Jeremiah 41:4

4 The day after Gedaliah was murdered, before anyone knew about it,

Jeremiah 41:4 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 41:4

And it came to pass, the second day after he had slain
Gedaliah
That is, the day following, for it was in the night, as Josephus relates, as before observed, the murder was committed: and no man knew [it];
not any out of the city, or in remote parts; for those that were in the city must be sensible of it; but as yet the report of it had not reached the neighbourhood, and much less distant parts; this is observed on account of the following story, and to show how easily the persons after mentioned were drawn in by Ishmael.

Jeremiah 41:4 In-Context

2 Ishmael and his ten men got up and killed Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, with a sword. (Gedaliah was the man the king of Babylon had chosen as governor over Judah.)

3 Ishmael also killed all the Jews and the Babylonian soldiers who were there with Gedaliah at Mizpah.

4 The day after Gedaliah was murdered, before anyone knew about it,

5 eighty men came to Mizpah bringing grain offerings and incense to the Temple of the Lord. Those men from Shechem, Shiloh, and Samaria had shaved off their beards, torn their clothes, and cut themselves.

6 Ishmael son of Nethaniah went out from Mizpah to meet them, crying as he walked. When he met them, he said, "Come with me to meet Gedaliah son of Ahikam."