Jeremiah 41:17

17 They set out for Egypt, stopping on the way at Geruth Chimham near Bethlehem,

Jeremiah 41:17 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 41:17

And they departed
From Mizpah, Johanan, and the captains of the forces, and all the people rescued from Ishmael: and dwelt in the habitation of Chimham, which is by Bethlehem:
so called perhaps from Chimham, the son of Barzillai the Gileadite, to whom David or Solomon might give this place to dwell in, ( 2 Samuel 19:37 ) ( 1 Kings 2:7 ) . The Targum is express for the former, calling it

``the habitation which David gave to Chimham, the son of Barzillai the Gileadite;''

and as it was near Bethlehem, it might be a part of the patrimony which belonged to David, as a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite; which he might give to Chimham, out of respect to his father Barzillai, who showed kindness to him when he was obliged to flee from Absalom; which, though it returned to David's family in the year of jubilee, as all inheritances did, yet might continue to be called after the name of Chimham, in commemoration of the royal grant of it to him. Josephus ^F18 calls the name of the place Mandra. The reason why Johanan and those with him pitched on this place was, because it lay in the way to go to enter into Egypt;
where they had an inclination to go; having still a friendly regard to that people, and a confidence in them, as appears by some following chapters; and that they might be ready and at hand to flee thither, should the Chaldeans come against them, which they feared.

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FOOTNOTES:

F18 Antiqu. l. 10. c. 9. sect. 5.

Jeremiah 41:17 In-Context

15 But Ishmael, Nethaniah's son, and eight of his men eluded Johanan and went to the Ammonites.

16 Then Johanan, Kareah's son, and all the army officers with him took the small group they had rescued in Gibeon, including the soldiers, women, children, and commanding officers that Ishmael, Nethaniah's son, had captured at Mizpah after killing Gedaliah, Ahikam's son.

17 They set out for Egypt, stopping on the way at Geruth Chimham near Bethlehem,

18 because they were afraid of what the Babylonians would do when they found out that Ishmael, Nethaniah's son, had killed Gedaliah, Ahikam's son, whom the king of Babylon had appointed over the region.