Jeremiah 41:18

18 for they dreaded those Chaldees, for Ishmael, the son of Nethaniah, had slain Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam, whom the king Nebuchadnezzar had made sovereign in the land of Judah. (for they feared those Chaldeans, for Ishmael, the son of Nethaniah, had killed Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam, whom King Nebuchadnezzar had made the ruler of the land of Judah.)

Jeremiah 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.

Jeremiah 41:18 In-Context

16 Therefore Johanan, the son of Kareah, and all the princes of warriors, that were with him, took all the remnants of the common people, which they brought again from Ishmael, the son of Nethaniah, that were of Mizpah, after that he killed Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam; he took strong men to battle, and women, and children, and geldings, which he had brought again from Gibeon. (And so Johanan, the son of Kareah, and all the leaders of the warriors, who were with him, took all the remnant of the common people, who were from Mizpah, whom he had rescued from Ishmael, the son of Nethaniah, after that he had killed Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam; yea, he took the strong men of battle, and the women, and the children, and the eunuchs, and brought them back from Gibeon.)

17 And they went (on their way), and sat being pilgrims in Chimham (for a time), which is beside Bethlehem, (before) that they should go, and enter into Egypt, from the face of Chaldees (to escape from the Chaldeans);

18 for they dreaded those Chaldees, for Ishmael, the son of Nethaniah, had slain Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam, whom the king Nebuchadnezzar had made sovereign in the land of Judah. (for they feared those Chaldeans, for Ishmael, the son of Nethaniah, had killed Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam, whom King Nebuchadnezzar had made the ruler of the land of Judah.)