Yirmeyah 41:18

18 Because of the Kasdim (Chaldeans); for they were afraid of them, because Yishmael ben Netanyah had slain Gedalyah ben Achikam, whom Melech Bavel made governor in ha’aretz.

Yirmeyah 41:18 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 41:18

Because of the Chaldeans
Which clause some think should have been joined to ( Jeremiah 41:17 ) . This is a reason given why they departed from Mizpah, and dwelt at the habitation of Chimham in the way to Egypt; and which is explained in the next words: for they were afraid of them;
at least this they pretended, that the Chaldeans would come upon them, and cut them off, and revenge themselves on them: because Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had slain Gedaliah the son of
Ahikam, whom the king of Babylon made governor in the land;
no doubt it was provoking to them to hear that the viceroy or deputy governor of the king of Babylon was slain in this manner; and still more so, as there were many Chaldeans slain with him; but there was no reason to believe that the king of Babylon would carry his resentment against the Jews with Johanan, or take vengeance on them, who had so bravely appeared against the murderers, and had rescued the captives out of their hands: this seems only a pretence for their going into Egypt; for though they were promised safety in Judah by the Prophet Jeremiah, yet they were still for going into Egypt, as the following chapters show.

Yirmeyah 41:18 In-Context

16 Then took Yochanan ben Kareach, and all the officers of the forces that were with him, all the she’erit haAm whom he had recovered from Yishmael ben Netanyah, from Mitzpah, after that he had slain Gedalyah ben Achikam, even gevarim anshei hamilchamah, and the nashim, and the children, and the sarisim, whom he had brought from Giveon;

17 And they departed, and dwelt in the Gerut Kimham, which is near Beit-Lechem, intending to go to Mitzrayim,

18 Because of the Kasdim (Chaldeans); for they were afraid of them, because Yishmael ben Netanyah had slain Gedalyah ben Achikam, whom Melech Bavel made governor in ha’aretz.