Jeremiah 40 Study Notes

40:7-8 In the absence of leaders, guerrilla bands emerged from hiding after the Babylonians took their captives back to Babylon. Most of the population of Judah was from the underprivileged class, with a few royal princesses who were left behind (43:6). Netophah (the Netophathite) was a Judean town between Bethlehem and Tekoa. Maacah (the Maacathite) was southeast of Hermon.

40:9 The guerrilla bands were pacified by Governor Gedaliah with an oath and the advice to settle down in the land. Gedaliah would be the mediator with the Babylonians.

40:10 There were evidently a few towns not destroyed by the Babylonians, especially north of Jerusalem.

40:11-12 Refugee Jews started returning from all over Moab, Ammon, Edom, and all the other lands. Summer was coming to an end, so it was necessary to gather the harvest (consisting of a great amount of wine and summer fruit) for the winter and to pay the Babylonian taxes. Apparently, the conquerors did not use a scorched-earth policy.

40:13-14 Johanan warned Gedaliah that Baalis, king of the Ammonites, had sent Ishmael to kill the newly appointed governor.

40:15-16 Despite Johanan’s offer to make a preemptive strike against Ishmael, Gedaliah refused to do so. He felt the rumors about Ishmael were a lie.