Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Jeremiah 41:10
Then Ishmael carried away captive all the residue of the people that [were] in Mizpah, [even] the king’s daughters, and all the people that remained in Mizpah, whom Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had committed to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam: and Ishmael the son of Nethaniah carried them away captive, and departed to go over to the Ammonites.
10. the king’s daughters ] not necessarily Zedekiah’s daughters, but female members of the royal house, not taken away as captive by Nebuchadnezzar.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 10. Carried away captive] He took all these that he might sell them for slaves among the Ammonites.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
By this verse appeareth that all the Jews, Jer 41:3, must be understood in a restrained sense, concerning all those about Gedaliah. For he carried many away as prisoners, as also Zedekiahs daughters, who either had concealed themselves at the taking of the city, or were left behind by the conquerors, as not like much to hurt them; and having done this, he knew there was no abiding for him long there, so he hasteneth away to the Ammonites, who (as we had it before) employed him in this murder.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
10. the king’s daughters (Jer43:6). Zedekiah’s. Ishmael must have got additional followers(whom the hope of gain attracted), besides those who originally setout with him (Jer 41:1), so asto have been able to carry off all the residue of the people. Heprobably meant to sell them as slaves to the Ammonites (see on Jer40:14).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Then Ishmael carried away captive all the residue of the people that [were] in Mizpah,…. All that were not slain by him, that remained after the slaughter he had made, chiefly the unarmed people; they being men of war who fell by his sword:
[even] the king’s daughters; whether they were the daughters of Zedekiah, Jehoiakim, or Jehoiakim, says Kimchi, we know not; but it is most likely that they were the daughters of Zedekiah the last king, and who was just taken and carried captive; and so Josephus n expressly calls them; these the king of Babylon regarded not, because they could neither fight, nor claim the kingdom; only the sons of the king, whom he slew before his eyes; though it may be these were not his daughters by his lawful wife, but by his concubines, and so were not properly of the royal family, and less regarded:
and all the people that remained in Mizpah, whom Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had committed to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam; that were not slain, or carried captive by the Chaldeans; but were left at Mizpah, under the care and government of Gedaliah:
and Ishmael the son of Nethaniah carried them away captive: so that those who escaped one captivity fell into another, and even by the hand of one of their own countrymen:
and departed to go over to the Ammonites; he went from Mizpah with these captives, in order to carry them to the king of Ammon, and make them his slaves; who had put him upon this enterprise out of hatred to the Jews, and to enrich himself with their spoils. Some render it, “to go over with the Ammonites” o; which they suppose the ten men to be that came along with him and the princes, to commit the barbarities they did.
n Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 10. c. 9. sect. 4.) o “cum filiis Ammon”, Schmidt.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
After executing these murderous deeds, Ishmael led away into captivity all the people that still remained in Mizpah, the king’s daughters and all the people whom Nebuchadnezzar had committed to the care of Gedaliah, intending to go over with them to the Ammonites. As the object of is very far removed through the intervention of a relative clause, the connection is resumed by . “The king’s daughters” are not only the daughters of Zedekiah, but female members generally of the royal house, princesses, analogous to , king’s son = prince, Jer 36:26; Jer 38:6.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
It is not known whether Ishmael had this design at the beginning, or whether, when he saw that he had no power to stand his ground, he took the captives with him, that he might dwell with the king of Ammon. It is, however, probable that this was done according to a previous resolution, and that before he slew Gedaliah, it was determined that the remnant should be drawn away to that country. Perhaps the king of Ammon wished to send some of his own people to dwell in Judea; thus he hoped to become the ruler of Judea, and also hoped to pacify the king of Babylon by becoming his tributary. It was, however, a great thing to possess a land so fertile. However this may have been, there is no doubt but that the king of Ammon hoped for something great after the death of Gedaliah. And it is probable that for this reason the people were drawn away, to whom an habitation in Judea had been permitted.
The Prophet now tells us, that Ishmael took the remnant of the people captives. And it appears that in a short time he had a greater force than at the beginning; for he could not with a few men collect the people, for the number of those who had been left, as we have seen, was not inconsiderable: and they were dispersed through many towns; and Ishmael could not have prevailed on them by his command alone to remove to the land of Ammon. But after he had killed Gedaliah, his barbarity frightened them all, and no doubt many joined him; for an impious faction ever finds many followers when any hope is offered them. All then who were miserable among the people followed him as their leader; and thus he was able to lead away the whole people as captives.
But here again a question arises, that is, respecting the daughters of the king; for the poor and the obscure, who were of the lowest class, had alone been left; and the royal seed, as we have seen, had been carried away. But it is probable that some of the king’s daughters had escaped when the city was besieged; for Ishmael himself was of the royal seed, but he had escaped before the city was taken. Nebuchadnezzar then could not have had him as a captive. The same was the case with the daughters of the king, whom Zedekiah might have sent to some secure places. And Ge-daliah afterwards brought them together when he saw that it could be done without danger or hazard of exciting suspicion: he had indeed obtained this power, as we have before seen, from Nebuzaradan. Though then Gedaliah ruled over the poor and those of no repute, yet the daughters of the king, who had been removed to quieter places, afterwards dwelt with him; and so Ishmael, and John the son of Kareah, and other leaders of the army, came to him: the reason was the same.
But it is again repeated, and all the people that remained in Mizpah, whom Nebuzaradan had committed to Gedaliah, or, over whom he appointed Gedaliah, as we have before seen. But the repetition was not made without reason; for Jeremiah expressed again what was worthy of special notice, that the fury and violence of Ishmael were so great that he did not see that the mind of Nebuchadnezzar would be so exasperated as to become implacable; but his madness was so furious that he had no regard for himself nor for others.
He then says that he took away captive the people, and went that he might pass over to the children of Ammon Thus their condition was much worse than if they had been driven into exile; for the Ammonites were in no degree more kind than the Chaldeans; nay, they were exposed there, as we shall hereafter see, to greater reproaches; it would indeed have been better for them and more tolerable, had they been at once killed, than to have been thus removed to an exile the most miserable.
It hence appears that Ishmael was wholly devoid of all humane feelings, having been thus capable of the impiety of betraying the children of Abraham. For where there is ambition, it often happens that a lust for empire impels men to deeds of great enormity; but to draw away unhappy people to the Ammonites was certainly an act more than monstrous.
As to the people, we shall hereafter see that they deserved all their reproaches and miseries; and this calamity did not happen to them except through the righteous providence of God. For though they were freed, as we shall see, by the son of Kareah, yet they soon went into Egypt, notwithstanding the remonstrances of the Prophet, and his severe denunciations in case they removed there. Though then the base and monstrous cruelty of Ishmael is here set before us, let us yet know that the Jews deserved to be driven away into exile, and to be subjected to all kinds of miseries.
Oh, miserable sentence! when it is said, that there were slain seventy men in the hand of Gedaliah (124) Some render “hand,” as I have noticed, “on account of Gedaliah; ” and others, “in the place of Gedaliah.” But as this explanation seems forced, we may take hand for stroke or wound; and this seems the most suitable meaning, as hand is often so taken in Scripture. They were then slain in the wound of Gedaliah, that is, they were slain in like manner with him, as it were in addition to the wound he received. Let us now proceed, —
(124) This is in the ninth verse. The words are omitted in the Sept.; “on account of Gedaliah,” is the Vulg. and the Targum.; which is the same with our version. “Along with Gedaliah,” is Blayney’s. The word “hand,’ often means power, authority, dominion. (Gen 9:2; Jud 1:35) Then the rendering would be, “on account of the power of Gedaliah;” and this would give the passage the most emphatic meaning: Ishmael smote them because he envied the power given to Gedaliah, which these men, by coming to Mizpah, acknowledged and supported. — Ed.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
4. The deliverance of the hostages (Jer. 41:10-16)
TRANSLATION
(10) Then Ishmael took captive the rest of the people who were in Mizpah, the daughters of the king, and all the rest of the people who were in Mizpah whom Nebuzaradan, the commander of the guard, had committed to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam. Ishmael the son of Nethaniah took them captive and set out with the intention of crossing over unto the Ammonites. (11) And Johanan the son of Kareah and all the officers of the forces which were with him heard all the terrible things that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had done. (12) And he took all the men and set out with the intention of fighting with Ishmael the son of Nethaniah; and they caught up with him at the great pool which was in Gibeon.
(13) And when all the people who were with Ishmael saw Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the officers of the forces which were with him, they rejoiced.
(14) And all the people which Ishmael had taken captive from Mizpah turned and went back to Jo hanan the son of Kareah. (15) But Ishmael the son of Nethaniah escaped from Johanan the son of Kareah with eight men and went to the Ammorites. (16) Then Johanan the son of Kareah and all the officers of the forces which were with him took all the remnant of the people whom he had rescued from Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, from Mizpah, after he had slain Gedaliah the son of Ahikammen, soldiers, women children and eunuchs which he brought from Gibeon.
COMMENTS
After the slaughter of the Israelite pilgrims Ishmael and his men took captive the entire population of Mizpah. Among the captives were the daughters of the king, i.e., princesses of the royal house whom Nebuchadnezzar had permitted to remain in Judah. Ishmaels motives here are not entirely clear. Did he intend to sell these captives on a foreign slave market? Did he intend to use these people as hostages to guarantee his safe return across the Jordan to Ammon? In view of the detail in which the escapades of Ishmael are recounted, One cannot help but wonder if Jeremiah and Baruch were among the Mizpah captives. This, of course, must remain a matter of speculation.
It was not long before the Mizpah massacre was discovered. When Johanan and the other captives heard what had happened they took decisive action (Jer. 41:11). They immediately gathered together their fighting men and set out in pursuit of the brigands. The force of Johanan caught Up with Ishmael at the great waters near Gibeon[349] three miles southwest of Mizpah (Jer. 41:12). When the frightened captives saw the forces of Johanan approaching they took new heart, broke ranks and ran in the direction of their deliverers (Jer. 41:13-14). Ishmael and eight of his men were successful in escaping from Johanan, but two of the murderers apparently were caught and slain (Jer. 41:15).
[349] The pool is mentioned in 2Sa. 2:13 as the place of the battle between Abner and Joab.
D. The Plight of the Remnant Jer. 41:17 to Jer. 43:7
Following the death of Gedaliah the tiny remnant in Judah was thrown into confusion. Gedaliah was dead; Ishmael had escaped. It would only be a matter of time before Nebuchadnezzar would appear to avenge the death of his governor. The preceding narrative has skillfully portrayed the dire plight of the people who remained in the land following the destruction of Jerusalem. But they had one consolationGod was still with them and the prophet of God was still available to deliver His word to them. This section of the book moves rapidly through four stages: (1) the reasoning of the people (Jer. 41:17-18); (2) the request to the prophet (Jer. 42:1-6); (3) the response of the Lord (Jer. 42:7-22); and (4) the rashness of the leaders (Jer. 43:1-7).
Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
(10) Even the kings daughters.We find in Jer. 39:6 that the sons of Zedekiah were slain at Riblah. The daughters (the word was probably used generally for all the princesses of the royal house) were spared, and consigned to the protection of Gedaliah. In taking possession of them, Ishmael was asserting, after the fashion of the East, his claim as the representative of the royal house. The Ammonites had been in alliance with Zedekiah (Jer. 27:3), and Ishmael reckoned on finding a safe refuge with them. It would seem, indeed, from Jer. 40:14, that he had been sent, or was believed to have been sent, by the king of the Ammonites for the very purpose of the murder of Gedaliah.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
10. King’s daughters Not only those who were really such, but all the younger female members of the royal household.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
It is hardly possible, but to take part with satisfaction on the success of Johanan, in the recovery of the Captives. Nevertheless, what is the sum and substance of the history, but potsherds striving with potsherds; and the Lord’s cause, and the Lord’s glory, becoming the object of neither. Behold, Reader! as we prosecute the history, we only read more and more of man’s ruin and apostacy from God. Well might the Prophet Jeremiah be called the mournful Prophet, for every one that reads the history of his day, and feels concerned for the Lord’s glory, must find cause to mourn also. Lam 1:20 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Jer 41:10 Then Ishmael carried away captive all the residue of the people that [were] in Mizpah, [even] the king’s daughters, and all the people that remained in Mizpah, whom Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had committed to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam: and Ishmael the son of Nethaniah carried them away captive, and departed to go over to the Ammonites.
Ver. 10. Then Ishmael carried away captive. ]
“ Auri sacra fames quid non mortalia cogit Pectora? ”
Even the king’s daughters.] His own kinswomen, whom the Babylonian had spared. It may be he meant to marry one of them, as our Richard III would have done his niece Elizabeth, and so to have reigned in her right.
And all the people that remained in Mizpah.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
the king’s daughters. See note on Jer 43:7.
Nebuzaradan. See note on Jer 39:9.
the guard = the executioners (2Ki 25:8).
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
all the: Jer 40:11, Jer 40:12
even: Jer 22:30, Jer 39:6, Jer 43:5-7, Jer 44:12-14
whom: Jer 40:7
to the: Jer 40:14, Neh 2:10, Neh 2:19, Neh 4:7, Neh 4:8, Neh 6:17, Neh 6:18, Neh 13:4-8
Reciprocal: Jer 38:22 – all Jer 38:23 – they shall Jer 41:16 – even Jer 43:6 – the king’s
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jer 41:10. After the aforesaid slaughter of the captives, Ishmael kidnapped the daughters of Zedekiah whom the king of Babylon had sent to Mizpah for safekeeping with some others, and started with them to go into the land of the Ammonites.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Jer 41:10-13. Ishmael carried away captive all the residue of the people All that he did not slay: see note on Jer 41:3; and among the rest Zedekiahs daughters, who had been left to the care of Gedaliah, when his sons were slain. These, it seems, being recovered by Johanan, were taken with him into Egypt, where they perished among the other Jews. And Ishmael departed to go over to the Ammonites Probably intending to make a present of the captives he was taking with him, to Baalis king of Ammon, by whom he had been instigated to the murder of Gedaliah. But when Johanan, and all the captains heard, &c. It would have been well if Johanan, when he gave information to Gedaliah of Ishmaels treasonable design, had stayed with him; for he and his captains, and their forces, might have been a life-guard to him, and a terror to Ishmael, and so have prevented the mischief, without the effusion of blood. They took all the men, and went to fight with Ishmael Upon receiving notice of the murders he had committed, and which way he had gone, they pursued him, and found him by the great waters that are in Gibeon Called the pool of Gibeon, of which we read 2Sa 2:13. Now when all the people which were with Ishmael Namely, the poor captives whom he was taking into the land of the Ammonites; saw Johanan, &c., they were glad As they might well be, to see a probability of escaping out of the hands of the bloody man who had slain so many of their brethren: and they presently found an opportunity to wheel about, and come over to Johanan and his captains, Ishmael not attempting to detain them, but readily quitting his prey to save his life.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Then Ishmael took captive all the people of Mizpah that Nebuzaradan had placed under Gedaliah’s charge, including King Zedekiah’s daughters (or perhaps "women with royal blood"). [Note: Thompson, p. 660.] He began to transport all these people to the nation of Ammon, his ally to the east of the Jordan River.