Jeremiah 41:4

And it came to pass the second day after he had slain Gedaliah, and no man knew it, NO MAN KNEW IT - i:e., outside Mizpah: before that tidings of the murder had gone abroad....

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

AND IT CAME TO PASS, THE SECOND DAY AFTER HE HAD SLAIN GEDALIAH,.... That is, the day following, for it was in the night, as Josephus relates, as before observed, the murder was committed: AND NO MAN KNEW [IT]; not any out of the city, or in remote parts; for those that were in the city must be sensible of it; but as yet the report of it had not reached the neighbourhood, and much less distant parts; this is observed on account of the following story, and to show how easily the persons after mentioned were drawn in by Ishmael....

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

ISHMAEL'S DEEDS AND FLIGHT. Eighty pilgrims from N. Israel to Jerusalem, mourning its fall, and carrying offerings (Jeremiah 17:26), were met by Ishmael and enticed into Mizpah. There he killed them all except ten who acknowledged that they had stores of grain, etc. Ishmael threw all the dead bodies into a great cistern, made by Asa, and started for Ammon, with the surviving Jews as his captives, including certain princesses (doubtless also Jeremiah and Baruch; _cf._ Jeremiah 42:2; Jeremiah 43:3). Johanan and other Jews pursued Ishmael and overtook him at Gibeon, but he escaped with eight men. His captives were taken by Johanan to the neighbourhood of Bethlehem, with a view to migration into Egypt (for other ref

_the second day_ probably meaning the next day....

3. _The massacre of the pilgrims_ (Jeremiah 41:4-9) TRANSLATION (4) And it came to pass on the day after the murder of Gedaliah, while no man yet knew of it, (5) eighty men from Shechem, Shiloh and Samaria who had shaved their beards, torn their garments, and cut themselves, came with offerings and incense in their hand to present at the house of the LORD. (6) And Ishmael the son of Nethaniah went out from Mizpah to meet them weeping as he went. (7) And when he reached them he said unto them, Come to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam. (7) And when they came into the midst of the city Ishmael the son of Nethaniah slew them and cast them into the cistern, he and the men who were with him. (8) However, ten men among them said unto Ishmael, Do not kill us for we have provisions of wheat, barley, oil, and honey in the field. So he stopped and did not kill them along with their br

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

וַ יְהִ֛י בַּ † יֹּ֥ום הַ שֵּׁנִ֖י לְ הָמִ֣ית אֶת ־גְּדַלְיָ֑הוּ וְ אִ֖ישׁ לֹ֥א...