Jeremiah 41:4

4 Forsooth in the second day (And on the second day), after that he had slain Gedaliah, (but) while no man knew (it) yet,

Jeremiah 41:4 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 41:4

And it came to pass, the second day after he had slain
Gedaliah
That is, the day following, for it was in the night, as Josephus relates, as before observed, the murder was committed: and no man knew [it];
not any out of the city, or in remote parts; for those that were in the city must be sensible of it; but as yet the report of it had not reached the neighbourhood, and much less distant parts; this is observed on account of the following story, and to show how easily the persons after mentioned were drawn in by Ishmael.

Jeremiah 41:4 In-Context

2 Forsooth Ishmael, the son of Nethaniah, and the ten men that were with him, rose up, and killed with sword Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan; and they killed him, whom the king of Babylon had made sovereign of the land. (And then Ishmael, the son of Nethaniah, and the ten men who were with him, rose up, and killed with the sword Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan; yea, they killed him, whom the king of Babylon had made the ruler of the land.)

3 Also Ishmael killed all the Jews, that were with Gedaliah in Mizpah, and the Chaldees, that were found there, and the men warriors. (Ishmael also killed all the Jews, who were with Gedaliah in Mizpah, and the Chaldeans, who were found there, and the warriors.)

4 Forsooth in the second day (And on the second day), after that he had slain Gedaliah, (but) while no man knew (it) yet,

5 fourscore men with shaven beards, and rent clothes, and pale men, came from Shechem, and from Shiloh, and from Samaria; and they had gifts and incense in the hand, for to offer in the house of the Lord. (eighty men with shaved beards, and torn clothes, and pale from cutting themselves, came from Shechem, and from Shiloh, and from Samaria; and they had gifts and incense in their hands, to offer in the House of the Lord.)

6 Therefore Ishmael, the son of Nethaniah, went out of Mizpah into the meeting of them; and he went going and weeping (weeping as he went). Soothly when he had met them, he said to them, Come ye to Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam;