Jeremiah 41
41
Ishmael Assassinates Gedaliah
1But in the seventh month of that same year, Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and grandson of Elishama, came to Mizpah with ten of his soldiers. He had been one of the king’s officials and was a member of the royal family. Ishmael and his men had a meal together with Gedaliah in Mizpah. 2Then suddenly Ishmael jumped up with his armed men and killed Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, grandson of Shaphan. They killed Gedaliah, the man whom the king of Babylon had appointed governor in the land. 3Ishmael also struck down all the Israelites who were with Gedaliah at Mizpah and the Babylonian soldiers who happened to be there.
4The very next day, before anyone knew of it, 5eighty men arrived from the towns of Shechem, Shiloh, and Samaria. # 41:5 Shechem, Shiloh, and Samaria were all religious centers in the Northern Kingdom of Israel. They were on their way to the temple to offer gifts of grain and incense # 41:5 The offerings they brought were bloodless since the temple and the altar had been destroyed. At least some people continued to worship there in Jerusalem where the temple once stood. to Yahweh. They had shaved off their beards, torn their clothes, and cut themselves because they were mourning. 6And Ishmael son of Nethaniah went from Mizpah to meet them at the town gate, pretending to be weeping as he came. He said to them, “Come in to see Gedaliah the son of Ahikam.” 7But after they had entered the gates, Ishmael and the men with him slaughtered them and cast their bodies into a cistern. 8He spared ten of the men who said to Ishmael, “Don’t kill us,” because they offered to give him supplies of wheat, barley, olive oil, and honey they had hidden in a field. 9(Now he threw all the bodies, including Gedaliah’s, into the large well that had been dug by King Asa of Judah when he was invaded by King Baasha of Israel.) # 41:9 See 1 Kings 15:17–22; 2 Chron. 16:1–6.
10Then Ishmael took captive the king’s daughters and all the people who were left at Mizpah, whom Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, had committed to Gedaliah. Ishmael took them captive and crossed over the Jordan to join up with the Ammonites.
Johanan Rescues the Captives
11But Johanan the son of Kareah and all the army officers with him heard of all the murderous evil that Ishmael had done. 12So they took all their men and went to fight against Ishmael the son of Nethaniah. They caught up with him at the great pool that is in Gibeon. # 41:12 See 2 Sam. 2:13. 13And when all the captives who were with Ishmael saw Johanan and all the army officers, they rejoiced. 14So all Ishmael’s prisoners from Mizpah turned and ran to Johanan and the officers. 15But Ishmael escaped from Johanan with eight of his men and went to the Ammonites. 16So Johanan and all the army officers with him rescued all of Ishmael’s prisoners from Mizpah—the soldiers, women, children, and royal officials taken captive after Ishmael murdered Gedaliah. Johanan brought them all back alive from Gibeon. 17-18However, they were afraid of the Babylonians because Ishmael had murdered Gedaliah, the king of Babylon’s governor of the land. So, they set out for Egypt in order to avoid the Babylonians. On the way, they stopped at Geruth Chimham, # 41:17–18 Geruth means “inn.” Assuming Chimham is an individual’s name (see 2 Sam. 19:37–40), then the meaning would be “the Chimham Inn.” near Bethlehem.
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Jeremiah 41: TPT
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