Jeremiah 41:12

12 And when they had taken all (their) men, they went forth to fight against Ishmael, the son of Nethaniah; and they found him at the many waters, that be in Gibeon.

Jeremiah 41:12 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 41:12

Then they took all the men
All the soldiers that were under their command; this they did at once, believing the report to be true, as they had reason to do; since they knew of Ishmael's designs, and had given notice and warning of them to Gedaliah, though he would not listen to them: and went to fight with Ishmael the son of Nethaniah:
resolving to give him battle, and to revenge the innocent blood he had shed, and rescue the captives out of his hands he was carrying to the Ammonites: and found him by the great waters that [are] in Gibeon;
taking this road to the country of Ammon, though it was not quite the direct road; either to avoid the forces of Johanan; or rather for the sake of the hid treasure at Shechem, or Shiloh, or Samaria, the ten men had promised him for their lives. These great waters were the same with the pool at Gibeon, where the servants of Ishbosheth and the servants of David met, and sat one on one side, and the other on the other; and where twelve young men on each side slew one another, and from thence called Helkathhazzurim, ( 2 Samuel 2:12-16 ) ; and the Targum calls it

``the pool of many waters, which were in Gibeon.''
Josephus F16 calls it a fountain in Hebron; which perhaps should be read Gibeon.
FOOTNOTES:

F16 Antiqu. l. 10. c. 9. sect. 5.

Jeremiah 41:12 In-Context

10 And Ishmael led (away as) prisoners all the remnants of the people, that were in Mizpah, the daughters of the king, and all the people that dwelled in Mizpah, which Nebuzaradan, the prince of [the] chivalry, had betaken to keeping to Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam. And Ishmael, the son of Nethaniah, took them, and went to pass over to the sons of Ammon. (And Ishmael led away as prisoners all the remnant of the people who were in Mizpah, that is, the daughters of the king, and all the people who lived in Mizpah, which Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, had delivered to Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam. And Ishmael, the son of Nethaniah, took them, and left to go over to the Ammonites.)
11 Forsooth Johanan, the son of Kareah, and all the princes of warriors, that were with him (Now Johanan, the son of Kareah, and all the leaders of the warriors, who were with him), heard (of) all the evil, which Ishmael, the son of Nethaniah, had done.
12 And when they had taken all (their) men, they went forth to fight against Ishmael, the son of Nethaniah; and they found him at the many waters, that be in Gibeon.
13 And when all the people, that was with Ishmael, had seen Johanan, the son of Kareah, and all the princes of warriors, that were with him, they were glad. (And when all the people, who were with Ishmael, had seen Johanan, the son of Kareah, and all the leaders of the warriors, who were with him, they were happy.)
14 And all the people, whom Ishmael had taken (prisoner) in Mizpah, turned again; and it turned again (yea, they turned), and went (over) to Johanan, the son of Kareah.
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.