Jeremiah 40:8

8 So they went to see Gedaliah at Mizpah. These included: Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan and Jonathan sons of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth, the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, Jezaniah son of the Maacathite, and all their men.

Jeremiah 40:8 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 40:8

Then they came to Gedaliah to Mizpah
Having heard that the Chaldean army was gone, and so were in no fear of that; and also that Gedaliah was made deputy governor, one of their own nation, a pious, prudent, good man, a man of ingenuity, mildness, and integrity; under whose government they might expect to live comfortably; and which was much preferable to captivity in a foreign country, though tributary to Babylon: even Ishmael the son of Nethaniah;
who was of the seed royal, ( Jeremiah 41:1 ) ; and Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah;
two brothers, but who they were, or their father, is not known, no mention being made of them but in this story: and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth;
who he was is also uncertain: and the sons of Ephai the Netophathite;
so called from Netophah, a city of the tribe of Judah near Bethlehem, and are mentioned together, ( Ezra 2:22 ) ( Nehemiah 7:26 ) ; the Netophathites inhabited several villages, ( 1 Chronicles 9:16 ) ; mention is made in the Misnic ^F20 writings of artichokes and olives this place was famous for: and Jezaniah the son of a Maachathite;
a family so called from Maacah, Caleb's concubine, ( 1 Chronicles 2:48 ) ; they and their men;
these generals, and the forces under their command.

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FOOTNOTES:

F20 Shebiit, c. 9. sect. 5. & Pea, c. 7. sect. 1.

Jeremiah 40:8 In-Context

6 So Jeremiah returned to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah, and he lived in Judah with the few who were still left in the land.

7 The leaders of the Judean guerrilla bands in the countryside heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam as governor over the poor people who were left behind in Judah—the men, women, and children who hadn’t been exiled to Babylon.

8 So they went to see Gedaliah at Mizpah. These included: Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan and Jonathan sons of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth, the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, Jezaniah son of the Maacathite, and all their men.

9 Gedaliah vowed to them that the Babylonians meant them no harm. “Don’t be afraid to serve them. Live in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and all will go well for you,” he promised.

10 “As for me, I will stay at Mizpah to represent you before the Babylonians who come to meet with us. Settle in the towns you have taken, and live off the land. Harvest the grapes and summer fruits and olives, and store them away.”