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Jeremiah 41

In this chapter, Ishmael, son of Nethaniah, assassinates Gedaliah, who was appointed governor over Judah by the Babylonians. This act of violence escalates into a massacre, as Ishmael and his men kill several Jews and Chaldeans at Mizpah. He then captures the people left in Mizpah and plans to escape to the Ammonites. Johanan and his men pursue Ishmael, rescue the captives, and drive him away, but Ishmael escapes to Ammon. The chapter illustrates the continuing instability and betrayal within Judah, even among those left after the Babylonian exile.

Jeremiah 41:1-3 (NKJV)
1 Now it came to pass in the seventh month that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, of the royal family and of the officers of the king, came with ten men to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, at Mizpah. And there they ate bread together in Mizpah.
2 Then Ishmael the son of Nethaniah and the ten men who were with him arose and struck Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, with the sword, and killed him whom the king of Babylon had made governor over the land.
3 Ishmael also struck down all the Jews who were with him, that is, with Gedaliah at Mizpah, and the Chaldeans who were found there, the men of war.

Ishmael, a descendant of the royal family, deceives Gedaliah by sharing a meal with him and then suddenly betrays him. Despite Gedaliah's position as the Babylonian-appointed governor, Ishmael and his men assassinate him and proceed to kill the Jews and Chaldean soldiers present. This act of violence not only eliminates the authority appointed by Babylon but also brings further division and bloodshed to the remnant of Judah. Ishmael’s betrayal reflects deep political tensions and divisions within Judah, as well as opposition to Babylonian rule.

Jeremiah 41:4-7 (NKJV)
4 And it happened, on the second day after he had killed Gedaliah, when as yet no one knew it,
5 that certain men came from Shechem, from Shiloh, and from Samaria, eighty men with their beards shaved and their clothes torn, having cut themselves, with offerings and incense in their hand, to bring them to the house of the Lord.
6 Now Ishmael the son of Nethaniah went out from Mizpah to meet them, weeping as he went along. And it happened, as he met them, that he said to them, “Come to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam!”
7 So it was, when they came into the midst of the city, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah killed them and cast them into the midst of a pit, he and the men who were with him.

Two days after Gedaliah’s assassination, Ishmael encounters a group of eighty men mourning and bringing offerings to the Lord. Pretending to grieve, Ishmael deceives them into entering Mizpah, only to murder them upon arrival. This brutal act further demonstrates Ishmael's disregard for God’s people and those who come in peace. His violent actions add to the chaos in Judah, disrupting the stability of the remaining community.

Jeremiah 41:8 (NKJV)
8 But ten men were found among them who said to Ishmael, “Do not kill us, for we have treasures of wheat, barley, oil, and honey in the field.” So he desisted and did not kill them among their brethren.

Out of the eighty men, ten manage to escape death by bargaining with Ishmael, offering him food supplies. Ishmael’s decision to spare these men reveals his self-interest and greed. Rather than acting out of any noble purpose, Ishmael prioritizes material gain, using his violence for personal benefit, which underscores his callous nature and disregard for justice.

Jeremiah 41:9-10 (NKJV)
9 Now the pit into which Ishmael had cast all the dead bodies of the men whom he had slain, because of Gedaliah, was the same one Asa the king had made for fear of Baasha, king of Israel. Ishmael the son of Nethaniah filled it with the slain.
10 Then Ishmael carried away captive all the rest of the people who were in Mizpah, the king’s daughters and all the people who remained in Mizpah, whom Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had committed to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam. And Ishmael the son of Nethaniah took them captive and departed to go over to the Ammonites.

After the massacre, Ishmael discards the bodies in an old pit originally dug by King Asa. He then takes the remaining people in Mizpah, including royal family members, intending to flee to the Ammonites. By seizing the king’s daughters and the remaining citizens, Ishmael intensifies the suffering of Judah’s remnant, depriving them of both leadership and freedom. This move reflects not only his violent intent but also the vulnerability of Judah’s survivors to external and internal threats.

Jeremiah 41:11-15 (NKJV)
11 But when Johanan the son of Kareah and all the captains of the forces that were with him heard of all the evil that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had done,
12 they took all the men and went to fight with Ishmael the son of Nethaniah; and they found him by the great pool that is in Gibeon.
13 So it was, when all the people who were with Ishmael saw Johanan the son of Kareah and all the captains of the forces who were with him, that they were glad.
14 Then all the people whom Ishmael had carried away captive from Mizpah turned around and came back, and went to Johanan the son of Kareah.
15 But Ishmael the son of Nethaniah escaped from Johanan with eight men and went to the Ammonites.

Upon learning of Ishmael’s atrocities, Johanan and his men pursue him, intercepting him near Gibeon. The captives, seeing Johanan’s arrival, find relief and willingly join him. Though Johanan succeeds in rescuing the people, Ishmael manages to escape to Ammon with a few men, evading justice. This encounter highlights the efforts of faithful leaders like Johanan to restore order and protect the community, despite ongoing dangers from individuals like Ishmael.

Jeremiah 41:16-18 (NKJV)
16 Then Johanan the son of Kareah and all the captains of the forces that were with him took from Mizpah all the rest of the people whom he had recovered from Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, after he had murdered Gedaliah the son of Ahikam—the mighty men of war and the women and the children and the eunuchs, whom he had brought back from Gibeon.
17 And they departed and dwelt in the habitation of Chimham, which is near Bethlehem, as they went on their way to Egypt,
18 because of the Chaldeans; for they were afraid of them, because Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had murdered Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, whom the king of Babylon had made governor in the land.

Johanan gathers the people rescued from Ishmael and, fearing Babylonian reprisal for Gedaliah’s murder, decides to seek refuge in Egypt. Their choice to move near Bethlehem and contemplate fleeing reflects a pervasive fear of Babylon’s reaction. Johanan’s leadership amid these challenges shows his concern for the welfare of the people, yet the decision to go toward Egypt foreshadows further tension as they seek safety from foreign rule.

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