5 Now while he was not yet gone back, H7725 he said, Go back H7725 also to Gedaliah H1436 the son H1121 of Ahikam H296 the son H1121 of Shaphan, H8227 whom the king H4428 of Babylon H894 hath made governor H6485 over the cities H5892 of Judah, H3063 and dwell H3427 with him among H8432 the people: H5971 or go H3212 wheresoever it seemeth convenient H3477 H5869 unto thee to go. H3212 So the captain H7227 of the guard H2876 gave H5414 him victuals H737 and a reward, H4864 and let him go. H7971
And Elisha H477 came H935 to Damascus; H1834 and Benhadad H1130 the king H4428 of Syria H758 was sick; H2470 and it was told H5046 him, saying, H559 The man H376 of God H430 is come H935 hither. H2008 And the king H4428 said H559 unto Hazael, H2371 Take H3947 a present H4503 in thine hand, H3027 and go, H3212 meet H7125 the man H376 of God, H430 and enquire H1875 of the LORD H3068 by him, saying, H559 Shall I recover H2421 of this disease? H2483 So Hazael H2371 went H3212 to meet H7125 him, and took H3947 a present H4503 with him, H3027 even of every good thing H2898 of Damascus, H1834 forty H705 camels' H1581 burden, H4853 and came H935 and stood H5975 before H6440 him, and said, H559 Thy son H1121 Benhadad H1130 king H4428 of Syria H758 hath sent H7971 me to thee, saying, H559 Shall I recover H2421 of this disease? H2483
And it came to pass in the seven H7651 and thirtieth H7970 year H8141 of the captivity H1546 of Jehoiachin H3078 king H4428 of Judah, H3063 in the twelfth H8147 H6240 month, H2320 in the five H2568 and twentieth H6242 day of the month, H2320 that Evilmerodach H192 king H4428 of Babylon H894 in the first year H8141 of his reign H4438 lifted up H5375 the head H7218 of Jehoiachin H3078 king H4428 of Judah, H3063 and brought him forth H3318 out of prison, H1004 H3628 And spake H1696 kindly H2896 unto him, and set H5414 his throne H3678 above H4605 the throne H3678 of the kings H4428 that were with him in Babylon, H894 And changed H8138 his prison H3608 garments: H899 and he did continually H8548 eat H398 bread H3899 before H6440 him all the days H3117 of his life. H2416 And for his diet, H737 there was a continual H8548 diet H737 given H5414 him of the king H4428 of Babylon, H894 every H3117 day H3117 a portion H1697 until the day H3117 of his death, H4194 all the days H3117 of his life. H2416
Then the king H4428 said H559 unto me, For what dost thou make request? H1245 So I prayed H6419 to the God H430 of heaven. H8064 And I said H559 unto the king, H4428 If it please H2895 the king, H4428 and if thy servant H5650 have found favour H3190 in thy sight, H6440 that thou wouldest send H7971 me unto Judah, H3063 unto the city H5892 of my fathers' H1 sepulchres, H6913 that I may build H1129 it. And the king H4428 said H559 unto me, (the queen H7694 also sitting H3427 by him,) H681 For how long shall thy journey H4109 be? and when wilt thou return? H7725 So it pleased H3190 H6440 the king H4428 to send H7971 me; and I set H5414 him a time. H2165 Moreover I said H559 unto the king, H4428 If it please H2895 the king, H4428 let letters H107 be given H5414 me to the governors H6346 beyond H5676 the river, H5104 that they may convey me over H5674 till I come H935 into Judah; H3063 And a letter H107 unto Asaph H623 the keeper H8104 of the king's H4428 forest, H6508 that he may give H5414 me timber H6086 to make beams H7136 for the gates H8179 of the palace H1002 which appertained to the house, H1004 and for the wall H2346 of the city, H5892 and for the house H1004 that I shall enter into. H935 And the king H4428 granted H5414 me, according to the good H2896 hand H3027 of my God H430 upon me.
And as for the people H5971 that remained H7604 in the land H776 of Judah, H3063 whom Nebuchadnezzar H5019 king H4428 of Babylon H894 had left, H7604 even over them he made Gedaliah H1436 the son H1121 of Ahikam, H296 the son H1121 of Shaphan, H8227 ruler. H6485 And when all the captains H8269 of the armies, H2428 they and their men, H582 heard H8085 that the king H4428 of Babylon H894 had made Gedaliah H1436 governor, H6485 there came H935 to Gedaliah H1436 to Mizpah, H4709 even Ishmael H3458 the son H1121 of Nethaniah, H5418 and Johanan H3110 the son H1121 of Careah, H7143 and Seraiah H8304 the son H1121 of Tanhumeth H8576 the Netophathite, H5200 and Jaazaniah H2970 the son H1121 of a Maachathite, H4602 they and their men. H582 And Gedaliah H1436 sware H7650 to them, and to their men, H582 and said H559 unto them, Fear H3372 not to be the servants H5650 of the Chaldees: H3778 dwell H3427 in the land, H776 and serve H5647 the king H4428 of Babylon; H894 and it shall be well H3190 with you.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Jeremiah 40
Commentary on Jeremiah 40 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 40
Jer 40:1-16. Jeremiah Is Set Free at Ramah, and Goes to Gedaliah, to Whom the Remnant of Jews Repair. Johanan Warns Gedaliah of Ishmael's Conspiracy in Vain.
1. word that came—the heading of a new part of the book (the forty-first through forty-fourth chapters), namely, the prophecies to the Jews in Judea and Egypt after the taking of the city, blended with history. The prophecy does not begin till Jer 42:7, and the previous history is introductory to it.
bound in chains—Though released from the court of the prison (see on Jer 39:14), in the confusion at the burning of the city he seems to have been led away in chains with the other captives, and not till he reached Ramah to have gained full liberty. Nebuzara-dan had his quarters at Ramah, in Benjamin; and there he collected the captives previous to their removal to Babylon (Jer 31:15). He in releasing Jeremiah obeyed the king's commands (Jer 39:11). Jeremiah's "chains" for a time were due to the negligence of those to whom he had been committed; or else to Nebuzara-dan's wish to upbraid the people with their perverse ingratitude in imprisoning Jeremiah [Calvin]; hence he addresses the people (ye … you) as much as Jeremiah (Jer 40:2, 3).
2. The Babylonians were in some measure aware, through Jeremiah's prophecies (Jer 39:11), that they were the instruments of God's wrath on His people.
3. ye—(See on Jer 40:1). His address is directed to the Jews as well as to Jeremiah. God makes the very heathen testify for Him against them (De 29:24, 25).
4. look well unto thee—the very words of Nebuchadnezzar's charge (Jer 39:12).
all the land is before thee … seemeth good—(Ge 20:15, Margin). Jeremiah alone had the option given him of staying where he pleased, when all the rest were either carried off or forced to remain there.
5. while he was not yet gone back—parenthetical. When Jeremiah hesitated whether it would be best for him to go, Nebuzara-dan proceeded to say, "Go, then, to Gedaliah," (not as English Version, "Go back, also"), if thou preferrest (as Nebuzara-dan inferred from Jeremiah's hesitancy) to stop here rather than go with me.
victuals—(Isa 33:16).
reward—rather, "a present." This must have been a seasonable relief to the prophet, who probably lost his all in the siege.
6. Mizpah—in Benjamin, northwest of Jerusalem (Jer 41:5, 6, 9). Not the Mizpah in Gilead, beyond Jordan (Jud 10:17). Jeremiah showed his patriotism and piety in remaining in his country amidst afflictions and notwithstanding the ingratitude of the Jews, rather than go to enjoy honors and pleasures in a heathen court (Heb 11:24-26). This vindicates his purity of motive in his withdrawal (Jer 37:12-14).
7. captains … in the fields—The leaders of the Jewish army had been "scattered" throughout the country on the capture of Zedekiah (Jer 52:8), in order to escape the notice of the Chaldeans.
8. Netophathite—from Netophah, a town in Judah (2Sa 23:28).
Maachathite—from Maachathi, at the foot of Mount Hermon (De 3:14).
9. Fear not—They were afraid that they should not obtain pardon from the Chaldeans for their acts. He therefore assured them of safety by an oath.
serve—literally, "to stand before" (Jer 40:10; Jer 52:12), that is, to be at hand ready to execute the commands of the king of Babylon.
10. Mizpah—lying on the way between Babylon and Judah, and so convenient for transacting business between the two countries.
As for me … but ye—He artfully, in order to conciliate them, represents the burden of the service to the Chaldeans as falling on him, while they may freely gather their wine, fruits, and oil. He does not now add that these very fruits were to constitute the chief part of the tribute to be paid to Babylon: which, though fruitful in corn, was less productive of grapes, figs, and olives [Herodotus, 1.193]. The grant of "vineyards" to the "poor" (Jer 39:10) would give hope to the discontended of enjoying the best fruits (Jer 40:12).
11. Jews … in Moab—who had fled thither at the approach of the Chaldeans. God thus tempered the severity of His vengeance that a remnant might be left.
13. in the fields—not in the city, but scattered in the country (Jer 40:7).
14. Baalis—named from the idol Baal, as was often the case in heathen names.
Ammonites—So it was to them that Ishmael went after murdering Gedaliah (Jer 41:10).
slay—literally, "strike thee in the soul," that is, a deadly stroke.
Ishmael—Being of the royal seed of David (Jer 41:1), he envied Gedaliah the presidency to which he thought himself entitled; therefore he leagued himself with the ancient heathen enemy of Judah.
believed … not—generous, but unwise unsuspiciousness (Ec 9:16).
16. thou speakest falsely—a mystery of providence that God should permit the righteous, in spite of warning, thus to rush into the trap laid for them! Isa 57:1 suggests a solution.