Old Testament Commentary - Jeremiah 41

by Don R. Hender


Scriptural Text [& Editorial]
Commentary & Explanation
Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
           CHAPTER 41            

Ishmael kills Gedaliah and carries people of Mizpah captive—They are rescued by Johanan.

  1 NOW it came to pass in the seventh month, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah the son of Elishama, of the seed royala, and the princes of the king, even ten men with him, came unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah; and there they did eat bread together in Mizpah.
  2 Then arose Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and the ten men that were with him, and smote 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.
  3 Ishmael also slew all the Jews that were with him, even with Gedaliah, at Mizpah, and the Chaldeans that were found there, and the men of war.
 1a Ishmael the son of Nethaniah the son of Elishama, of the seed royal Now the House of David had many sons and descendants. This Ismael was one of the 'seed royal' or of the House of David, and as such he would come to usurp the now destroyed kingship by eliminating Gedaliah, the newly apointed governor. Now as to exactly how Ishmael was of David's seed there seems to be some generations missing, but Elishama was one of the sons of David (see 1 Chronicles 3:6-9 and 2 Samuel 5:13-16). Thus Ishmael's immediate father and his ancestrail grand father, son of David seem to be so stipulate to authenticate Ishmael being of the 'seed royal' or of the House of David. And this 'Gedaliah' seems to be the son of that Ahikam who saved the life of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 26:24, 2 Kings 22:11). And Ahikam was one of the more prominant members of the great Sanhedrin during the time of King Josiah and Ahikam seemed to be a more righteous man and per chance so might his son Gedaliah have been also.
  4 And it came to pass the second day after he had slain Gedaliah, and no man knew it,
  5 That there came certain from Shechem, from Shiloh, and from Samaria, even fourscore men, having their beards shaven, and their clothes rent, and having cut themselves, with offerings and incense in their hand, to bring them to the house of the LORD.
  6 And Ishmael the son of Nethaniah went forth from Mizpah to meet them, weeping 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 slew them, and cast them into the midst of the pit, he, and the men that were with him.
  8 But ten men were found among them that said unto Ishmael, Slay us not: for we have treasures in the field, of wheat, and of barley, and of oil, and of honey. So he forbare, and slew them not among their brethren.
  9 Now the pit wherein Ishmael had cast all the dead bodies of the men, whom he had slain because of Gedaliah, was it which Asa the king had made for fear of Baasha king of Israel: and Ishmael the son of Nethaniah filled it with them that were slain.
  10 Then Ishmael carried away captive all the residue of the people that were in Mizpah, even the king's adaughters, 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 to go over to the Ammonites.
  11 ¶ But when Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were with him, heard of all the evil that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had done,
  12 Then they took all the men, and went to fight with Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and found him by the agreat waters that are in Gibeon.
  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, then they were glad.
  14 So all the people that Ishmael had carried away captive from Mizpah acast about and returned, and went unto Johanan the son of Kareah.
  15 But Ishmael the son of Nethaniah escaped from Johanan with eight men, and went to the Ammonites.
  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 from Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, from Mizpah, after that he had slain Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, even mighty men of war, and the women, and the children, and the aeunuchs, whom he had brought again from Gibeon:
  17 And they departed, and dwelt in the habitation of Chimham, which is by Beth-lehem, to go to enter into Egypt,
  18 Because of the Chaldeans: for they were afraid of them, because Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had slain Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, whom the king of Babylon made governor in the land.