Jeremiah41
World English Bible · Public Domain
1Now in the seventh month, Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, of the royal offspring and one of the chief officers of the king, and ten men with him, came to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah; and there they ate bread together in Mizpah.
2Then Ishmael the son of Nethaniah arose, and the ten men who were with him, and struck Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan with the sword and killed him, whom the king of Babylon had made governor over the land.
3Ishmael also killed all the Jews who were with Gedaliah at Mizpah, and the Chaldean men of war who were found there.
4The second day after he had killed Gedaliah, and no man knew it,
5men came from Shechem, from Shiloh, and from Samaria, even eighty men, having their beards shaved and their clothes torn, and having cut themselves, with meal offerings and frankincense in their hand, to bring them to Yahweh’s house.
6Ishmael the son of Nethaniah went out from Mizpah to meet them, weeping all along as he went, and as he met them, he said to them, “Come to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam.”
7It was so, when they came into the middle of the city, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah killed them, and cast them into the middle of the pit, he, and the men who were with him.
8But ten men were found among those who said to Ishmael, “Don’t kill us; for we have stores hidden in the field, of wheat, and of barley, and of oil, and of honey.” So he stopped, and didn’t kill them among their brothers.
9Now the pit in which Ishmael cast all the dead bodies of the men whom he had killed, by the side of Gedaliah (this was that which Asa the king had made for fear of Baasha king of Israel), Ishmael the son of Nethaniah filled it with those who were killed.
10Then Ishmael carried away captive all of the people who were left in Mizpah, even the king’s daughters, and all the people who remained in Mizpah, whom Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had committed to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam. Ishmael the son of Nethaniah carried them away captive, and departed to go over to the children of Ammon.
11But when Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces who were with him, heard of all the evil that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had done,
12then they took all the men, and went to fight with Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and found him by the great waters that are in Gibeon.
13Now when all the people who were with Ishmael saw Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces who were with him, then they were glad.
14So all the people who Ishmael had carried away captive from Mizpah turned about and came back, and went to Johanan the son of Kareah.
15But Ishmael the son of Nethaniah escaped from Johanan with eight men, and went to the children of Ammon.
16Then Johanan the son of Kareah and all the captains of the forces who were with him took all the remnant of the people whom he had recovered from Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, from Mizpah, after he had killed Gedaliah the son of Ahikam—the men of war, with the women, the children, and the eunuchs, whom he had brought back from Gibeon.
17They departed and lived in Geruth Chimham, which is by Bethlehem, to go to enter into Egypt
18because of the Chaldeans; for they were afraid of them, because Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had killed Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, whom the king of Babylon made governor over the land.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Jeremiah 41.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Ishmael murders Gedaliah. (1-10). Johanan recovers the captives, and purposes to retire to Egypt. (11-18).
vv1-10
Those who hate the worshippers of God, often put on the appearance of piety, that they may the easier hurt them. As death often meets men where they least expect it, we should continually search whether we are in such a state and frame of mind, as we would wish to be found in when called to appear before our Judge. Sometimes the ransom of a man's life is his riches. But those who think to bribe death, saying, Slay us not, for we have treasures in the field, will find themselves wretchedly deceived. This melancholy history warns us, never to be secure in this world. We never can be sure of peace on this side heaven.
vv11-18
The success of villany must be short, and none can prosper who harden their hearts against God. And those justly lose comfort in real fears, who excuse themselves in sin by pretended fears. The removal of a prudent and peaceable ruler, and the succession of another who is rash and ambitious, affects the welfare of many. Only those are happy and steady who fear the Lord and walk in his ways.
Key Words
שְׁבִיעִי: seventh
חֹדֶשׁ: the new moon; by implication, a month
יִשְׁמָעֵאל: Jishmael, the name of Abraham's oldest son, and of five Israelites
בֵּן: a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
נְתַנְיָה: Nethanjah, the name of four Israelites
אֱלִישָׁמָע: Elishama, the name of seven Israelites
מִן: properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
מְלוּכָה: something ruled, i.e. a realm
זֶרַע: seed; figuratively, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity
רַב: abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality)
Cross References
Jeremiah 41The parallel historical account of Ishmael's conspiracy, royal pedigree, and murder of Gedaliah.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Violation of the sacred covenant of hospitality by turning against one who shared bread.
Supported by John Calvin, JFB
The historical origin of the cistern (pit) built by King Asa during his war with Baasha.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Explains the origin of the 'habitation of Chimham' near Bethlehem, given to Barzillai's son by David.
Supported by JFB
The immediate background of Johanan warning Gedaliah about Ishmael's plot with Baalis the Ammonite.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The forbidden pagan mourning practices of shaving and cutting, used by the visiting men of Samaria.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Illustrates how the ten men saved their lives by using their hidden earthly treasures as ransom.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
The eventual fulfillment of Johanan taking the recovered remnant (including king's daughters) to Egypt.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Identifies the historical location of the 'great waters' or pool of Gibeon where Johanan caught Ishmael.
Supported by JFB
The fast of the seventh month was instituted to mourn the tragic assassination of Gedaliah.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Mentions the fast of the seventh month, commemorating Gedaliah's murder and the dispersion of the remnant.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Explicitly names 'the king's daughters' who were carried off by Ishmael and later taken by Johanan.
Supported by JFB
Describes Ishmael's hypocritical weeping to mask malice and hatred in his heart.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallel account of the remaining people fleeing to Egypt for fear of Chaldean reprisal.
Supported by JFB