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JEREMIAH IS SET FREE A SECOND TIME

A SMALL JUDEAN PROVINCE IS ESTABLISHED AT MIZPAH

ISHMAEL MURDERS GEDALIAH AND CARRIES OFF

THE JUDEANS AT MIZPAH AS CAPTIVES

JEREMIAH 40:1-16

Landmark Publications, Inc., 1045 Maynor Street, Nashville, TN., 37216, U.S.A. John C. Sewell, Ph.D., Editor


JEREMIAH IS SET FREE A SECOND TIME

A SMALL JUDEAN PROVINCE IS ESTABLISHED AT MIZPAH

ISHMAEL MURDERS GEDALIAH AND CARRIES OFF THE

JUDEANS AT MIZPAH AS CAPTIVES

Text:

Jeremiah 40:1-16,

1. The Lord spoke to Jeremiah after Nebuzaradan the captain of the royal guard had set him free at Ramah. He had taken him there in chains along with all the people from Jerusalem and Judah who were being carried off to exile to Babylon.

2. The captain of the royal guard took Jeremiah aside and said to him, “The Lord your God threatened this place with this disaster.

3. Now he has brought it about. The Lord has done just as he threatened to do. This disaster has happened because you people sinned against the Lord and did not obey him.

4. But now, Jeremiah, today I will set you free from the chains on your wrists. If you would like to come to Babylon with me, come along and I will take care of you. But if you prefer not to come to Babylon with me, you are not required to do so. You are free to go anywhere in the land you want to go. Go wherever you choose.”

5. Before Jeremiah could turn to leave, the captain of the guard added, “Go back to Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam and grandson of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon appointed to govern the towns of Judah. Go back and live with him among the people. Or go



wherever else you choose.” Then the captain of the guard gave Jeremiah some food and a present and let him go.

6. So Jeremiah went to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah and lived there with him. He stayed there to live among the people who had been left in the land of Judah.

7. Now some of the officers of the Judean army and their troops had been hiding in the countryside. They heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam to govern the country. They also heard that he had been put in charge over the men, women, and children from the poorer classes of the land who had not been carried off into exile in Babylon.

8. So all these officers and their troops came to Gedaliah at Mizpah. The officers who came were Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth, the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniah son of the Maacathite.

9. Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam and grandson of Shaphan, took an oath so as to give them and their troops some assurance of safety. “Do not be afraid to submit to the Babylonians. Settle down in the land and submit to the king of Babylon. Then things will go well for you.

10. I for my part will stay at Mizpah to represent you before the Babylonians whenever they come to us. You for your part go ahead and harvest the wine, the dates, the figs, and the olive oil, and store them in jars. Go ahead and settle down in the towns that you have taken over.”

11. Moreover, all the Judeans who were in Moab, Ammon, Edom, and all the other countries heard what had happened. They heard that the king of Babylon had allowed some people to stay in Judah and that he had appointed Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam and grandson of Shaphan, to govern them.



12. So all these Judeans returned to the land of Judah from the places where they had been scattered. They came to Gedaliah at Mizpah. Thus they harvested a large amount of wine and dates and figs.

13. Johanan and all the officers of the troops that had been hiding in the open country came to Gedaliah at Mizpah.

14. They said to him, “Are you at all aware that King Baalis of Ammon has sent Ishmael son of Nethaniah to kill you?” But Gedaliah son of Ahikam would not believe them.

15. Then Johanan son of Kareah spoke privately to Gedaliah there at Mizpah, “Let me go and kill Ishmael the son of Nethaniah before anyone knows about it. Otherwise he will kill you and all the Judeans who have rallied around you will be scattered. Then what remains of Judah will disappear.”

16. But Gedaliah son of Ahikam said to Johanan son of Kareah, “Do not do that because what you are saying about Ishmael is not true.” (NET)

Introduction: I. Coffman wrote that Jeremiah 40-46 deals principally with the history of Jeremiah’s life after the fall of Jerusalem. II. Clark wrote that Jeremiah 40-44 reports the events which took place in Judea from the fall of Jerusalem to “the retreat of the people into Egypt, and the prophecies of Jeremiah concerning them there.” III. The Pulpit Commentary states Jeremiah 40-45 describes Jeremiah’s fortunes and ministry after the fall of Jerusalem.



Commentary:

Jeremiah is Set Free A Second Time

Jeremiah 40:1, The Lord spoke to Jeremiah after Nebuzaradan the captain of the royal guard had set him free at Ramah. He had taken him there in chains along with all the people from Jerusalem and Judah who were being carried off to exile to Babylon. (NET)

I. The Lord spoke to Jeremiah after Nebuzaradan the captain of the royal guard had set him free at Ramah.

A. Nebuzaradan was captain of Nebuchadnezzar’s body guard who played an important role in the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 B.C. Nebuzaradan took charge of destroying Jerusalem when it fell to the Babylonians. Nebuzaradan showed kindness to Jeremiah as ordered by Nebuchadnezzar. (Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary)

B. Ramah was located in the territory of Benjamin in the vicinities of Bethel and Gibeah. The territory of Benjamin adjoined the territory of Judah on the north. Following the fall of Jerusalem, Jewish captives were exiled to Babylon from Ramah while those too old or weak to make the journey to Babylon were killed at Ramah. (Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary)

C. The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah again, this time after he had been freed at Ramah by Nebuzaradan.

1. between the historical time this chapter begins and the freeing of Jeremiah at Ramah. The text reports the transpiring events.

2. Sometime after Jeremiah was freed at Ramah, God again spoke to Jeremiah.



3. Coffman explained that the Lord spoke to Jeremiah and inspired him, guided him as to what he was to write and prophesy.

II. He had taken him there in chains along with all the people from Jerusalem and Judah who were being carried off in exile to Babylon.

A. Hamilton wrote, “Jeremiah went from the courtyard of the guard in chains to Ramah to see Nebuzaradan, who released him there.”

1. Jeremiah 39:13-14, So Nebuzaradan, the captain of the royal guard, Nebushazban, who was a chief officer, Nergal-Sharezer, who was a high official, and all the other officers of the king of Babylon 14 sent and had Jeremiah brought from the courtyard of the guardhouse. They turned him over to Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam and the grandson of Shaphan, to take him home with him. But Jeremiah stayed among the people. (NET)

2. Jeremiah 31:15, The Lord says, “A sound is heard in Ramah, a sound of crying in bitter grief. It is the sound of Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because her children are gone.” (NET)

B. Evidently Jeremiah was brought to Ramah along with hundreds of other Judeans.

1. Ramah appears to have been the processing center from which the captives were exiled to Babylon.

2. At Ramah Jeremiah was identified and freed! (See Smith.)

C. Coffman stated simply, “Jeremiah was released twice,” once in Jerusalem and once at Ramah.



Jeremiah 40:2, The captain of the royal guard took Jeremiah aside and said to him, “The Lord your God threatened this place with this disaster. (NET)

I. The captain of the royal guard took Jeremiah aside and said to him, . . .

A. Nebuzaradan spoke with Jeremiah privately and, as ordered by Nebuchadnezzar, kindly and with provisions set Jeremiah free.

II. “The Lord your God threatened this place with his disaster.

A. “Both the Assyrians and Babylonians were familiar with the religion of conquered people, and they were skilled in the use of all those religions in their psychological warfare.” (Coffman)

1. For an example of the use of the religion of opponents against them, see 2 Kings 18:18-25, They summoned the king, so Eliakim son of Hilkiah, the palace supervisor, accompanied by Shebna the scribe and Joah son of Asaph, the secretary, went out to meet them. The chief adviser said to them, “Tell Hezekiah: ‘This is what the great king, the king of Assyria, says: “What is your source of confidence? Your claim to have a strategy and military strength is just empty talk. In whom are you trusting that you would dare to rebel against me? Now look, you must be trusting in Egypt, that splintered reed staff. If a man leans for support on it, it punctures his hand and wounds him. That is what Pharaoh king of Egypt does to all who trust in him. Perhaps you will tell me, ‘We are trusting in the Lord our God.’ But Hezekiah is the one who eliminated his high places and altars and then told the people of Judah and Jerusalem, ‘You must worship at this altar in Jerusalem.’ Now make a deal with my master the king of Assyria, and I will give you two thousand horses, provided you can find enough riders for them. Certainly you will not refuse one of my master’s



minor officials and trust in Egypt for chariots and horsemen. Furthermore it was by the command of the Lord that I marched up against this place to destroy it. The Lord told me, ‘March up against this land and destroy it.’”’” (NET)

B. Nebuzaradan was telling Jeremiah that he knew he was a true prophet of Jeremiah’s God.

1. Nebuzaradan well knew what Jeremiah had prophesied and what he had endured as a result of preaching the truth as God revealed it to him.

Jeremiah 40:3, Now he has brought it about. The Lord has done just as he threatened to do. This disaster has happened because you people sinned against the Lord and did not obey him. (NET)

I. Now he has brought it about. The Lord has done just as he threatened to do.

A. Nebuzaradan clearly believed in the idea that each city, country had its own god. He viewed Jehovah as being the God of the Judeans and Markduk as being the god of the Babylonians.

B. Nebuzaradan really believed that God had in fact brought about the defeat of Jerusalem. (The Pulpit Commentary)

C. The Northern Kingdom had suffered a similar fate at the hands of the Assyrians by the intervention of the Lord.

II. This disaster has happened because your people sinned against the Lord and did not obey him.

A. Nebuzaradan knew what Jeremiah had been preaching. The Babylonians evidently regarded Jeremiah as a friend and now reward him for services rendered.



1. Jeremiah was trying to lead his fellow Judeans to repentance and salvation.

a. Jeremiah 37:2, Neither he nor the officials who served him nor the people of Judah paid any attention to what the Lord said through the prophet Jeremiah. (NET)

b. Jeremiah 38:20, Then Jeremiah answered, “You will not be handed over to them. Please obey the Lord by doing what I have been telling you. Then all will go well with you and your life will be spared. (NET)

2. Jeremiah’s purpose was not to be Babylon’s ally nor a traitor to Jerusalem.

B. Nebuzaradan and the Babylonian leadership were well acquainted with Jeremiah’s life and teachings. Nothing less would have been expected of the mighty and victorious Babylonian intelligence. (See Coffman.)

Jeremiah 40:4, But now, Jeremiah, today I will set you free from the chains on your wrists. If you would like to come to Babylon with me, come along and I will take care of you. But if you prefer not to come to Babylon with me, you are not required to do so. You are free to go anywhere in the land you want to go. Go wherever you choose.” (NET)

I. But now, Jeremiah, today I will set you free from the chains on your wrists.

A. Willis wrote that the treatment of Jeremiah by the Babylonians and the people of Judah are in marked contrast.



1. The Babylonians treated Jeremiah much better than his own people had treated him.

II. If you would like to come to Babylon with me, come along and I will take care of you.

A. Jeremiah could do as he pleased, but Nebuzaradan made three generous suggestions; viz,… (See Smith.)

1. go with him to Babylon where he would personally be cared for the rest of his life.

2. go to Gedaliah, his friend, who would watch over him.

3. go anywhere else as he chose.

B. Jeremiah chose to go to Mizpah to join Gedaliah the provincial governor.

1. Nebuzaradan gave Jeremiah food and a gift and sent him on his way.

III. But if you prefer not to come to Babylon with me, you are not required to do so.

A. Imprisoned Judean captives were forcefully exiled to Babylon.

1. Jeremiah was no longer a captive and was free to go where he wished.

IV. You are free to go anywhere in the land you want to go. Go wherever you choose.”

A. Jeremiah was totally free, found innocent of all charges, exonerated.

B. Jeremiah was in a class by himself, not treated as other Judeans.



1. The Babylonians clearly viewed Jeremiah as a friend.

Jeremiah 40:5, Before Jeremiah could turn to leave, the captain of the guard added, “Go back to Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam and grandson of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon appointed to govern the towns of Judah. Go back and live with him among the people. Or go wherever else you choose.” Then the captain of the guard gave Jeremiah some food and a present and let him go. (NET)

I. Before Jeremiah could turn to leave, the captain of the guard added,…

A. Before Jeremiah could turn and leave, Nebuzaradan gave Jeremiah some friendly, helpful, well intentioned advice.

II. “Go back to Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam and grandson of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon appointed to govern the towns of Judah.

A. Gedaliah was a person of high birth appointed governor of Judah by Nebuchadnezzar. Gedaliah governed Judah from Mizpah, where after ruling only two or three months, he was assassinated by Jewish nationalists led by Ishmael. Gedaliah’s father had protected the prophet Jeremiah and Gedaliah probably did the same. (Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary)

1. 2 Kings 22:3-20, In the eighteenth year of King Josiah’s reign, the king sent the scribe Shaphan son of Azaliah, son of Meshullam, to the Lord’s temple with these orders: “Go up to Hilkiah the high priest and have him melt down the silver that has been brought by the people to the Lord’s temple and has been collected by the guards at the door. Have them hand it over to the construction foremen assigned to the Lord’s temple. They in turn should pay the temple workers to repair it, including craftsmen, builders, and masons, and should buy wood and chiseled stone for the repair work. Do not audit the foremen who disburse the silver, for they are honest.” Hilkiah the high



priest informed Shaphan the scribe, “I found the law scroll in the Lord’s temple.” Hilkiah gave the scroll to Shaphan and he read it. Shaphan the scribe went to the king and reported, “Your servants melted down the silver in the temple and handed it over to the construction foremen assigned to the Lord’s temple.” Then Shaphan the scribe told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a scroll.” Shaphan read it out loud before the king. When the king heard the words of the law scroll, he tore his clothes. The king ordered Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Achbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the king’s servant, “Go, seek an oracle from the Lord for me and the people—for all Judah. Find out about the words of this scroll that has been discovered. For the Lord’s fury has been ignited against us, because our ancestors have not obeyed the words of this scroll by doing all that it instructs us to do.” So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shullam son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, the supervisor of the wardrobe. (She lived in Jerusalem in the Mishneh district.) They stated their business, and she said to them: “This is what the Lord God of Israel says: ‘Say this to the man who sent you to me: “This is what the Lord says: ‘I am about to bring disaster on this place and its residents, the details of which are recorded in the scroll which the king of Judah has read. This will happen because they have abandoned me and offered sacrifices to other gods, angering me with all the idols they have made. My anger will ignite against this place and will not be extinguished!’” Say this to the king of Judah, who sent you to seek an oracle from the Lord: “This is what the Lord God of Israel says concerning the words you have heard: ‘You displayed a sensitive spirit and humbled yourself before the Lord



when you heard how I intended to make this place and its residents into an appalling example of an accursed people. You tore your clothes and wept before me, and I have heard you,’ says the Lord. ‘Therefore I will allow you to die and be buried in peace. You will not have to witness all the disaster I will bring on this place.’”’” Then they reported back to the king. (NET)

2. 2 Kings 25:22-25, Now King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, as governor over the people whom he allowed to remain in the land of Judah. All of the officers of the Judahite army and their troops heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah to govern. So they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah. The officers who came were Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan son of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah son of the Maacathite. Gedaliah took an oath so as to give them and their troops some assurance of safety. He said, “You don’t need to be afraid to submit to the Babylonian officials. Settle down in the land and submit to the king of Babylon. Then things will go well for you.” But in the seventh month Ishmael son of Nethaniah, son of Elishama, who was a member of the royal family, came with ten of his men and murdered Gedaliah, as well as the Judeans and Babylonians who were with him at Mizpah. (NET)

B. Mizpah from which Gedaliah ruled as governor was located in the tribal territory allotted to Benjamin. Mizpah was located in the region of Gaba and Ramah. Mizpah was the capital of the Babylonian province of Judah. Upon the return of the exiles from Babylon, Mizpah was reinhabited. (Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary)



1. Nehemiah 3:7, 15, 19, Adjacent to them worked Melatiah the Gibeonite and Jadon the Meronothite, who were men of Gibeon and Mizpah. These towns were under the jurisdiction of the governor of Trans-Euphrates. 15 Shallun son of Col-Hozeh, head of the district of Mizpah, worked on the Fountain Gate. He rebuilt it, put on its roof, and positioned its doors, its bolts, and its bars. In addition, he rebuilt the wall of the Pool of Siloam, by the royal garden, as far as the steps that go down from the City of David. 19 Adjacent to him Ezer son of Jeshua, head of Mizpah, worked on another section, opposite the ascent to the armory at the buttress. (NET)

C. Shaphan is probably the one who brought the scroll containing “the book of the covenant” to King Josiah.

1. 2 Kings 22:3-13, In the eighteenth year of King Josiah’s reign, the king sent the scribe Shaphan son of Azaliah, son of Meshullam, to the Lord’s temple with these orders: “Go up to Hilkiah the high priest and have him melt down the silver that has been brought by the people to the Lord’s temple and has been collected by the guards at the door. Have them hand it over to the construction foremen assigned to the Lord’s temple. They in turn should pay the temple workers to repair it, including craftsmen, builders, and masons, and should buy wood and chiseled stone for the repair work. Do not audit the foremen who disburse the silver, for they are honest.” Hilkiah the high priest informed Shaphan the scribe, “I found the law scroll in the Lord’s temple.” Hilkiah gave the scroll to Shaphan and he read it. Shaphan the scribe went to the king and reported, “Your servants melted down the silver in the temple and handed it over to the construction foremen assigned to the Lord’s temple.” Then Shaphan



the scribe told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a scroll.” Shaphan read it out loud before the king. When the king heard the words of the law scroll, he tore his clothes. The king ordered Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Achbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the king’s servant, “Go, seek an oracle from the Lord for me and the people—for all Judah. Find out about the words of this scroll that has been discovered. For the Lord’s fury has been ignited against us, because our ancestors have not obeyed the words of this scroll by doing all that it instructs us to do.” (NET)

2. Jeremiah 3:10, In spite of all this, Israel’s sister, unfaithful Judah, has not turned back to me with any sincerity; she has only pretended to do so,” says the Lord. (NET)

D. Willis observed that Gadaliah’s uncle, Gemariah, had advised King Jehoiakim not to burn Jeremiah’s first scroll, a scroll brought to the king’s attention by Gadaliah’s cousin, Micaiah.

1. Jeremiah 36:11, 25, Micaiah, who was the son of Gemariah and the grandson of Shaphan, heard Baruch read from the scroll everything the Lord had said. 25 The king did not even listen to Elnathan, Delaiah, and Gemariah, who had urged him not to burn the scroll. (NET)

E. The length of Gedaliah’s reign has been said to have been two months by Barnes, less than three months by Halley, and, as Green admitted, “How long it lasted, we cannot tell.” (See Coffman.)

F. Nebuzaradan advised Jeremiah if he decided to stay in his own land, to place himself under the protection of Gedaliah whom the king of Babylon had appointed governor of the land. (See Clarke.)



1. This Jeremiah did.

III. Go back and live with him among the people. Or go wherever else you choose.”

A. “Jeremiah elected to remain in poverty and hardship with the poor remnant of the people left behind.” (Coffman)

IV. Then the captain of the guard gave Jeremiah some food and a present and let him go.

A. The Babylonians treated Jeremiah well, far better than his countrymen had treated him.

B. Not only was Jeremiah given his freedom, he was also given provisions and a present.

1. The present is not identified, but it surely was a token of appreciation for what Jeremiah had done by way of his prophecies and/or something he would need now that he had been freed from prison.

Jeremiah 40:6, So Jeremiah went to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah and lived there with him. He stayed there to live among the people who had been left in the land of Judah. (NET)

I. So Jeremiah went to Gedaliah, son of Ahikam at Mizpah* and lived there with him.

A. *NET Footnote: Mizpah was on the border between Benjamin and Judah, about 8 miles (13 km) Northwest of Jerusalem.

1. Mizpah was a Benjamite town near Gibeon and Ramah.

2. It was at Mizpah and other places that Samuel judged and Saul was elected king of Israel.



a. 1 Samuel 7:15-17, So Samuel led Israel all the days of his life. Year after year he used to travel the circuit of Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah; he used to judge Israel in all of these places. Then he would return to Ramah, because his home was there. He also judged Israel there and built an altar to the Lord there. (NET)

b. 1 Samuel 10:17-24, Then Samuel called the people together before the Lord at Mizpah. He said to the Israelites, “This is what the Lord God of Israel says, ‘I brought Israel up from Egypt and I delivered you from the power of the Egyptians and from the power of all the kingdoms that oppressed you. But today you have rejected your God who saves you from all your trouble and distress. You have said, “No! Appoint a king over us.” Now take your positions before the Lord by your tribes and by your clans.’” Then Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, and the tribe of Benjamin was chosen by lot. Then he brought the tribe of Benjamin near by its families, and the family of Matri was chosen by lot. At last Saul son of Kish was chosen by lot. But when they looked for him, he was nowhere to be found. So they inquired again of the Lord, “Has the man arrived here yet?” The Lord said, “He has hidden himself among the equipment.” So they ran and brought him from there. When he took his position among the people, he stood head and shoulders above them all. Then Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see the one whom the Lord has chosen? Indeed, there is no one like him among all the people!” All the people shouted out, “Long live the king!” (NET)



II. He stayed there to live among the people who had been left in the land of Judah.

A. Jeremiah was one of the Jewish people and chose to live among them.

1. He was more comfortable living among the people than living in the governor’s mansion.

2. He certainly was more comfortable in his own land than living lavishly among the Babylonians.

3. Jeremiah was later forced to go to Egypt by Johanan. This was strictly against his will.

A Small Judean Province is Established at Mizpah

Jeremiah 40:7, Now some of the officers of the Judean army and their troops had been hiding in the countryside. They heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam to govern the country. They also heard that he had been put in charge over the men, women, and children from the poorer classes of the land who had not been carried off into exile in Babylon. (NET)

I. Now some of the officers of the Judean army and their troops had been hiding in the countryside.

A. “Small guerrilla bands of Jewish soldiers were hiding out in remote regions of the land. When the commanders of these units heard that Gedaliah had been appointed governor by Nebuchadnezzar, they began to bring their men out of hiding. Obviously they had confidence in the ability of Gedaliah to rebuild the country.” (Smith)



B. Coffman wrote, “There had been only seven of these “captains” of small groups; and they had not been considered important enough for Nebuzaradan to bother with “mopping them up.”

II. They heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam to govern the country.

A. Information appears to be readily available, widely circulated, to those who had a need to know.

1. No doubt these officers and other military and political leaders did their best, made it their business, to know what was happening.

III. They also heard that he had been put in charge over the men, women, and children from the poorer classes of the land who had not been carried off into exile in Babylon.

A. Nebuchadnezzar’s significant enemies were either dead or as captives on their way to Babylon.

B. These fugitives resorted to Gedaliah who promised them protection as long as they were loyal to Babylon. (The Pulpit Commentary)

C. In this group were elderly men, helpless widows and fatherless children as well as certain royal princesses. (The Pulpit Commentary)

1. Jeremiah 41:10, Then Ishmael took captive all the people who were still left alive in Mizpah. This included the royal princesses and all the rest of the people in Mizpah that Nebuzaradan, the captain of the royal guard, had put under the authority of Gedaliah son of Ahikam. Ishmael son of Nethaniah took all these people captive and set out to cross over to the Ammonites. (NET)



Jeremiah 40:8, So all these officers and their troops came to Gedaliah at Mizpah. The officers who came were Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth, the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniah son of the Maacathite. (NET)

I. So all these officers and their troops came to Gedaliah at Mizpah.

A. These officers came to Gedaliah to consult with him regarding their future and the future of the area under Gedaliah’s governorship. The once great city of Jerusalem was reduced to rubble.

II. The officers who came were Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth, the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniah son of the Maacathite.

A. Ishmael, a member of the house of David, conspired to kill Governor Gedaliah. In this murderous plot, Ishmael was allied with the king of the Ammonites to whose protection he fled after killing Gedaliah. (Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary)

1. Jeremiah 41:1-15, But in the seventh month Ishmael, the son of Nethaniah and grandson of Elishama who was a member of the royal family and had been one of Zedekiah’s chief officers, came with ten of his men to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah. While they were eating a meal together with him there at Mizpah, Ishmael son of Nethaniah and the ten men who were with him stood up, pulled out their swords, and killed Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam and grandson of Shaphan. Thus Ishmael killed the man that the king of Babylon had appointed to govern the country. Ishmael also killed all the Judeans who were with Gedaliah at Mizpah and the Babylonian soldiers who happened to be there. On the day after Gedaliah had been murdered, before anyone even knew



about it, eighty men arrived from Shechem, Shiloh, and Samaria. They had shaved off their beards, torn their clothes, and cut themselves to show they were mourning. They were carrying grain offerings and incense to present at the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem. Ishmael son of Nethaniah went out from Mizpah to meet them. He was pretending to cry as he walked along. When he met them, he said to them, “Come with me to meet Gedaliah son of Ahikam.” But as soon as they were inside the city, Ishmael son of Nethaniah and the men who were with him slaughtered them and threw their bodies in a cistern. But there were ten men among them who said to Ishmael, “Do not kill us. For we will give you the stores of wheat, barley, olive oil, and honey we have hidden in a field.” So he spared their lives and did not kill them along with the rest. Now the cistern where Ishmael threw all the dead bodies of those he had killed was a large one that King Asa had constructed as part of his defenses against King Baasha of Israel. Ishmael son of Nethaniah filled it with dead bodies. Then Ishmael took captive all the people who were still left alive in Mizpah. This included the royal princesses and all the rest of the people in Mizpah that Nebuzaradan, the captain of the royal guard, had put under the authority of Gedaliah son of Ahikam. Ishmael son of Nethaniah took all these people captive and set out to cross over to the Ammonites. Johanan son of Kareah and all the army officers who were with him heard about all the atrocities that Ishmael son of Nethaniah had committed. So they took all their troops and went to fight against Ishmael son of Nethaniah. They caught up with him near the large pool at Gibeon. When all the people that Ishmael had taken captive saw Johanan son of Kareah and all the army officers with him, they were glad. All those people that Ishmael had taken captive



from Mizpah turned and went over to Johanan son of Kareah. But Ishmael son of Nethaniah managed to escape from Johanan along with eight of his men, and he went on over to Ammon. (NET)

2. Evidently Ishmael had been provided refuse by Baalis king of the Ammonites during the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem. (See Clarke.)

B. Johanan was a captain of the Jews who joined forces with Gedaliah after the fall of Jerusalem. When Gedaliah was murdered, Johanan pursued the assassin and rescued several hostages. In spite of Jeremiah’s protests, Johanan took Jeremiah and several of the other rescued hostages to Egypt. (Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary).

1. Johanan became the leader of the renegade people of Judah who journeyed to and later resided in Egypt.

a. 2 Kings 25:23-26, All of the officers of the Judahite army and their troops heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah to govern. So they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah. The officers who came were Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan son of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah son of the Maacathite. Gedaliah took an oath so as to give them and their troops some assurance of safety. He said, “You don’t need to be afraid to submit to the Babylonian officials. Settle down in the land and submit to the king of Babylon. Then things will go well for you.” But in the seventh month Ishmael son of Nethaniah, son of Elishama, who was a member of the royal family, came with ten of his men and murdered Gedaliah, as well as the Judeans and Babylonians



who were with him at Mizpah. Then all the people, from the youngest to the oldest, as well as the army officers, left for Egypt, because they were afraid of what the Babylonians might do. (NET)

C. Jonathan was an officer who joined Gedaliah after the fall of Jerusalem. (Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary)

D. Netophathites were residents of Netophath, a city of Judah near Bethlehem. (Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary)

E. Maacathites were descendants of Maacah or natives or inhabitants of the Aramean kingdom of Maacah, which joined Geshur on the western border of Bashan. Maacah was probably southwest of Mount Herman and east of the Jordon River. (Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary)

1. Deuteronomy 3:14, Jair, son of Manasseh, took all the Argob region as far as the border with the Geshurites and Maacathites (namely Bashan) and called it by his name, Havvoth Jair, which it retains to this very day.) (NET)

2. Joshua 12:5, and ruled over Mount Hermon, Salecah, all of Bashan to the border of the Geshurites and Maacathites, and half of Gilead as far as the border of King Sihon of Heshbon. (NET)

F. Little is known of this Seraiah other than what is stated in Jeremiah 40:8 and related passages.

G. Ephai was a resident of Netophah in Judah. Ephai and his sons joined Gedaliah at Mizpah. They were promised protection but were subsequently murdered by Ishmael. (Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary)



H. Two of these, Ishmael and Johanan, were to play prominent roles in subsequent events, Smith observed.

1. Ishmael killed Governor Gedaliah.

2. Johanan, with certain other people of Judah including Jeremiah, fled to Egypt.

a. Jeremiah was forced against his will to go with Johanan to Egypt.

I. Related reference:

1. 2 Kings 25:23, All of the officers of the Judahite army and their troops heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah to govern. So they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah. The officers who came were Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan son of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah son of the Maacathite. (NET)

Jeremiah 40:9, Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam and grandson of Shaphan, took an oath so as to give them and their troops some assurance of safety. “Do not be afraid to submit to the Babylonians. Settle down in the land and submit to the king of Babylon. Then things will go well for you. (NET)

I. Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam and grandson of Shaphan, took an oath so as to give them and their troops some assurance of safety.

A. Willis suggested Gedaliah probably had been given permission by the Babylonians to be lenient toward any refugees who surfaced, as long as they were not disruptive.

II. “Do not be afraid to submit to the Babylonians. Settle down in the land and submit to the king of Babylon. Then things will go well for you.”



A. The conditions remained unchanged. Serve the Babylonians. Live peacefully. On those conditions, things would go well with them. (Willis)

1. Jeremiah 27:8, But suppose a nation or a kingdom will not be subject to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. Suppose it will not submit to the yoke of servitude to him. I, the Lord, affirm that I will punish that nation. I will use the king of Babylon to punish it with war, starvation, and disease until I have destroyed it. (NET)

B. “Gedaliah’s message was one of peace and encouragement,” Coffman wrote.

Jeremiah 40:10, I for my part will stay at Mizpah to represent you before the Babylonians whenever they come to us. You for your part go ahead and harvest the wine, the dates, the figs, and the olive oil, and store them in jars. Go ahead and settle down in the towns that you have taken over.” (NET)

I. I for my part will stay at Mizpah to represent you before the Babylonians whenever they come to us.

A. “Gedaliah was a wise and able leader,” Smith wrote, and this is evidenced in his negotiating kills, his intermediary role with the Babylonians and his agricultural proposals.

1. Jeremiah 15:1, Then the Lord said to me, “Even if Moses and Samuel stood before me pleading for these people, I would not feel pity for them! Get them away from me! Tell them to go away! (NET)

B. However, he was not a good judge of character as seen in regard to his misplaced confidence in Ishmael.



C. If these returning Judeans submitted to Babylonian rule and lived peacefully, Gedaliah would represent them to the Babylonians in political matters.

1. Evidently Gedaliah was trusted by both the remaining Judeans and the returning refugees. (See Willis.)

D. Mizpah had evidently been spared any significant damage during the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem and was a logical site for Gedaliah’s capital. (See Coffman.)

II. You for your part go ahead and harvest the wine, the dates, the figs, * and the olive oil, and store them in jars.

A. *NET Footnote: Hebrew – the summer fruit (referring to both dates and figs; also see verse 12).

B. The survival of the people left in the land depended on an adequate food supply. Harvest time for these crops occurred in August / September. (Hamilton)

C. They were to prepare for peace, not war.

D. Coffman advised, “The city (Jerusalem) had fallen in July; winter was coming on. Gedaliah urged the people to concern themselves with the food problem. They were confronted with the necessity of survival largely upon dried fruits and vegetables.”

E. It was perhaps the end of July or the first of August when grapes, figs and olives became ripe. “Wine” as used here refers to the juice in the grapes.

1. Jeremiah 47:1, The Lord spoke to the prophet Jeremiah about the Philistines before Pharaoh attacked Gaza. (NET)



2. 2 Kings 25:8, On the seventh day of the fifth month, in the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, Nebuzaradan, the captain of the royal guard who served the king of Babylon, arrived in Jerusalem. (NET)

3. Jeremiah 48:33, Joy and gladness will disappear from the fruitful land of Moab. I will stop the flow of wine from the winepresses. No one will stomp on the grapes there and shout for joy. The shouts there will be shouts of soldiers, not the shouts of those making wine. (NET)

III. Go ahead and settle down in the towns that you have taken over.”

A. The towns were “taken over” by the officers, their troops and refugees following the end of the war. (See Coffman.)

1. Evidently the Babylonians did not regard this as a threat because of the individualized and fragmented nature of this “take over” (See Willis.)

Jeremiah 40:11, Moreover, all the Judeans who were in Moab, Ammon, Edom, and all the other countries heard what had happened. They heard that the king of Babylon had allowed some people to stay in Judah and that he had appointed Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam and grandson of Shaphan, to govern them. (NET)

I. Moreover, all the Judeans who were in Moab, Ammon, Edom and all the other countries heard what had happened.

A. Moabites were descendants of a son of Lot by an incestuous union with his older daughter. They lived along the eastern border of the southern half of the Dead Sea. (Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary)

B. Ammonites descended from Bon-Ammi, Lot’s son by an incestuous relationship with his younger daughter. The land of the



Ammonites lived between the river Arnon and the River Jabbok north and east of Moab. (Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary)

C. Edomites were descendants of Esau, the twin brother of Jacob. Edomites lived south of the river Zered, a natural boundary also for southern Moab and extending south to the Gulf of Arabah. They occupied the desert valley south of the Dead Sea. After Jerusalem fell to the Babylonians, Edomites moved into southern Judah. (Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary)

II. They heard that the king of Babylon had allowed some people to stay in Judah and that he had appointed Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam and grandson of Shaphan, to govern them.

A. News of events and circumstances in Judah spread throughout the area and the neighboring nations.

Jeremiah 40:12, So all these Judeans returned to the land of Judah from the places where they had been scattered. They came to Gedaliah at Mizpah. Thus they harvested a large amount of wine and dates and figs. (NET)

I. So all these Judeans returned to the land of Judah from the places where they had been scattered.

A. Many Judeans who had escaped from the Babylonians heard of Gedaliah’s being appointed governor and returned home.

II. They came to Gedaliah at Mizpah.

A. Refugees came to Gedaliah at Mizpah.

1. They appeared to be very pleased that a Hebrew governor ruled the land and came home to resettle the land.



III. Thus they harvested a large amount of wine and dates and figs.

A. Willis suggested the tending and harvesting of crops would have taken a year and that this may affect our determination of the length of time Gedaliah served as governor.

Ishmael Murders Gedaliah and Carries off the Judeans at Mizpah as Captives

Jeremiah 40:13, Johanan and all the officers of the troops that had been hiding in the open country came to Gedaliah at Mizpah. (NET)

I. Johanan and all the officers of the troops that had been hiding in the open country came to Gedaliah at Mizpah.

A. These officers showed themselves loyal to Gedaliah.

Jeremiah 40:14, They said to him, “Are you at all aware that King Baalis of Ammon has sent Ishmael son of Nethaniah to kill you?” But Gedaliah son of Ahikam would not believe them. (NET)

I. They said to him, “Are you at all aware that King Baalis of Ammon has sent Ishmael son of Nethaniah to kill you?”

A. Little else is known of King Baalis. He was a definite enemy of Governor Gedaliah and orchestrated this plot to assassinate Gedaliah. (Hamilton)

B. Had Gedaliah taken this information seriously his life could have been saved.

C. The people of the land greatly opposed Nehemiah’s efforts to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Baalis may have seen the harvest and the returning refugees as a threat to his influence in the area.



D. Coffman suggested Baalis may have sought Gedaliah’s death in the hope that he could then become the ruler of all the land of Judah. Also, Baalis may have sought to take revenge on Gedaliah for opposing the coalition proposed by Ammon and other nations. (See Jeremiah 27.)

II. But Gedaliah son of Ahikam would not believe them.

A. This was a fatal mistake!

B. Why such a wise governor would make such a tragic error in judgment is difficult to understand.

C. Gedaliah was “a person of uncommon greatness of soul. 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,” Clarke wrote.

Jeremiah 40:15, Then Johanan son of Kareah spoke privately to Gedaliah there at Mizpah, “Let me go and kill Ishmael the son of Nethaniah before anyone knows about it. Otherwise he will kill you and all the Judeans who have rallied around you will be scattered. Then what remains of Judah will disappear.” (NET)

I. Then Johanan son of Kareah spoke privately to Gedaliah there at Mizpeh,…

A. Gedaliah would have been well advised to have taken Ishmael’s reported assassination plans seriously.

II. “Let me go and kill Ishmael the son of Nathaniah before anyone knows about it.

A. This would certainly have taken care of the problem.

1. If Gedaliah had believed Ishmael was his mortal enemy, he would have ordered pre-emptive intervention.



2. Trusting Ishmael was indeed a grievous problem! … followed by tragic results.

B. What motivated Johanan’s volunteering to kill Ishmael? Some suggest he was loyal to Gedaliah and his policies while others suggest he wanted to rid himself of a perceived adversary.

III. Otherwise he will kill you and all of the Judeans who have rallied around you will be scattered. Then what remains of Judah will disappear.”

A. Again, why did Gedaliah not take such a threat seriously?

1. Gedaliah’s life and country were threatened by powerful people. Why did he not at least investigate this report?

Jeremiah 40:16, But Gedaliah son of Ahikam said to Johanan son of Kareah, “Do not do that because what you are saying about Ishmael is not true.” (NET)

I. But Gedaliah son of Ahikam said to Johanan son of Kareah,…

A. Gedaliah’s family had a rich history of governmental services.

B. Gedaliah was prepared to believe the best about Ishmael, reluctant to believe that Ishmael was his enemy who was set on killing him.

II. “Do not do that because what you are saying about Ishmael is not true.”

A. Gedaliah refused to authorize the death of Ishmael.

B. Clarke suggested that it is possible Gedaliah did not trust a person who had just volunteered to become an assassin and who could also have been a liar.



C. Clarke also wrote, “The next chapter shows that Johanan’s information was too true. So noble Gedaliah lost his life by not believing that evil of others of which he himself was incapable.”

Conclusion:

I. “Gedaliah, as judged from his auspicious beginning, would surely have been an efficient and successful governor; but the Jewish cup of iniquity was not yet full. A descendant of the House of David treacherously murdered the new governor while partaking of his hospitality, as related in the next chapter.” (Coffman)

A. The Jews who had begun to return to Judea were again scattered in which state of disarray they remained for seventy years until the exiles began their return home.

B. What may have been and what was were very different.



Questions

on

Jeremiah 40:1-16

(Questions based on NIV text)

1. What subjects, events are addressed in Jeremiah 40-46? ___________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ 2. Who was Nebuzaradan? ____________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ 3. Locate Ramah. What is its historical significance? What important things happened there? ______________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ 4. When did the word of the Lord come to Jeremiah? What did the Lord tell Jeremiah? ______________________________________________ __________________________________________________________



__________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ 5. When and where was Jeremiah freed by the Babylonians? Give reasons for your answer. _____________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ 6. What did Nebuzaradan say about the Lord and about Jeremiah as the Lord’s prophet? How did he know these things? __________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ 7. Did Nebuzaradan believe in Jehovah, Marduk or both? How could he possibly believe in both? ______________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ 8. Why had the Babylonians been able to conquer Jerusalem? ________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________



__________________________________________________________ 9. Was Jeremiah a friend of the Babylonians? Were the Babylonians friends of Jeremiah? Why did the Babylonians free Jeremiah? ________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ 10. How did the Babylonians know somuch about Jeremiah? ________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ 11. What options did Nebuzaradan give Jeremiah? Which option did Jeremiah choose? Why did he make this choice? __________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________

12. Which option would you have taken if you had been in Jeremiah’s place? Why would you have selected that option? _________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ 13. Who was Gedaliah? Include in your answer a description of his character. _________________________________________________



__________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ 14. Locate Mizpah. What historically important things took place there? __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ 15. Give information about Gedaliah’s family and their relationship with Jeremiah? Include information about Shaphan and Gedaliah in your answer. ___________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ 16. How long did Gedaliah serve as governor? ____________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ 17. What did Nebuzaradan give Jeremiah? ________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________



18. ______________ was one of the ______________ _____________ and chose to ______________ among them. He was more comfortable living among the _______________ than living in the _____________’s _____________. He certainly was more comfortable in his own _____________ than ____________ ____________ among the _____________. ______________ was later ____________ to go to _____________ by _____________. This was _____________against his _____________. 19. Smith wrote, “___________ ____________ bands of ____________ ____________ were ______________ out in ____________ ____________ of the ______________. When the _____________ of these _____________ heard that ___________ had been appointed ____________ by ___________, they began to bring their ___________ out of ____________. Obviously they had _____________ in the ___________ of __________ to __________ the __________.” 20. Why had Nebuchadnezzar found these Jewish soldiers, captured them and exiled them to Babylon? _____________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ 21. When these army officers approached Gedaliah, what did Gedaliah promise them? On what conditions were these promises made? _______ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________



22. Provide as much information as possible about: Ishmael: ________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ Johanan: __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ Netophathite: _______________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ Maacathite: ________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ Jezaniah: __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ 23. How many of these officers were there? Name them. __________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________



24. Which two of these had the greatest impact on Gedaliah, Jeremiah or the Hebrews in the region? What did they do to have this influence? ___ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ 25. On what basis did Smith conclude that Gedaliah was a wise and able leader?____________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ 26. What major mistake did Gedaliah make which led to his death? Why did he make this error in judgment? ________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ 27. What agricultural advice did Gedaliah give? Why was this advice so important at that time? _____________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ 28. Why was Nebuchadnezzar not concerned that these Hebrew officers and their troops had taken over certain towns in the area? ____________



__________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ 29. Identify the Moabites: ____________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ Ammonites: ________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ Edomites: _________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ 30. What had these neighboring people and all the other counties heard? What was their reaction to this information? ______________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ 31. Many ___________ who had ____________ from the ___________ heard of _____________’s being _____________ ____________ and _____________ ______________.



32. Who was King Baalis? Baalis conspired with Ishmael to kill Governor Gedaliah. Why would they do such a thing? ______________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ 33. Johanan was loyal to Gedaliah and warned him of the assassination plot. Why did Gedaliah not take Johanan’s warning seriously? _______ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ 34. In what ways in regard to Gedaliah and the future of that area can it be said, “What may have been and what was were very different?” ____ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________


jeremiah is set free a second time a small judean...

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