Jeremiah 40:8

8 they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah. [The commanders included] Ishmael^[a] son of Nethaniah, Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth, the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniah son of the Maacathite-they and their men.

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 Jeremiah therefore went to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah, and he stayed with him among the people who remained in the land.

7 When all the commanders of the armies in the field-they and their men-heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam over the land and that he had put him in charge of the men, women, and children, the poorest of the land who had not been deported to Babylon,

8 they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah. [The commanders included] Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth, the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniah son of the Maacathite-they and their men.

9 Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, swore an oath to them and their men, assuring them, "Don't be afraid to serve the Chaldeans. Live in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it will go well for you.

10 As for me, I am going to live in Mizpah to represent [you] before the Chaldeans who come to us. As for you, gather wine, summer fruit, and oil, place them in your [storage] jars, and live in the cities you have captured."

Footnotes

• [a]. Jr 41:1,9