Jeremiah 40:8

8 they came to Gedaliah, in Mizpah; and Ishmael, the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan, the son of Kareah, and Jonathan (that is, Ishmael, the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan, and Jonathan, the sons of Kareah), and Seraiah, the son of Tanhumeth, and the sons of Ephai, that were of (the) Netophathites, and Jezaniah, the son of (a) Maachathite; both they and their men came to Gedaliah.

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 Forsooth Jeremy came to Gedaliah, son of Ahikam, in Mizpah, and dwelled with him (and stayed with him), in the midst of the people that was left in the land.

7 And when all princes of the host had heard, that were scattered by countries, they and the fellows of them, that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah sovereign of the land, the son of Ahikam, and that he had betaken to Gedaliah men, and women, and little children, and of [the] poor men of the land, that were not translated into Babylon, (And when all the leaders of the army, who were scattered in the countryside, yea, they and their fellows, had heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam, the ruler of the land, and that he had delivered to Gedaliah the men, and the women, and the little children, of the poor of the land, who were not carried away captive to Babylon,)

8 they came to Gedaliah, in Mizpah; and Ishmael, the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan, the son of Kareah, and Jonathan (that is, Ishmael, the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan, and Jonathan, the sons of Kareah), and Seraiah, the son of Tanhumeth, and the sons of Ephai, that were of (the) Netophathites, and Jezaniah, the son of (a) Maachathite; both they and their men came to Gedaliah.

9 And Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, swore to them, and to the fellows of them, and said, Do not ye dread to serve [the] Chaldees; but dwell ye in the land, and serve ye the king of Babylon, and it shall be well to you. (And Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, swore to them, and to their fellows, and said, Do not ye fear to serve the Chaldeans; but live ye in the land, and serve ye the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you.)

10 Lo! I dwell in Mizpah, for to answer to the commandment of [the] Chaldees, that be sent to us; forsooth gather ye vintage, and ripe corn, and oil, and keep ye in your vessels, and dwell ye in your cities which ye hold. (Lo! I must stay in Mizpah, in order to answer to the commandment of the Chaldeans, who be sent to us; but ye can gather the vintage, and the ripe corn, and the oil, and keep ye them in your vessels, and live ye in your cities which ye have taken, or occupied.)