Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Jeremiah 40:13
Moreover Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that [were] in the fields, came to Gedaliah to Mizpah,
13. Moreover came ] The grammatical construction in the Heb. suggests that we should render, Now had come.
fields ] See note on Jer 40:7.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
13 16. See introd. summary to section.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
They had been with him before, Jer 40:8,9, but now they come to discover a conspiracy against his life.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
13. in the fieldsnot in thecity, but scattered in the country (Jer40:7).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Moreover, Johanan the son of Kareah,…. Who seems to be the principal captain next to Ishmael, against whom an information is brought, and so not present; this captain is here only mentioned by name, and before next to Ishmael:
and all the captains of the forces that [were] in the fields; or that had been in the fields, and probably might be there again; see
Jer 40:7; that is, the rest of them, besides Johanan mentioned, and Ishmael the conspirator: these
came to Gedaliah to Mizpah; they had been with him before, and being satisfied by him of the safety they would be in, in the service of the Chaldeans, under him, either returned to the fields from whence they came, or went to those cities and villages he directed them to; but, like honest and faithful men, knowing there was a conspiracy against his life, came in a body to inform him of it, for the greater certainty of it; as judging he would be more ready to give heed unto it, than if only a single person had informed him of it, as well as to show their affection and loyalty to him.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Gedaliah is forewarned of Ishmael’s intention to murder him. – After the return of those who had taken refuge in Moab, etc., Johanan the son of Kareah, together with the rest of the captains who were scattered here and there through the country, came to Gedaliah at Mizpah, to say to him: “Dost thou know indeed that Baalis the king of the Ammonites hath sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to take thy life?” The words “that were in the country” are neither a gloss, nor a thoughtless repetition by some scribe from Jer 40:7 (as Hitzig and Graf suppose), but they are repeated for the purpose of distinguishing plainly between the captains with their men from the Jews who had returned out of Moab, Ammon, and Edom. , “to strike the soul, life” = to kill; cf. Gen 37:21; Deu 19:6. What induced the king of Ammon to think of assassination – whether it was personal hostility towards Gedaliah, or the hope of destroying the only remaining support of the Jews, and thereby perhaps putting himself in possession of the country, – cannot be determined. That he employed Ishmael for the accomplishment of his purpose, may have been owing to the fact that this man had a personal envy of Gedaliah; for Ishmael, being sprung from the royal family (Jer 40:1), probably could not endure being subordinate to Gedaliah. – The plot had become known, and Gedaliah was secretly informed of it by Johanan; but the former did not believe the rumour. Johanan then secretly offered to slay Ishmael, taking care that no one should know who did it, and urged compliance in the following terms: “Why should he slay thee, and all the Jews who have gathered themselves round thee be scattered, and the remnant of Judah perish?” Johanan thus called his attention to the evil consequences which would result to the remnant left in the land were he killed; but Gedaliah replied, “Do not this thing, for thou speakest a lie against Ishmael.” The Qeri needlessly changes into ; cf. Jer 39:12.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
Vs. 13-16: A WARNING THAT GEDAIJAH WOULD NOT ACCREDIT
1. A number of officers, under the leadership of Johanan, came to Gedaliah to warn of a plot against his life, (vs. 13-14).
a. They inquired whether he was aware that Baalis, the king of the Ammonites, had sent Ishmael, the son of Nethaniah, to assassinate him, (vs. 14a).
b. But Gedaliah refused to give any- credit to the report, (vs. 14b).
2. Later Johanan conferred secretly with Gedaliah – pleading for permission to slay Ishmael before he could carry out his treacherous mission, (vs. 15).
‘a. If he succeeds in taking the life of the governor, all who have gathered around his leadership will be scattered.
b. Nebuchadnezzar will quite likely avenge the murder in such a way that the remnant of Judah will utterly perish.
3. Gedaliah, however, refused the plea of Johanan – accusing him, rather, of lying against a fellow-officer! (vs.16).
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
A sad history is here given, from which we may conclude, that God’s wrath against the people had not been appeased by the destruction of the city and the burning of the Temple. It was some token of mercy, when Gedaliah was set over the remnant of the people and the poor, who had been allowed to dwell in the land. But now Gedaliah is slain, and a miserable scattering must have ensued. The wrath also of the king of Babylon was kindled, because the Chaldeans, who had been given as guards, were at the same time killed. It was then God’s purpose to execute his judgment also on these remnants.
But the Prophet shews how it was that Gedaliah was killed, even because Ishmael had been hired and advised by the king of Ammon. he says, however, that he had been warned by the sons of Kareah, of whom mention has been made, but that he had no faith in them. And hence the Prophet begins by saying, that John the son of Kareah and the other leaders came to him. He had, as we have seen, received them before, and had sworn to them that he would be their defender, so that no one would hurt them; he had undertaken to face all danger, and offered his head as a pledge that the Chaldeans would not attempt anything against them. They came then to him, because with safety was connected public benefit, he had, then, bound them to himself by no common benefit, and it was for their good that he should be safe and secure, who was in favor with the king of Babylon.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
1. The plot revealed (Jer. 40:13-16)
TRANSLATION
(13) Then Johanan the son of Kareah and all the officers of the army which was in the field came unto Gedaliah at Mizpah. (14) And they said unto him, Are you at all aware that Baalis king of the Ammonites has sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to slay you? But Gedaliah did not believe them. (15) so Jonathan the son of Kareah privately said to Gedaliah in Mizpah, let me go I beg you that I may smite Ishmael the son of Nethaniah and no man will know of it. Why should he smite you and cause all of the Jews who have gathered unto You to be scattered, and the remnant of Judah perish? (16) But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said unto Johanan the son of Kareah, Do not do this thing, for you are speaking a falsehood concerning Ishmael.
COMMENTS
Somehow word of the treacherous plot reached the ears of Johanan. Perhaps Ishmael had even tried to enlist Johanan in the conspiracy. At once he warned the governor (Jer. 40:13-14). Gedaliah, being the righteous and godly man that he was, could not bring himself to believe that the report was true. Whether Gedaliah is here being naive and foolish or courageous is difficult to tell. Some have suggested that he brushed aside this threat to his life in order to inspire confidence on the part of the various leaders who had come to him at Mizpah. Perhaps he thought the report was only symptomatic of the divisions within the remnant and that it would be best to disregard such malicious slander. But Johanan knew that the death of Gedaliah would mean disaster for the tiny remnant. He was convinced that the reports concerning Ishmael were true. Privately he pressed the matter with the governor, offering to immediately slay Ishmael if Gedaliah so desired. He underscored the point that if Gedaliah were slain the Jewish remnant in Palestine would be scattered and destroyed (Jer. 40:15). If Gedaliah had merely been putting up a brave front before there is no reason for him to do so now. He ordered that no action be taken against Ishmael and he accuses Johanan of making false accusations against a fellow officer (Jer. 40:16). While of course Gedaliah was right in refusing to allow the assassination of Ishmael, it does seem that he should have taken more active steps to protect his own person. His lack of cautiousness led to his own assassination.
Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
THE CONSPIRACY AGAINST GEDALIAH REPORTED, Jer 40:13-16.
13. In the fields In the country as contrasted with the town or city.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Gedaliah Receives And Rejects A Warning About Ishmael’s Intentions ( Jer 40:13-16 ).
The loyal former resistance commanders learned of Ishmael’s plottings, and came to Gedaliah and warned him of Ishmael’s intentions. They were now content to settle in the land under Gedaliah’s governorship. So they warned him that Ishmael was plotting with the king of Ammon to have Gedaliah assassinated. One of them even offered to have Ishmael done to death secretly. But like many honest men Gedaliah could not conceive of such treachery, and forbade any action against Ishmael on the grounds that their information must be untrue. He could not believe that Ishmael was capable of such treachery.
Jer 40:13-14
‘ Moreover Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces who were in the countryside, came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, and said to him, “Do you know that Baalis the king of the children of Ammon has sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to take your life? But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam did not believe them.’
It may well have been because he sounded them out as to whether they would give him assistance and support that Ishmael’s plotting became known to the other former resistance commanders. However, they apparently had no desire to enter into an intrigue with the unsophisticated Ammonites, and were content with things as they now were. So they approached Gedaliah in order to warn him. Gedaliah on the other hand did not believe that what they were saying was true.
We do not know why Baalis, the king of the tribal Ammonites who were a people who were only half civilised, had a grudge against Gedaliah. And indeed his main aim may simply have been to keep things stirred up in Judah so as to divert Nebuchadrezzar’s attention from Ammon. But it may also have been with a view to using the resulting turmoil to seize land belonging to Judah. The Ammonites had themselves previously been involved with Judah in plots against Babylon (Jer 27:3). Baalis is unknown from history unless the name Ba‘ly found on the Siran bottle dated 667-580 BC refers to him.
Ishmael’s purpose might have been the result of a desire for power, or it may have resulted from greed or jealousy, or it may simply have been with a view to obtaining vengeance for what had happened to his family. But whatever it was he would serve Judah ill.
Jer 40:15
‘Then Johanan the son of Kareah spoke to Gedaliah in Mizpah secretly, saying, “Let me go, I pray you, and I will kill Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and no man will know it. Why should he take your life, that all the Jews who are gathered to you should be scattered, and the remnant of Judah perish?”
Aware of the consequences of any assassination of a Babylonian appointed governor, Johanan, one of the former resistance commanders, offered to have Ishmael secretly assassinated in order to save the situation. Neither he nor his fellow-commanders wanted the turmoil and consequences that would result. Possibly there is a hint here of what the king of Ammon was hoping for.
Jer 40:16
‘But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said to Johanan the son of Kareah, “You shall not do this thing, for you speak falsely of Ishmael.”
But Gedaliah would have none of it. He refused to believe that Ishmael was capable of such a thing, and rebuked Johanan for suggesting false ideas.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
We have here the information of a conspiracy: but the accomplishment is not related in this Chapter. In the succeeding one it is. Alas! neither mercies nor judgments; the fear of death nor of hell, find their influence on some men’s minds. Oh! what a wretched, fallen, depraved state, hath our nature sunk into by sin!
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Jer 40:13 Moreover Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that [were] in the fields, came to Gedaliah to Mizpah,
Ver. 13. Moreover Johanan came to Gedaliah to Mizpah. ] Ishmael perhaps had solicited them to take part with him.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Jer 40:13-16
13Now Johanan the son of Kareah and all the commanders of the forces that were in the field came to Gedaliah at Mizpah 14and said to him, Are you well aware that Baalis the king of the sons of Ammon has sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to take your life? But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam did not believe them. 15Then Johanan the son of Kareah spoke secretly to Gedaliah in Mizpah, saying, Let me go and kill Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and not a man will know! Why should he take your life, so that all the Jews who are gathered to you would be scattered and the remnant of Judah would perish? 16But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said to Johanan the son of Kareah, Do not do this thing, for you are telling a lie about Ishmael.
Jer 40:14 Are you well aware Johanan thought that it was common knowledge that Ishmael was going to attempt to assassinate Gedaliah. This is an INFINITIVE ABSOLUTE and IMPERFECT VERB of the same root (BDB 393, KB 390), used for emphasis.
Baalis the king of the sons of Ammon Baalis’ name is related to the Canaanite fertility god Ba’al. The Jewish Study Bible (p. 1008) asserts that he may be the ba’alyash from a 6th century Ammonite seal impression (also note NASB Study Bible, p. 1122 footnote).
Ishmael Ishmael was of the Davidic line (cf. Jer 41:1; 2Ki 25:25). The exact reason for his assassination of Gedaliah is uncertain.
1. attempt to restore the ancient covenant promises
2. jealousy because he had been overlooked
3. acting on behalf of Baalis, King of Ammon
4. he was just a cruel man (cf. Jer 41:4-10)
Jer 40:15-16 Gedaliah did not believe the rumor about Ishmael. He did nothing to protect himself.
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
fields = field (singular)
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Jer 40:13-16
Jer 40:13-16
THE PLOT AGAINST GEDALIAH’S LIFE
Moreover Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were in the fields, came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, and said unto him, Dost thou know that Baalis the king of the children of Ammon hath sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to take thy life? But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam believed them not. Then Johanan the son of Kareah spake to Gedaliah in Mizpah secretly, saying, Let me go, I pray thee, and I will slay Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and no man shall know it: wherefore should he take thy life, that all the Jews that are gathered unto thee should be scattered, and the remnant of Judah perish? But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said unto Johanan the son of Kareah, Thou shalt not do this thing; for thou speakest falsely of Ishmael.
Baalis king of Ammon hath sent Ishmael to take they life…
(Jer 40:14). It seems incredible that Gedaliah should have disbelieved a rumor like this, which was backed up by all the forces in the fields. It seems that everybody knew about it.
Why did Baalis desire to remove Gedaliah? Gedaliah as a friend of Jeremiah had opposed the coalition proposed by Ammon and other nations, of which we read back in Jeremiah 27. Also, by the device of fishing in troubled waters, he probably hoped to make himself the master of the land of Judah.
His enlistment in the plot of Ishmael, who was of royal blood of the House of David, was probably easy enough. Ishmael, of royal descent probably fancied himself superior in every way to Gedaliah, and avidly desired vengeance against him, hoping to replace him.
What a tragedy Gedaliah became! He was a man of integrity and ability but totally lacking in the skill of evaluating men and their veracity. He might also have been overconfident.
In any case, the fears which Johanan expressed concerning the scattering of the people in the event of Gedaliah’s death were soon confirmed. The tenure of Gedaliah which began with such hope perished miserably in the thrust of the sword of Ishmael. (See the next chapter). The Jews who had begun to gather in Judaea were again scattered.
1. The plot revealed (Jer 40:13-16)
Somehow word of the treacherous plot reached the ears of Johanan. Perhaps Ishmael had even tried to enlist Johanan in the conspiracy. At once he warned the governor (Jer 40:13-14). Gedaliah, being the righteous and godly man that he was, could not bring himself to believe that the report was true. Whether Gedaliah is here being naive and foolish or courageous is difficult to tell. Some have suggested that he brushed aside this threat to his life in order to inspire confidence on the part of the various leaders who had come to him at Mizpah. Perhaps he thought the report was only symptomatic of the divisions within the remnant and that it would be best to disregard such malicious slander. But Johanan knew that the death of Gedaliah would mean disaster for the tiny remnant. He was convinced that the reports concerning Ishmael were true. Privately he pressed the matter with the governor, offering to immediately slay Ishmael if Gedaliah so desired. He underscored the point that if Gedaliah were slain the Jewish remnant in Palestine would be scattered and destroyed (Jer 40:15). If Gedaliah had merely been putting up a brave front before there is no reason for him to do so now. He ordered that no action be taken against Ishmael and he accuses Johanan of making false accusations against a fellow officer (Jer 40:16). While of course Gedaliah was right in refusing to allow the assassination of Ishmael, it does seem that he should have taken more active steps to protect his own person. His lack of cautiousness led to his own assassination.
The Fall of Jerusalem – Jer 39:1 to Jer 40:6
Open It
1. What is your favorite story, true or fictional, of a total reversal of fortunes?
2. What do you think of the idea that the captain should go down with the ship? Why?
Explore It
3. What happened to Jerusalem? (Jer 39:1-3)
4. What did the king of Judah and his soldiers do when the Babylonians entered the city? (Jer 39:4)
5. What happened to Zedekiah and his troops because they decided to flee? (Jer 39:5-7)
6. What was left of the kingdom of Judah when the Babylonians finally left? (Jer 39:8-10)
7. What happened to the prophet Jeremiah when the Babylonians took the city? (Jer 39:11-14)
8. What words of comfort did Jeremiah have on the eve of the Babylonian victory for the man who had rescued him from the cistern? (Jer 39:15-18)
9. Where was Jeremiah when the Babylonian commander of the guard came looking for him in order to carry out the kings instructions? (Jer 40:1-2)
10. What did Nebuzaradan understand about what had just transpired in Judah? (Jer 40:2-3)
11. What choices were given to Jeremiah about where he would live? (Jer 40:4-5)
12. Where did Jeremiah choose to stay after he was freed by the Babylonians? (Jer 40:6)
Get It
13. Although Zedekiah had been installed as a puppet king for the Babylonians, why did he run in fear when they finally took the city?
14. Why would the Babylonians have left a few poor people and given them property?
15. What can we learn about Jeremiahs character and motives from the fact that he chose to stay with his people rather than receive honor in Babylon?
16. What is revealed about Gods character through His concern for Ebed-Melech?
17. How would you respond to the self-imposed suffering of someone who had ignored your previous warnings about the consequences of a specific behavior?
Apply It
18. What immediate action can you take this week concerning a warning from Gods Word?
19. What person of faith could you study in the coming weeks in order to learn how to take a stand for Gods righteousness while maintaining compassion for sinners?
The Flight to Egypt – Jer 40:7 to Jer 45:5
Open It
1. Whom do you know who has been too trusting and suffered because he or she refused to believe ill of another person?
2. What traditional superstitions were you taught as you were growing up?
Explore It
3. How did the governor appointed by the Babylonians reassure the small fighting force that remained in the land after the Babylonians withdrew? (Jer 40:7-10)
4.How did the remnant of people in the land of Judah grow and begin to prosper? (Jer 40:11-12)
5. What warning did some of the commanders give to Gedaliah, the appointed governor? (Jer 40:13-14)
6. How did Johanan propose to solve the threat against Gedaliah, which he perceived as potentially disastrous to the whole remnant? (Jer 40:15)
7. How did Gedaliah respond to Johanans desire to protect him? (Jer 40:16)
8. What devious plan was carried out by Ishmael and his followers? (Jer 41:1-3)
9. What evil deeds did Ishmael add to his murder of Gedaliah? (Jer 41:4-10)
10. What transpired when Johanan caught up to Ishmael? (Jer 41:11-15)
11. What did Johanan assume the remaining faithful people would have to do since Gedaliah had been murdered? (Jer 41:16-18)
12. What request did Johanan and the people with him make of the prophet Jeremiah? (Jer 42:1-3)
13. What promises did Jeremiah and the people make to one another? (Jer 42:4-6)
14. What positive commands and reassuring words did Jeremiah bring from God? (Jer 42:7-12)
15. What warning did God have for the people in anticipation of their intended disobedience? (Jer 42:13-18)
16. Of what fatal mistake did Jeremiah accuse the remnant of Judah? (Jer 42:19-22)
17. How did Johanan and the other leaders rationalize their disobedience? (Jer 43:1-3)
18. Who were the people who entered Egypt, some of them against their will? (Jer 43:4-7)
19. When he was at Tahpanhes with the others, what symbolic action did God tell Jeremiah to take, and what was the meaning? (Jer 43:8-13)
20. For what sin did God, through Jeremiah, remind the people that He had punished Judah and Jerusalem? (Jer 44:1-6)
21. Why was Jeremiah amazed that the remnant had not learned a lesson from all that had happened before? (Jer 44:7-10)
22. What did God say He would do to all those determined to go to Egypt for protection? (Jer 44:11-14)
23. What superstitious belief did the people cite as they defied Jeremiah openly? (Jer 44:15-19)
24. How did Jeremiah proceed to correct their thinking about the real cause of their misfortune? (Jer 44:20-23)
25. With what vow did God answer the peoples vow to continue worshiping the “Queen of Heaven”? (Jer 44:24-28)
26. What did God promise to do to the pharaoh of Egypt, whom the Israelites considered an ally against Babylon? (Jer 44:29-30)
27. Why was the scribe, Baruch, feeling sorry for himself? (Jer 45:1-3)
28. How did God respond to Baruchs self-pity? (Jer 45:4-5)
Get It
29. What mistake on the part of a well-meaning governor kept the remnant of poor people and fugitive soldiers from prospering after the Babylonian conquest?
30. How did reliance on their own wisdom and preconceptions about Gods answer get Johanan and his fellow leaders into trouble?
31. What (other than fear of the Babylonians) led the people to ignore God and His prophet, Jeremiah?
32. Why did Jeremiah call the disobedience of the people who insisted on fleeing to Egypt a fatal mistake?
33. Why do people swear oaths that they dont really intend to keep?
34. Why are some people willing to attribute their misfortune to Gods indifference or powerlessness rather than to their own sins?
35. When have you felt discouraged because of how long you have endured hardship in doing the right thing?
36. What blessings will follow if we allow Gods loving-kindness to be our reward for faithfulness?
Apply It
37. In what area of your life do you need to pray for Gods perspective on human evil?
38. What initial steps can you take to refocus on the eternal rather than the earthly rewards when you face discouragement in serving the Lord?
Questions On Jeremiah Chapters Thirty-Nine Thru Forty-One
By Brent Kercheville
1 What does chapter 39 describe?
What were some of the horrors of this event?
Where in Deuteronomy did God warn Israel that this would happen if they disobeyed?
2 How does Nebuchadnezzar treat Jeremiah (Jer 39:11-14)? Compare and contrast his treatment by Nebuchadnezzar with his treatment by Zedekiah.
3 What is Gods promise to Jeremiah (Jer 39:15-18)?
4 What happens to Jeremiah in Jer 40:1-6? Who does the text say did all of this for Jeremiah?
5 What happens in Jer 40:7-16?
6 What else happens in chapter 41?
TRANSFORMATION:
How does this relationship change your relationship with God? What did you learn about him? What will
you do differently in your life?
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
Johanan: Johanan and his companions seem to have acted honestly in this affair. They had received intelligence of designs formed against Gedaliah’s life, and consequently against the whole new settlement. Ishmael, being a branch of David’s family, was probably displeased that another was preferred above him; and the king of the Ammonites, out of hatred to the Jews, employed him to slay Gedaliah. But Gedaliah, conscious of his own integrity and benevolence, took the portrait of others from his own mind; and therefore believed evil of no man, because he felt none towards any in his own breast. He may be reproached for being too credulous and confiding; but this only serves to shew the greatness of his soul; for a little mind is always suspicious, and ready to believe the worst of every person and thing. Jer 40:6-8
Reciprocal: 2Sa 16:9 – let me go Jer 41:11 – Johanan Jer 42:1 – all the Jer 42:8 – Johanan Jer 43:2 – Johanan 1Co 13:5 – thinketh
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jer 40:13. Johanan was mentioned in verse 8 but the writer then turned his attention to Ishmael because of his apparent outstanding importance. Now Johanan claims attention as bearer of a message to Gedaliah.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Jer 40:13-16. Johanan the son of Kareah came to Gedaliah, &c. They had been with him before, Jer 40:8-9, 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 the king of the Ammonites hath sent Ishmael to slay thee? The king of the Ammonites had concerted this matter with Ishmael, with a design to make the Jews, who still remained in their own country, his vassals: see Jer 41:10. But Gedaliah believed them not Not being credulous, or of a suspicious temper. Then Johanan spake to Gedaliah secretly Finding that Gedaliah took little notice of what he had spoken to him in the presence of the other captains, he goes to him secretly, and offers him his service to prevent the stroke designed against him, suggesting to him, that if he did not value his own life, yet he ought to consider in what a destitute condition the people would be, in case he should be cut off: they were at present but a small remnant, and if that calamity should happen, even this remnant would also perish. But Gedaliah said, Thou shalt not do this thing, for thou speakest falsely of Ishmael Gedaliah shows in this instance more of that charity that thinks no evil, than of that prudence and discretion which became a chief magistrate. He ought to have been particularly on his guard against one, concerning whose mischievous designs he had received such information; but, alas! he placed too great confidence in the fidelity of those about him, and this proved ruinous, both to himself and to the poor people whom he was appointed to govern and protect.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Jer 40:13-16. Gedaliahs Peril.Johanan warns Gedaliah of his danger from Ishmael, another of the newly-submitted leaders (Jer 41:1), alleged to be an agent of the king of Ammon (Jer 27:3). Gedaliah refuses to believe this, or to avail himself of Johanans offer to kill Ishmael.
Fuente: Peake’s Commentary on the Bible
One of the remaining Judean princes, Johanan (cf. Jer 40:8), asked Gedaliah if he was aware that the king of Ammon had encouraged another one of the Judean princes, Ishmael (cf. Jer 40:8), to assassinate him. Ishmael’s ancestor Elishama (Jer 41:1) was one of David’s sons (2Sa 5:16), so he may have aspired to rule Judah. Baalis, the Ammonite king, shared Zedekiah’s antagonism for Babylon (cf. Jer 27:1-11), so he did not want a Babylonian puppet governing Judah. Furthermore, a politically unstable condition in Judah would cause Nebuchadnezzar to concentrate his attention and troops there, rather than on Ammon. Gedaliah did not believe that any such plot existed.
"Gedaliah had apparently forgotten that Ishmael was of the house of David [as well as a former chief official of Zedekiah’s, Jer 41:1] and thus did not appreciate being passed by in Gedaliah’s favor. Or Ishmael may have considered Gedaliah a traitor for agreeing to govern under the Babylonians. Baalis [the king of Ammon] may have felt that eliminating Gedaliah would make it easier to carry out his own plans to conquer Judah. The king of Ammon may have feared that Gedaliah might again make Judah a formidable nation and a potential threat to him. Also, Baalis (Jer 40:14), an ally of Zedekiah and an enemy of the Babylonians (cf. Jer 27:3), was angry that the family of Ahikam opposed the league referred to in chapter 27." [Note: Feinberg, "Jeremiah," p. 628.]
Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)
The assassination of Gedaliah 40:13-41:3