Jeremiah 41:3

Ishmael also slew all the Jews that were with him, even with Gedaliah, at Mizpah, and the Chaldeans that were found there, and the men of war. SLEW ALL THE JEWS - namely, the attendants and ministers of Gedaliah; or, the military alone, about his person; translate, at the end of this verse, 'even (not and, as the English version) the men of war.' The main portion of the people with Gedaliah, including Jeremiah, Ishmael carried away captive (; )....

1-10 Those who hate the worshippers of God, often put on the appearance of piety, that they may the easier hurt them. As death often meets men where they least expect it, we should continually search whether we are in such a state and frame of mind, as we would wish to be found in when called to appear before our Judge. Sometimes the ransom of a man's life is his riches. But those who think to bribe death, saying, Slay us not, for we have treasures in the field, will find themselves wretchedly deceived. This melancholy history warns us, never to be secure in this world. We never can be sure of peace on this side heaven....

EXPOSITION JEREMIAH 41:1 Assassination of Gedaliah and other Jews. JEREMIAH 41:1 IN THE SEVENTH MONTH; _i.e._ two months after the destruction of Jerusalem and the appointment of Gedaliah. It seems strange, however, that the occurrences related in Jeremiah 40:1; Jeremiah 41:1. should have taken so short a time. Gratz calls in question the accuracy of the chronological statement. He quotes Ezekiel 33:24, which shows that at least six months (accor

ISHMAEL ALSO SLEW ALL THE JEWS THAT WERE WITH HIM, [EVEN] WITH GEDALIAH, AT MIZPAH,.... Not only those that were at table, but that were in the city also. Josephus f says, that having slain those that were at the feast with him, he went out in the night, and slew all the Jews in the city, and the soldiers that were left by the Babylonians in it; but this cannot be understood of all the individuals there, or of the main body of the people, for they were carried captive by him, Jeremiah 41:9; but of those that opposed him, or were able to avenge the death of their governor, and he might suspect would do it: AND THE CHALDEANS THAT WERE FOUND THERE, [AND] THE MEN OF WAR; or, "even the men of war" g; this describes more particularly who they were that were slain, those of the Jews, and especially the Chaldeans, who were in military service; either the bodyguards

III. AFTER THE FALL OF JERUSALEM (40-45) Chapter S 40-41 The Treachery in the Land and the Flight to Egypt _ 1. Jeremiah's choice (Jeremiah 40:1) _ 2. Gedaliah and Ishmael's deed (Jeremiah 40:7; Jeremiah 41:1) 3. Ishmael's further atrocities and retreat (Jeremiah 41:4) Jeremiah 40:1. The opening paragraph of this chapter tells us of the choice which was given to Jeremiah. He was loosed from the prisoner's chains and told by the captain of the guard “If it seems good unto thee to come with me i

MURDER OF GEDALIAH BY ISHMAEL. Three months (Jeremiah 39:2) after the capture of Jerusalem, Ishmael, who was of royal blood (and so perhaps jealous of the governor's position), together with ten followers, took advantage of Gedaliah's hospitality to murder him, and those with him (in his house, or at the banquet). Jeremiah 41:3. Omit, with LXX, even with Gedaliah, and even the men of war, _i.e._ the body-guard....

AND. Some codices, with Vulg, and three early printed editions, read this "and" in the text....

Jeremiah 41:1. See introd. summary to the section. For Jeremiah 41:1 see 2 Kings 25:25....

2. _The plot executed_ (Jeremiah 41:1-3) TRANSLATION (1) And it came to pass in the seventh month that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, who was of royal descent, came unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam accompanied by ten men who were also royal princes. And they ate bread there together in Mizpah. (2) And Ishmael the son of Nethaniah and the ten men who were with him rose up and smote Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, with the sword and killed him whom the king of Babylon had appointed over the land. (3) Ishmael also smote all the Jews who were with Gedaliah in Mizpah, the Chaldeans who were found there, and all the soldiers. COMMENTS It was in the seventh month that Ishmael began to set his plan in motion. Unfortunately the narrator has failed to mention the year in which the assassination took place. Does he mean that

PLOT AGAINST GEDALIAH AND ITS RESULTS (586 B.C.) 1-10. Ishmael murders Gedaliah and others, and carries off captives....