View Jeremiah 41 in the note window.
Ishmael, under a colour of friendship kills Gedaliah and others,
both Jews and Chaldeans, ver. 1 - 9.
He purposes to carry the residue captive to the Ammonites, but they
are rescued from him by Johanan, who intends to flee into Egypt,
ver. 10 - 18.
1: Now - Three months after the city was taken. Ishmael - The
same Ishmael that came to Gedaliah, ver.(Jer 41:8,9), to whom he sware
protection; only here we are told he was of the royal blood, which
might both raise his spirits, as having a more legal pretence to the
government, and rendered him a fitter instrument, for Baalis the king
or queen of the Ammonites to make use of. The princes - Some of the
princes, who had escaped the army of the king of Babylon.
3: Slew - All those who were about the court of Gedaliah.
4: No man - No man who lived at any distance from Mizpah.
5: There came men - Who possibly had not heard of the temple being
burnt. Cut themselves - With all indications of mourning used in those
countries.
8: He forebare - His covetousness prevailed over his cruelty.
