Jeremiah 40:8

8 So they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah, along with ¹Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and ²Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth, and the sons of Ephai the ³Netophathite, and ⁴Jezaniah the son of the ⁵Maacathite, both 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 Then Jeremiah went to Mizpah to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam and stayed with him among the people who were left in the land.

7 Now all the commanders of the forces that were in the field, they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah the son of Ahikam over the land and that he had put him in charge of the men, women and children, those of the poorest of the land who had not been exiled to Babylon.

8 So they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah, along with Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth, and the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniah the son of the Maacathite, both they and their men.

9 Then Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, swore to them and to their men, saying, "Do not be afraid of serving the Chaldeans; stay in the land and serve the king of Babylon, that it may go well with you.

10 "Now as for me, behold, I am going to stay at Mizpah to stand for you before the Chaldeans who come to us; but as for you, gather in wine and summer fruit and oil and put them in your storage vessels, and live in your cities that you have taken over."

Cross References

• 1. Jeremiah 40:14; Jeremiah 41:2
• 2. Jeremiah 40:13, 15; Jeremiah 42:1; Jeremiah 43:2
• 3. 2 Samuel 23:28, 29; Ezra 2:22; Nehemiah 7:26
• 4. Jeremiah 42:1
• 5. Deuteronomy 3:14; Joshua 12:5; 2 Samuel 10:6, 8