men when, where, and whence, they least expected. And not the laws of God or men, but covetousness, frequently makes sinners to abstain from crimes. The most unnatural criminals may for a time escape punishment from men. And groundless fear, real or pretended, often leads men into ruinous guilt.