Jeremiah 40:11-16

11 Likewise, also all the Jews who were in ¹Moab and among the sons of ²Ammon and in ³Edom and who were in all the other countries, heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant for Judah, and that he had appointed over them Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan.

12 Then all the Jews ⁴returned from all the places to which they had been driven away and came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah at Mizpah, and gathered in wine and summer fruit in great abundance.

13 Now Johanan the son of Kareah and all the commanders of the forces that were in the field came to Gedaliah at Mizpah

14 and said to him, "Are you well aware that Baalis the king of the sons of ⁵Ammon has sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to take your life?" But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam did not believe them.

15 Then Johanan the son of Kareah spoke secretly to Gedaliah in Mizpah, saying, "⁶Let me go and kill Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and not a man will know! Why should he ⁷take your life, so that all the Jews who are gathered to you would be scattered and the ⁸remnant of Judah would perish?"

16 But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said to Johanan the son of Kareah, "⁹Do not do this thing, for you are telling a lie about Ishmael."

Jeremiah 40:11-16 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 40

This chapter treats of the release of Jeremiah, and the care taken of him; of the gathering of the princes and people of the Jews to Gedaliah, appointed their governor, dispersed about Judea, and other countries; and of a conspiracy against him, of which information was given him. The release of Jeremiah, where, and by whom, Jer 40:1-4; the liberty granted him to go to Babylon, or stay in Judea, as he thought fit; and, if he chose the latter, is advised to go to Gedaliah, appointed governor, or where he would; and is dismissed with food, and a reward, Jer 40:4-6; upon which he went and dwelt with Gedaliah, Jer 40:7; to whom also the captains of the dispersed forces joined themselves, to whom he swore, and bid them be of good cheer; and exhorted them to serve the Chaldeans, which he urged from the profit of it to them, and by his own example, Jer 40:8-10; and to whom also gathered the Jews in other countries, Jer 40:11,12; by the captains he is informed of a conspiracy against his life, and one of them offers to destroy the conspirator, which Gedaliah would not agree to, disbelieving the information, Jer 40:13-16.

Cross References

• 1. Numbers 22:1; Numbers 25:1, 2; Isaiah 16:4; Jeremiah 9:26
• 2. 1 Samuel 11:1; 1 Samuel 12:12
• 3. Genesis 36:8; Isaiah 11:14
• 4. Jeremiah 43:5
• 5. 1 Samuel 11:1-3; 2 Samuel 10:1-6; Jeremiah 25:21; Jeremiah 41:10
• 6. 1 Samuel 26:8
• 7. 2 Samuel 21:17
• 8. Jeremiah 42:2
• 9. Matthew 10:16; 1 Corinthians 13:5