Then all the captains of the forces
Having taken up their residence at the habitation of Chimham, in
their way to Egypt, where they were desirous of going, and being
afraid of the Chaldeans, as they pretended: and Johanan the
son of Kareah;
or, "even Johanan" F19; especially and particularly he,
the principal captain and chief spokesman in this affair:
and Jezaniah the son of Hoshaiah;
said to be the son of a Maachathite, ( Jeremiah
40:8 ) ; and all the people from the least even unto
the greatest:
a phrase expressive of the universality of them in the strongest
terms: came near;
that is, to Jeremiah; who either was at Mizpah when Gedaliah was
slain, but preserved by the Lord; and though carried captive by
Ishmael with the rest, was rescued by Johanan; and now along with
him: or rather after he had been with Gedaliah at Mizpah, and
made a short stay there, he went to Anathoth, and there abode
till now; and when Johanan took those that were left at Mizpah,
he gathered together all the rest of the Jews in different places
to him, in order to go to Egypt, and among the rest the Prophet
Jeremiah; for it can hardly be thought, had he been at Mizpah
when Ishmael was there, he would have escaped without a miracle.