Jeremiah40
English Standard Version
1The came to the Lord the of the had let him , when he him in along the of and who were being to .
2The of the and to him, The Lord your against .
3The Lord has brought it , and has he . you against the Lord and did his , has come upon you.
4 , , I you the your . it seems to to with me to , , and I will you , but if it to to with me to , do not . , the is you; wherever it and to .
5If you , then to the of , of , the of appointed of the of , and with him the . wherever you it to . So the of the him an allowance of and a , and let him .
6Then to the of , at , and with him the who were in the .
7When the of the in the and their the of had the of in the and had to him , , and , those the of the had been taken into to ,
8they to at — the of , the of , the of , the of the , the of the , they and their .
9 the of , of , to them and their , , Do be to the . in the and the of , and it shall be with you.
10As for , I will at , to you the will to us. But as for you, and and , and them in your , and in your you have .
11 , when the were in and among the and in and in the of had a in and had the of , of , as them,
12then the the to they had been and to the of , to at . And they and in .
13Now the of and the of the in the to at
14and to him, Do the of the has the of to your ? But the of would them.
15Then the of to at , let me and the of , and will it. should he your , so that the who are about you would be , and the of would ?
16But the of to the of , You shall , you are of .
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Jeremiah 40.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Jeremiah is directed to go to Gedaliah. (1-6). A conspiracy against Gedaliah. (7-16).
vv1-6
The captain of the guard seems to glory that he had been God's instrument to fulfil, what Jeremiah had been God's messenger to foretell. Many can see God's justice and truth with regard to others, who are heedless and blind as to themselves and their own sins. But, sooner or later, all men shall be made sensible that their sin is the cause of all their miseries. Jeremiah has leave to dispose of himself; but is advised to go to Gedaliah, governor of the land under the king of Babylon. It is doubtful whether Jeremiah acted right in this decision. But those who desire the salvation of sinners, and the good of the church, are apt to expect better times from slight appearances, and they will prefer the hope of being useful, to the most secure situations without it.
vv7-16
Jeremiah had never in his prophecies spoken of any good days for the Jews, to come immediately after the captivity; yet Providence seemed to encourage such an expectation. But how soon is this hopeful prospect blighted! When God begins a judgment, he will complete it. While pride, ambition, or revenge, bears rule in the heart, men will form new projects, and be restless in mischief, which commonly ends in their own ruin. Who would have thought, that after the destruction of Jerusalem, rebellion would so soon have sprung up? There can be no thorough change but what grace makes. And if the miserable, who are kept in everlasting chains for the judgment of the great day, were again permitted to come on earth, the sin and evil of their nature would be unchanged. Lord, give us new hearts, and that new mind in which the new birth consists, since thou hast said we cannot without it see thy heavenly kingdom.
Key Words
דָּבָר: a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
אֲשֶׁר: who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.
יִרְמְיָה: Jirmejah, the name of eight or nine Israelites
מִן: properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
אַחַר: properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)
נְבוּזַרְאֲדָן: Nebuzaradan, a Babylonian general
רַב: abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality)
טַבָּח: properly, a butcher; hence, a lifeguardsman (because he was acting as an executioner); also a cook (usually slaughtering the animal for food)
שָׁלַח: to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)
רָמָה: Ramah, the name of four places in Palestine
Cross References
Jeremiah 40Direct parallel account of Nebuchadnezzar making Gedaliah governor over the remnant in Judah.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The historical background of Nebuchadnezzar's command to Nebuzaradan regarding Jeremiah's release.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Identical wording ('look well unto him') from Nebuchadnezzar's original charge regarding Jeremiah.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallel record of the captains of the forces coming to Gedaliah at Mizpah.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Ramah as the gathering point for the captives, echoing Rachel weeping for her children.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The fulfillment of Moses' warning that heathens would recognize Israel's ruin was due to sin.
Supported by JFB
Ahikam (Gedaliah's father) had previously protected Jeremiah from being put to death.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The tragic fulfillment of Johanan's warning: Ishmael assassinates Gedaliah, scattering the remnant.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Historical background on Mizpah, which was built or fortified by King Asa.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Identifies the 'poor of the land' left behind to cultivate vineyards and fields.
Supported by John Calvin, JFB
Johanan and the captains who warned Gedaliah later pursue Ishmael after the murder.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Details Ishmael's conspiracy, royal lineage, and the actual murder of Gedaliah.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Gedaliah's counsel to serve Babylon echoes Jeremiah's repeated prophetic warnings to submit.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Prophetic background on the hostility and cruelty of the Ammonites against Israel.
Supported by JFB