Jeremia 41:17

17 und sie zogen hin und machten halt in der Herberge Kimhams, welche bei Bethlehem ist, um fortzuziehen, damit sie nach Ägypten kämen,

Jeremia 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.

Jeremia 41:17 In-Context

15 Ismael aber, der Sohn Nethanjas, entrann vor Jochanan mit acht Männern und zog zu den Kindern Ammon.

16 Da nahmen Jochanan, der Sohn Kareachs, und alle Heerobersten, die mit ihm waren, den ganzen Überrest des Volkes, welchen er von Ismael, dem Sohne Nethanjas, von Mizpa zurückgebracht, nachdem dieser den Gedalja, den Sohn Achikams, erschlagen hatte, die Männer, die Kriegsleute, und die Weiber und die Kinder und die Kämmerer, welche er von Gibeon zurückgebracht hatte;

17 und sie zogen hin und machten halt in der Herberge Kimhams, welche bei Bethlehem ist, um fortzuziehen, damit sie nach Ägypten kämen,

18 aus Furcht vor den Chaldäern; denn sie fürchteten sich vor ihnen, weil Ismael, der Sohn Nethanjas, Gedalja, den Sohn Achikams, erschlagen, welchen der König von Babel über das Land bestellt hatte.