Jeremiah 41

Gedaliah and the others besides both Jews and Chaldeans under color of friendship are murdered by Ishmael verse1 c. indendeth to carry away the rest of the people captive unto ammonites but they are delivered out of his hand of Johanan 10 who intended with the whole remnant to go into Egypt 16.

1. But it came to pass in the seventh month [after he treaty as some conceive of Gedaliah with the princes whereof is spoken in the former chapter or of after that Gedaliah was warned to beware of Ishmael or after that he was set over the land] that Ishmael the son of Ethania the son of Elisama of the seed royal [Heb. Of the seed of the kingdom as 2Kings 11.1 Ezekiel 17:13 Daniel 1:3 hence may be gathered that this Ishmael was vexed that any other but himself should have the managing or government of affairs in Judah see 2Kings 25.25] and the princes of the king [which had been among the great ones with king Zedekiah some understand princes of the king of the Ammonites see above chapter 40.14] to wit ten men [each having his men with him as may be gathered from that which followeth]with him came unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpa and there they ate bread together at Mizpa [that is fastest together see Genesis 31 on verse 54on purpose to murder Gedaliah under a shew and color friendship as Absolom did his brother Ammon 2 Samuel 13 on verse 28,29.]

2. And Ishmael the son of Nathania got him up together with the ten men that were with him and they smote Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son Saphan with the sword thus he [Ishmael with his men] slew him whom the king of Babel had sent over the land.

3. If Ishmael also slew the Jews that were with him namely with Gedaliah at Mizpa the Chaldeans the soldiers that were found there.

4. Now it came to pass on the second day when he had slate Gedaliah and no man knew it [understand that it was not yet noised abroad.]

5. That there came men from Schicem [see Judges 8 on verse 31]from Silo [see 1 Kings 16 on verse 24] four source men having their beard shaven and their clothes rent and having cut themselves [or having made cuttings on themselves to wit in their flesh with knives or bodkins having received this forbidden custom or shaving their beards or making cuttings in their flesh from the heathen or desiring in simplicity to shew extraordinary grief for sad estate and condition of God’s people compare above chapter 66 on verse 9]and meat offering and incense where in their hand [that is they had taken along with them they had with them see 2 Samuel 8 on verse 10 to shew their affection at the place where they were wont offer sacrifice which was now burnt 2Kings 25.9] to bring them to the house of the Lord.

6. And Ishmael the son of Nethania went forth from Mizpa to meet them going all along weeping [Heb. Going with going and weeping feigning as of he grieved with them for the common calamities as on the contrary he had before feasted and made merry with Gedaliah when he intended to murder him]and it came to pass when he met them that he said come to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam.

7. But it came to pass when they were come in the midst of the city that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah cut their throats and cast them [that is here inserted from verse 9]into the midst of the pit [or pond pool Dutch cistern others slew them by or about the midst c.] he and the man that were with him.

8. But ten men were found among them that said unto Ishmael slay us not for we have hidden treasures on the fields of wheat and barley and oil and honey so he for bare and slew them in the midst of their brethren [that is with and amongst the rest of their country and kinsmen.]

9. Now the pit wherein Ishmael did cast all the dead bodies of the men whom he had smitten on Gedaliah’s side [Heb on Gedaliah’s hand that is besides him or next to him hand for side see 2 Samuel 18 on verse 4Proverbs 8 on verse 3others for Gedliah’s sake or that were under the hand of Gedaliah]is the same that the king Asa made before Baasha [that is for fear of Baasha Heb from the face this Asa did perhaps when he repaired and fortified this city of Mizpa with the stone of Rama wherewith Baasha had fought to fortify Rama see 1 Kings 15:22 for what end this pit properly served is uncertain whether for fortification or for waiting for men and beasts in time of need see] the king of Israel this pit Ishmael the son of Nethaniah filled with the slain.

10. And Ishmael carried away captive the residues of the people that were at Mizpa to wit the kings daughters [as below chapter 43.6some understand hereby certain virgins of the blood royal or ladies of honor whom it may be Nebuchadnezzar left in the land or which being hidden at first afterwards came forth again and were likewise committed to the charge of Gedaliah compare above chapter 38.22 with the annotate] and the people that were at Mizpa whom Nebuchadnezzar the captain of the guard had committed to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam Ishmael the son of Nethaniah carried away captive and departed to go over to the children of Ammon[compare above chapter 40.14 and below verse 15.]

11. Now when Johanan the son of Korea and all the captains of the that were him heard all the evil that Ishmael the son Nethaniah had done.

12. Then they took all the men [the soldiers that had with them] and want to fight with Ishmael the son of Nethaniah and they fought him at the great water which is by Gobeon [compare 2Samel 2.13 with the annotate.]

13. And it came to pass when all the people that were with Ishmael saw Johanan the son of Korea and the all captains of the armies that were with him then they were glad.

14. And all the people that Ishmael had carried away captive to Mizpa turned themselves about and went over unto Johanan the son of Korea.

15. But Ishmael the son of Nathaniah escaped from Johanan’s face with eight men and he went to the children of Ammon.

16. Then took Johanan the son of Korea as also all the captains of the armies tat were with him all the remnant of the people whom he had recovered from Ishmael the son of Nethaniah from Mizpa [this may be understood of the people whom Ishmael had carried away from Mizpa]after that he had smitten Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to wit the man that were soldiers [Heb men soldiers compare Judges 4 on verse4 others valiant or stout soldiers] and the women and the little children and the Chamberlains [or courtier see Genesis 37 on verse 36]whom he had brought again from Gobeon [see above verse 12.]

17. And they departed and pitched [Heb sate or abode] at Geruth chimbam which is by Bethlehem[Geruth that is dwelling place or country of Barbour pilgrimage where Chimbam had sojourned or dwelt as a stranger this place which was by Bethlehem being as some conceive given him by David out of his estate for a recompense of the favors which he had received from Bezzilar his father that at that time when he fled from Absolom see 2 Samuel 17.38&c.] to go on that they might come to Egypt.

18. From the face of the Chaldeans for they were afraid of their face because Ishmael the son of Nithan had smitten Gedaliah the son of Ahikam whom the king of Babel had set over the land [from the face c that is for fear as above verse 9 being afraid that the king would revenge this murder upon them.]