Jeremiah 41:18

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

Because of the Chaldeans: for they were afraid of them, because Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had slain Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, whom the king of Babylon made governor in the land.

Complete Jewish Bible:

and thus escape the Kasdim. They were afraid of them, because Yishma'el the son of N'tanyahu had murdered G'dalyahu the son of Achikam, whom the king of Bavel had appointed governor of the land.

Berean Standard Bible:

to escape the Chaldeans. For they were afraid of the Chaldeans because Ishmael son of Nethaniah had struck down Gedaliah son of Ahikam, whom the king of Babylon had appointed over the land.

American Standard Version:

because of the Chaldeans; for they were afraid of them, because Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had slain Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, whom the king of Babylon made governor over the land.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

Because^{H6440} of the Chaldeans^{H3778}: for they were afraid^{H3372} of them, because Ishmael^{H3458} the son^{H1121} of Nethaniah^{H5418} had slain^{H5221} Gedaliah^{H1436} the son^{H1121} of Ahikam^{H296}, whom the king^{H4428} of Babylon^{H894} made governor^{H6485} in the land^{H776}.

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Commentary for Jeremiah 41:18

Jeremiah 41:18 is a verse that captures a moment of political turmoil and fear in the aftermath of the Babylonian conquest of Judah. The historical context is set during the period after the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BCE, when the Babylonians (referred to as the Chaldeans) had taken many Jews into exile, including the elite and skilled artisans of the kingdom of Judah.

In this verse, the fear expressed by the people is specifically related to the actions of Ishmael, a member of the royal family of Judah, who had assassinated Gedaliah. Gedaliah had been appointed by the king of Babylon as a governor over the remnant of Jews left in the land, signifying the Babylonian control over the region. The murder of Gedaliah by Ishmael was a destabilizing act that threatened the fragile balance of power and the safety of the Judeans who remained.

The themes present in this verse include the consequences of political violence, the insecurity of living under foreign domination, and the complex loyalties that arise in such circumstances. The Judeans' fear of the Chaldeans reflects their recognition of Babylonian military might and the potential for reprisals following Gedaliah's assassination. This event also underscores the internal conflicts within the Judean community, as different factions vied for power and influence in the wake of Jerusalem's fall. The verse highlights the precariousness of the survivors' situation, caught between the remnants of their own leadership and the dominion of a foreign empire. Jeremiah 41:18 thus encapsulates a period of deep uncertainty and existential threat for the people of Judah, as they navigated the realities of their new political landscape.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H6440
   There are 1890 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: פָּנִים
   Transliteration: pânîym
   Pronunciation: paw-neem'
   Description: plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun פָּנֶה; from פָּנָה); the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.); [phrase] accept, a-(be-) fore(-time), against, anger, [idiom] as (long as), at, [phrase] battle, [phrase] because (of), [phrase] beseech, countenance, edge, [phrase] employ, endure, [phrase] enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, [idiom] him(-self), [phrase] honourable, [phrase] impudent, [phrase] in, it, look(-eth) (-s), [idiom] me, [phrase] meet, [idiom] more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), [idiom] on, open, [phrase] out of, over against, the partial, person, [phrase] please, presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, [phrase] regard, right forth, [phrase] serve, [idiom] shewbread, sight, state, straight, [phrase] street, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them(-selves), through ([phrase] -out), till, time(-s) past, (un-) to(-ward), [phrase] upon, upside ([phrase] down), with(-in, [phrase] -stand), [idiom] ye, [idiom] you.
   
2. Strong's Number: H3778
   There are 80 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: כַּשְׂדִּי
   Transliteration: Kasdîy
   Pronunciation: kas-dee'
   Description: (occasionally with enclitic) כַּשְׂדִּימָה; towards the Kasdites into Chaldea), patronymically from כֶּשֶׂד (only in the plural); a Kasdite, or descendant of Kesed; by implication, a Chaldaean (as if so descended); also an astrologer (as if proverbial of that people; Chaldeans, Chaldees, inhabitants of Chaldea.
   
3. Strong's Number: H3372
   There are 305 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָרֵא
   Transliteration: yârêʼ
   Pronunciation: yaw-ray'
   Description: a primitive root; to fear; morally, to revere; caus. to frighten; affright, be (make) afraid, dread(-ful), (put in) fear(-ful, -fully, -ing), (be had in) reverence(-end), [idiom] see, terrible (act, -ness, thing).
   
4. Strong's Number: H3458
   There are 44 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יִשְׁמָעֵאל
   Transliteration: Yishmâʻêʼl
   Pronunciation: yish-maw-ale'
   Description: from שָׁמַע and אֵל; God will hear; Jishmael, the name of Abraham's oldest son, and of five Israelites; Ishmael.
   
5. Strong's Number: H1121
   There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בֵּן
   Transliteration: bên
   Pronunciation: bane
   Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.
   
6. Strong's Number: H5418
   There are 20 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נְתַנְיָה
   Transliteration: Nᵉthanyâh
   Pronunciation: neth-an-yaw'
   Description: or נְתַנְיָהוּ; from נָתַן and יָהּ; given of Jah; Nethanjah, the name of four Israelites; Nethaniah.
   
7. Strong's Number: H5221
   There are 460 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נָכָה
   Transliteration: nâkâh
   Pronunciation: naw-kaw'
   Description: a primitive root; to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively); beat, cast forth, clap, give (wounds), [idiom] go forward, [idiom] indeed, kill, make (slaughter), murderer, punish, slaughter, slay(-er, -ing), smite(-r, -ing), strike, be stricken, (give) stripes, [idiom] surely, wound.
   
8. Strong's Number: H1436
   There are 31 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: גְּדַּלְיָה
   Transliteration: Gᵉdalyâh
   Pronunciation: ghed-al-yaw'
   Description: or (prolonged) גְּדַלְיָהוּ; from גָּדַל and יָהּ; Jah has become great; Gedaljah, the name of five Israelites; Gedaliah.
   
9. Strong's Number: H296
   There are 83 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֲחִיקָם
   Transliteration: ʼĂchîyqâm
   Pronunciation: akh-ee-kawm'
   Description: from אָח and קוּם; brother of rising (i.e. high); Achikam, an Israelite; Ahikam.
   
10. Strong's Number: H4428
    There are 1922 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: מֶלֶךְ
    Transliteration: melek
    Pronunciation: meh'-lek
    Description: from מָלַךְ; a king; king, royal.
    
11. Strong's Number: H894
    There are 233 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: בָּבֶל
    Transliteration: Bâbel
    Pronunciation: baw-bel'
    Description: from בָּלַל; confusion; Babel (i.e. Babylon), including Babylonia and the Babylonian empire; Babel, Babylon.
    
12. Strong's Number: H6485
    There are 270 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: פָּקַד
    Transliteration: pâqad
    Pronunciation: paw-kad'
    Description: a primitive root; to visit (with friendly or hostile intent); by analogy, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit, etc.; appoint, [idiom] at all, avenge, bestow, (appoint to have the, give a) charge, commit, count, deliver to keep, be empty, enjoin, go see, hurt, do judgment, lack, lay up, look, make, [idiom] by any means, miss, number, officer, (make) overseer, have (the) oversight, punish, reckon, (call to) remember(-brance), set (over), sum, [idiom] surely, visit, want.
    
13. Strong's Number: H776
    There are 2739 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אֶרֶץ
    Transliteration: ʼerets
    Pronunciation: eh'-rets
    Description: from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land); [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world.