Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Jeremiah 40:14
And said unto him, Dost thou certainly know that Baalis the king of the Ammonites hath sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to slay thee? But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam believed them not.
14. Baalis the king of the children of Ammon ] It is easier to see the motives of Ishmael than those of his instigator Baalis. The former no doubt felt aggrieved that he, although of royal birth (Jer 41:1), should be set aside in favour of Gedaliah, and at once determined to get rid of him and take his place. Baalis may have had a spite against Gedaliah and his family as friends of Jeremiah, and as having probably taken the side of that prophet openly, when (ch. 27) he sent back the messengers of Ammon and the other neighbouring nations, refusing the alliance against the Chaldaeans which they had desired; or it may have been a design against Palestine generally which influenced him on this occasion, and the belief that, if he were to get rid of Gedaliah and the firm and peaceful rule which he seemed to be inaugurating, there would be more chance for himself in carrying out his plans of conquest.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
It is difficult to say what object Baalis can have had in murdering Gedaliah. As an ally of Zedekiah Jer 27:3, he may have had a spite against the family of Ahikam for opposing, as most probably they did at Jeremiahs instigation, the league proposed Jer. 27. Ishmaels motive was envy and spite at seeing a subject who had always opposed the war now invested with kingly power, in place of the royal family.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 14. But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam believed then not.] The account given of this man proves him to have been a person of uncommon greatness of soul. Conscious of his own integrity and benevolence, he 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 confident: but any thing of this kind that may be justly charged against him serves only to show the greatness of his mind. A little soul is ever suspicious, and ready to believe the worst of every person and thing. A great mind acts always on the contrary.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Dost thou, for dost thou not; for not is plainly understood, as the sense makes evident. Whether this Baalis be a proper name of the
king of the Ammonites, or, as some think, an appellative name, signifying the lady or the queen regent, is uncertain. What made the prince of the Ammonites do this can be but guessed; probably the old hatred they had to Israel, or hopes that they should have the better fishing in these waters when they were troubled. Gedaliah seems a man of a good humour, not too credulous, and believes not the information.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
14. Baalisnamed from the idolBaal, as was often the case in heathen names.
AmmonitesSo it was tothem that Ishmael went after murdering Gedaliah (Jer41:10).
slayliterally, “strikethee in the soul,” that is, a deadly stroke.
IshmaelBeing of theroyal seed of David (Jer 41:1),he envied Gedaliah the presidency to which he thought himselfentitled; therefore he leagued himself with the ancient heathen enemyof Judah.
believed . . . notgenerous,but unwise unsuspiciousness (Ec9:16).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And said unto him, dost thou certainly know,…. Not that they thought he did know, or that the thing was so flagrant that he must know it; but that he might be assured of the truth of it, from the information they were now about to give him: or, “dost thou [not] in knowing know?” x it is most certainly true; and thou mayest depend upon it that it is real matter of fact:
that Baalis the king of the Ammonites hath sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to slay thee? very probably Ishmael, with the forces under him, fled to the king of the Ammonites upon the taking of Jerusalem; who, out of ill will to the Jews, always bore them by the Ammonites, envying their reestablishment under Gedaliah, and hoping to make a prey of them if their governor was removed, moved it to this young prince to dispatch him; and who might be forward enough to undertake it, being displeased that Gedaliah should be governor, which he might think was an office he had a better right to, being of the seed royal; and therefore readily agreed to be sent on this bloody errand, to take away the governor’s life: or, “to smite [him] in the soul”; or “to smite his soul” y; that is, to give him a mortal blow, his death’s wound, to separate soul and body:
but Gedaliah the son of Ahikam believed them not; being a good man, and knowing he had done nothing to disoblige him, could not believe a person of such birth and dignity would ever be guilty of such an action: very likely Ishmael had behaved in a very princely complaisant manner, and had expressed a great affection for the governor, and had been very familiar with him; and being of the seed royal, it is highly probable Gedaliah had shown a distinguished regard to him, which he might think was the reason of this charge being brought against him, out of envy to him; however, since it came from such a body of men, though he was not over credulous, yet he ought to have inquired into it, and provided for his own safety, and the public good, against the worst that might happen.
x “nonne cognoscendo cognosces”, Pagninus, Montanus. y “ut percutiat animam tuam”, Munster; “te in anima”, Pagninus; “secundum animam”, Piscator; “ad percutiendum te (quoad) animam”, Schmidt.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
They therefore came and said, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah was suborned by the king of Ammon It may have been that the king of Ammon had hoped to be the king of Judea, or to have all that land as his own after the departure of the Chaldean army. But as his expectation was disappointed, he began to attempt another tiling, to render the land desolate by creating disturbances. Such then seems to have been the reason why he induced Ishmael to undertake the impious and abominable act of killing Gedaliah.
As to Gedaliah having no faith in their words, a question may be here raised, How was it that God suffered this holy man, endued with such rare virtues, to be basely killed by a traitor and an assassin? In the first place, we must hold it as true, that God’s judgments are just, though they correspond not with our notions. It seems indeed, at the first glance, very unaccountable, that Gedaliah should have been slain, who yet had emerged, as it were, from death, and had obtained favor with the Chaldeans; but it was God’s pur pose to take him to himself, and at the same time to execute his vengeance to the utmost on the people; for we shall see that those who had been left were wholly unworthy of God’s favor; and we shall also see, that as mad wild beasts they ran headlong to death, and never ceased to provoke God’s wrath against them.
Let us then learn from this passage, that when God calls his servants from this world, he regards their salvation, so that death is for their good. For Gedaliah might have seen, that had he lived longer, things more bitter than hundred deaths would have happened to him. It was then God’s will to take him in time, before he was overwhelmed with sorrows. For it was no small cause of grief to see the people obstinately struggling against the goodness of God, until their final ruin came. This obstinacy then might have been the cause of incredible sorrow to the holy man: hence the Lord removed him in due time. In the meantime, as I have said, he opened a way for his wrath, so that after it became evident that the remnant that had been saved were wholly unworthy of mercy, they were destroyed together with the rest.
But, in the second place, we see that there was a fault mixed with virtue in Gedaliah. Love, indeed, is not suspicious, as Paul says, and ought not easily to admit an accusation. (1Co 13:5.) But he ought to have been circumspect, not only for his own sake, but because his death brought with it the ruin of the whole people. He ought then to have been more cautious. But we hence learn how difficult it is even for the best of men, endued with peculiar virtues, so to conduct themselves, as not to deviate on either side. It was a. praiseworthy simplicity that Gedaliah did not suspect that Ishmael would be so perfidious and so wicked; but as in this instance he shewed no regard for himself nor for the public safety, he was to be blamed. But, as I have said, it was God’s purpose to remove him to his rest, for had he lived, he would have been a hundred times overwhelmed with troubles. Ungodly men may blast the memory of the holy man, because he had been so stupid: but as I have already said, that as he must have deviated either on this or that side, it was better that Ishmael should not be accused until he was found guilty. Gedaliah’s only mistake was, that he disregarded the treachery of which he had been warned. It now follows —
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(14) Dost thou certainly know that Baalis . . .The king of the Ammonites so named appears from Jer. 27:3 to have been in alliance with Zedekiah; and Ishmael, as belonging to the royal house of Judah, seems to have been still plotting with him against the authority of the Chaldans. Open resistance being now impossible, they have recourse to assassination. The plot becomes known, and Johanan, faithful to his new protector, warns him against it, but, as the sequel shows, in vain. Gedaliah, in the guileless trustfulness of his character, does not believe that Ishmael is capable of such a crime, and will not sanction another crime by way of precaution.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
14. Baalis the king of the Ammonites From Jer 27:3, we learn that this man was an ally of the king of Judah. Why he should seek to assassinate Gedaliah who had shown so friendly a disposition toward the Jews, does not appear.
Ishmael He may have been a willing instrument of this atrocious conspiracy because of his personal enmity to Gedaliah. He was of the royal line, being a descendant of David, and perhaps could ill brook the lordship of this alien and infidel.
Believed them not Generous men are slowest to believe evil of their fellows.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Jer 40:14. Baalis, the king of the Ammonites 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 chap. Jer 41:10. It appears, that Gedaliah, though a man of great honesty and goodness, was too credulous. Grotius compares him to Eumenes. He received Ishmael to his house and table with far too little circumspection. See Calmet.
REFLECTIONS.1st, The chapter begins with, The word which came to Jeremiah; not that this chapter contains any prophesy, but it is a general title to this and most of the chapters which follow.
The rendezvous of the captives, it seems, was appointed to be at Ramah, about seven miles from Jerusalem. Thither, among others, Jeremiah was led, chained with the rest, probably through mistake of some inferior officer, who, after he had been discharged, chap. Jer 34:14 finding him at large, and not knowing the exemption granted him, joined him with his countrymen. But Nebuzar-adan, on the review of the captives, immediately discovered, unbound, and discharged him, with the greatest respect and kindness.
1. Nebuzar-adan, though a heathen, could not but acknowledge the truth of Jeremiah’s mission and prophesies, now so exactly fulfilled; and, to the shame of those who rejected his warning, addresses the captives, reminding them of their sins and disobedience to the prophet’s voice, which had provoked God’s wrath, and brought this righteous judgment upon them.
2. He gives him his choice: either to go to Babylon with him, and be treated with all kindness, and provided for to his heart’s wish; or, if he would rather stay in his native country, he was at full liberty to choose his abode, and perhaps to take possession of what estate in the country he pleased, the whole being at the disposal of the conquerors. Note; They who sacrifice all for God, even in this life, are often found no losers by their fidelity to him.
3. Jeremiah appearing, it should seem, irresolute where to fix, Nebuzar-adan advised him to join Gedaliah, a prince of Judah, who seems early to have followed the prophet’s advice, and fallen to the Chaldeans, and now as a reward was made governor of the land: yet he would not prescribe to him, but left the matter to his own consideration, having supplied him with victuals, which, in the exhausted state of the country, were necessary for his present subsistence, and made him a handsome present besides; a noble instance of generosity in a heathen officer towards a holy prophet. With his advice Jeremiah complied, and joined Gedaliah at Mizpah, rather choosing to sustain the hardships that he might be exposed to in God’s heritage, among his poor people, than dwell in affluence in the land of the heathen.
2nd, A sudden gleam of unexpected prosperity prepares only for the last stroke, which should ruin the miserable remnant which was left.
1. Under Gedaliah’s government, notwithstanding the late desolations, things seemed to wear a promising aspect. The captains of the forces, who had not been able to throw themselves into the city during the siege, and had lurked in some retreat; or rather had escaped with the shattered remains of the soldiery, when Zedekiah was taken, came to Gedaliah at Mizpah; and as he had, it seems, full power left him from the king of Babylon to receive all who quietly submitted, he gave them a solemn oath of protection on condition of their fidelity, and assures them, that their fears were groundless, of being delivered up to the Chaldeans because they had been in arms against them; but if they now lived peaceably, they might live comfortably. He himself would reside at Mizpah, and transact all the matters of tribute to be paid the Chaldeans, or to stand before them, to intercede for them if any inquiry was made after them; to convey to them any orders, and render homage on their behalf; while they had nothing to do but to occupy the land, to gather the vintage, the summer fruits, and oil, lay up their winter’s store, and enjoy the plenty which God had once more restored to them. The rumour of this peaceable re-establishment of the government, under so good a man as Gedaliah, soon reached the neighbouring nations, and drew a vast concourse of Jews, who had taken refuge there, to return and submit to the Chaldean government; so that the country was again replenished with inhabitants, and they gathered wine and summer-fruits very much. Thus once more they began to taste God’s goodness, if that at last might lead them to repentance.
2. A dark scheme appears framed to interrupt and destroy this short-lived prosperity. Johanan, one of the captains who had returned, got intelligence of a plot contrived by Baalis king of the Ammonites, the hereditary enemy of the Jews, and to be executed by Ishmael, who had undertaken to dispatch Gedaliah, envious probably at his advancement, and thinking himself, as of the seed royal, more fit to rule. Of this Johanan informed the governor; and, to prevent the threatened mischief, offered privately to dispatch Ishmael; Gedaliah, however, being a man of integrity himself, would not entertain a suspicion of Ishmael as capable of so base a deed, but rejects the intelligence as false, and forbids him to proceed a step farther in the affair. Note; (1.) Love hopeth all things, thinketh no evil; and they who are conscious of their own simplicity are ready to believe others guileless as themselves. (2.) No obligations can bind the swellings of ambition; men of that character would mount the throne over the corpses of those to whom they are even indebted for the very power of destroying them. (3.) It would be highly dangerous to kill by way of prevention; in such a case, no man’s life would be safe from a malicious tongue. (4.) Though it be sinful to be suspicious, yet, when advertised of our danger, it is wise to be on our guard.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Jer 40:14 And said unto him, Dost thou certainly know that Baalis the king of the Ammonites hath sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to slay thee? But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam believed them not.
Ver. 14. That Baalis the king of the Ammonites. ] Set on work by Beelzebub the prince of devils to hinder so good a work.
But Gedaliah believed them not.
a Speed, 1212.
b Seneca.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
slay thee = strike thy soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Ammonites: Jer 25:21, Jer 41:10, Jer 49:1-6, 1Sa 11:1-3, 2Sa 10:1-6, Eze 25:2-6, Amo 1:13-15
Ishmael: Jer 40:8, Jer 41:2, Jer 41:10, Pro 26:23-26, Isa 26:10, Mic 7:5
slay thee: Heb. strike thee in soul
believed: 1Co 13:5-7
Reciprocal: 2Ch 34:20 – Ahikam Pro 29:10 – but
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jer 40:14. The Ammonites had long been enemies of the Jews though they were distantly related to the Abrahamic blood line. Tbe king of these people heard of the honorable position of Gedaliah and conspired with Ishmael to have the good man killed. For that purpose Ishmael. wiiose personal ambition fitted him for the hateful work, was sent to Mizpah where Gedaliah was situated according to the appointment of the king of Babylon through his eommander-in-chief. Johanan learned of this dark piot and gave Gedaliah the warning but he would not believe it,
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
40:14 And said to him, Dost thou certainly know that {g} Baalis the king of the Ammonites hath sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to slay thee? But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam believed them not.
(g) For under the colour of entertaining Ishmael, he sought only to make them destroy one another.