Jeremiah 41:1-3

Gedaliah Murdered

1 1In the seventh month, Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, son of Elishama, of the royal family, one of the chief officers of the king, came with ten men to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, at 2Mizpah. As they 3ate bread together there at Mizpah,
2 4Ishmael the son of Nethaniah and the ten men with him rose up and struck down Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, with the sword, and killed him, 5whom the king of Babylon had appointed governor in the land.
3 Ishmael also struck down all the Judeans who were with Gedaliah at 6Mizpah, and the Chaldean soldiers who happened to be there.

Jeremiah 41:1-3 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 41

This chapter relates the event of the conspiracy against Gedaliah Johanan and the princes had informed him of, to which he gave no credit; but it proved true. An account is given of the murder of Gedaliah, and of the Jews and Chaldeans with him; and of the perpetrators of it, Jer 41:1-3; and of the chief of them, Ishmael's treacherous dealing with fourscore men that came from several parts to the house of God to offer sacrifice, who all perished by his hands, excepting ten, Jer 41:4-9; and of the rest of the people at Mizpah being carried away, in order to be captives among the Ammonites, Jer 41:10; and of Johanan, and the rest of the captives, hearing of all this, and coming out to fight with Ishmael; upon which the people deserted him, and he fled to the Ammonites, Jer 41:11-15; and of Johanan and the people settling in the way to Egypt, to flee there on occasion, should the Chaldeans fall on them for what was done to the governor, which they feared, Jer 41:16-18.

Cross References 6

  • 1. 2 Kings 25:25
  • 2. See Jeremiah 40:6, 8, 10
  • 3. [Psalms 41:9]
  • 4. [2 Samuel 13:28, 29]
  • 5. Jeremiah 40:5
  • 6. [See ver. 1 above]
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