_The word which came to Jeremiah_, &c. This relates to the prophecy recorded Jeremiah 42:7, which was occasioned by the story that here follows concerning Ishmael's conspiracy against Gedaliah. _After that Nebuzar-adan had let him go from Ramah_ After Jeremiah was taken out of the court of the priso... [ Continue Reading ]
_The captain of the guard said, The Lord thy God hath pronounced this evil_, &c. Although each of the Gentile or heathen nations worshipped its peculiar god or gods, yet they did not reject or deny the gods of other nations; and therefore the captain of the guard speaks here to Jeremiah of Jehovah a... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now while he was not yet gone back_ Hebrew, ועודנו לא ישׁוב, _while he would not yet return, he said_, &c. The prophet seems to have been in doubt at first what course to take. The Chaldee reads the clause, _If thou wilt not abide_ [here] _go back to Gedaliah._ understanding the verb ישׁוב as if it... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now when all the captains of the forces heard, &c., they came to Gedaliah_ By the taking of Jerusalem the Chaldeans made a complete conquest of Judea; whereupon that part of the Jewish army which had escaped destruction dispersed themselves into several parts of the country. _And Gedaliah sware unt... [ Continue Reading ]
_Likewise when all the Jews that were in Moab_, &c. Probably, upon the king of Babylon's first invading Judea, many fled, and more as he proceeded in his conquests, overrunning the country; and it is likely, at the taking of the city, many escaped and fled into different countries, as they had oppor... [ Continue Reading ]
_Johanan the son of Kareah came to Gedaliah_, &c. They had been with him before, Jeremiah 40:8, but now they come to discover to him a conspiracy formed against his life. _And said, Dost thou certainly know_, &c. Or, rather, _Dost thou not know_, &c., (which is evidently the sense intended,) _that t... [ Continue Reading ]