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Commentary on Jeremiah 40 verses 7–16
We have in these verses,
I. A bright sky opening upon the remnant of the Jews that were left in their own land, and a comfortable prospect given them of some peace and quietness after the many years of trouble and terror with which they had been afflicted. Jeremiah indeed had never in his prophecies spoken of any such good days reserved for the Jews immediately after the captivity; but Providence seemed to raise and encourage such an expectation, and it would be to that miserable people as life from the dead. Observe the particulars.
1.Gedaliah, one of themselves, is made governor in the land, by the king of Babylon, Jer 40:7. To show that he designed to make and keep them easy he did not give this commission to one of the princes of Babylon, but to one of their brethren, who, they might be sure, would seek their peace. He was the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, one of the princes. We read of his father (Jer 26:24) that he took Jeremiah's part against the people. He seems to have been a man of great wisdom and a mild temper, and under whose government the few that were left might have been very happy. The king of Babylon had a good opinion of him and reposed a confidence in him, for to him he committed all that were left behind.
2.There is great resort to him from all parts, and all those that were now the Jews of the dispersion came and put themselves under his government and protection. (1.) The great men that had escaped the Chaldeans by force came and quietly submitted to Gedaliah, for their own safety and common preservation. Several are here named, Jer 40:8. They came with their men, their servants, their soldiers, and so strengthened one another; and the king of Babylon had such a good opinion of Gedaliah his delegate that he was not at all jealous of the increase of their numbers, but rather pleased with it. (2.) The poor men that had escaped by flight into the neighbouring countries of Moab, Ammon, and Edom, were induced by the love they bore to their own land to return to it again as soon as they heard that Gedaliah was in authority there, Jer 40:11, Jer 40:12. Canaan itself would be an unsafe unpleasant country if there were no government nor governors there, and those that loved it dearly would not come back to it till they heard there were. It would be a great reviving to those that were dispersed to come together again, to those that were dispersed into foreign countries to come together in their own country, to those that were under strange kings to be under a governor of their own nation. See here in wrath God remembered mercy, and yet admitted some of them upon a further trial of their obedience.
3.The model of this new government is drawn up and settled by an original contract, which Gedaliah confirmed with an oath, a solemn oath (Jer 40:9): He swore to them and to their men, it is probably according to the warrant and instructions he had received from the king of Babylon, who empowered him to give them these assurances. (1.) They must own the property of their lands to be in the Chaldeans. "Come" (says Gedaliah), "fear not to serve the Chaldeans. Fear not the sin of it." Though the divine law had forbidden them to make leagues with the heathen, yet the divine sentence had obliged them to yield to the king of Babylon. "Fear not the reproach of it, and the disparagement it will be to your nation; it is what God has brought you to, has bound you to, and it is no disgrace to any to comply with him. Fear not the consequences of it, as if it would certainly make you and yours miserable; no, you will find the king of Babylon not so hard a landlord as you apprehend him to be; if you will but live peaceably, peaceably you shall live; disturb not the government, and it will not disturb you. Serve the king of Babylon and it shall be well with you." If they should make any difficulty of doing personal homage, or should be apprehensive of danger when the Chaldeans should come among them, Gedaliah, probably by instruction from the king of Babylon, undertakes upon all occasions to act for them, and make their application acceptable to the king (Jer 40:10): "As for me, behold, I will dwell at Mizpah, to serve the Chaldeans, to do homage to them in the name of the whole body if there be occasion, to receive orders, and to pay them their tribute when the come to us." All that passes between them and the Chaldeans shall pass through his hand; and, if the Chaldeans put such a confidence in him, surely his own countrymen may venture to do it. Gedaliah is willing thus to give them the assurance of an oath that he will do his part in protecting them, but, being apt to err (as many good men are) on the charitable side, he did not require an oath from them that they would be faithful to him, else the following mischief might have been prevented. However, protection draws allegiance though it be not sworn, and by joining in with Gedaliah they did, in effect, consent to the terms of government, that they should serve the king of Babylon. But, (2.) Though they own the property of their lands to be in the Chaldeans, yet, upon that condition, they shall have the free enjoyment of them and all the profits of them (Jer 40:10): "Gather you wine and summer fruits, and take them for your own use; put them in your vessels, to be laid up for winter-store, as those do that live in a land of peace and hope to eat the labour of your hand, nay, the labour of other people's hands, for you reap what they sowed." Or perhaps they were the spontaneous products of that fertile soil, for which none had laboured. And accordingly we find (Jer 40:12) that they gathered wine and summer fruits very much, such as were at present upon the ground, for their corn-harvest was over some time before Jerusalem was taken. While Gedaliah was in care for the public safety he left them to enjoy the advantages of the public plenty, and, for aught that appears, demanded no tribute from them; for he sought not his own profit, but the profit of many.
II. Here is a dark cloud gathering over this infant state, and threatening a dreadful storm. How soon is this hopeful prospect blasted! For when God begins in judgment he will make an end. It is here intimated to us, 1. That Baalis the king of the Ammonites had a particular spite at Gedaliah, and was contriving to take him off, either out of malice to the nation of the Jews, whose welfare he hated the thought of, or a personal pique against Gedaliah, Jer 40:14. Some make Baalis to signify the queen-mother of the king of the Ammonites, or queen-dowager, as if she were the first mover of the bloody and treacherous design. One would have thought this little remnant might be safe when the great king of Babylon protected it; and ye it is ruined by the artifices of this petty prince or princess. happy are those that have the King of kings of their side, who can take the wise in their own craftiness; for the greatest earthly king cannot with all his power secure us against fraud and treachery. 2. That he employed Ishmael, the son of Nethaniah, as the instrument of his malice, instigated him to murder Gedaliah, and, that he might have a fair opportunity to do it, directed him to go and enrol himself among his subjects and promise him fealty. Nothing could be more barbarous than the design itself, nor more base than the method of compassing it. How wretchedly is human nature corrupted and degenerated (even in those that pretend to the best blood) when it is capable of admitting the thought of such abominable wickedness! Ishmael was of the seed royal, and would therefore be easily tempted to envy and hate one that set up for a governor in Judah, who was not, as he was, of David's line, though he had ever so much of David's spirit. 3. That Johanan, a brisk and active man, having got scent of this plot, informed Gedaliah of it, yet taking it for granted he could not but know of it before, the proofs of the matter being so very plain: Dost thou certainly know? surely thou dost, Jer 40:14. He gave him private intelligence of it (Jer 40:15), hoping he would then take the more notice of it. He proffered his service to prevent it, by taking off Ishmael, whose very name was ominous to all the seed of Isaac: I will slay him. Wherefore should he slay thee? Herein he showed more courage and zeal than sense of justice; for, if it be lawful to kill for prevention, who then can be safe, since malice always suspects the worst? 4. That Gedaliah, being a man of sincerity himself, would by no means give credit to the information given him of Ishmael's treachery. He said, Thou speakest falsely of Ishmael. Herein he discovered more good humour than discretion, more of the innocency of the dove than the wisdom of the serpent. Princes become uneasy to themselves and all about them when they are jealous. Queen Elizabeth said that she would believe no more evil of her people than a mother would believe of her own children; yet many have been ruined by being over-confident of the fidelity of those about them.
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SUMMARY
Jeremiah 40:15 captures a pivotal, clandestine conversation between Johanan, son of Kareah, and Gedaliah, the newly appointed governor of Judah. In the tumultuous aftermath of Jerusalem's destruction and the Babylonian exile, Johanan urgently proposes the secret assassination of Ishmael, son of Nethaniah, to avert a catastrophic outcome: the scattering of the fragile Jewish remnant gathered under Gedaliah's leadership and their ultimate perishing in Judah. This verse illuminates the desperate measures contemplated by surviving leaders to preserve the last vestiges of the covenant people in their homeland amidst profound political instability and internal threats.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The verse employs several potent literary devices to convey its urgent message and dramatic tension. Foreshadowing is prominently featured, as Johanan's urgent warning about Ishmael's intent to "slay thee" directly anticipates the tragic events of Jeremiah 41:2, where Ishmael indeed assassinates Gedaliah. This creates a profound sense of dramatic irony for the reader, who is privy to the eventual, lamentable outcome of Gedaliah's unheeded warning. The passage also utilizes contrast between Johanan's clear-sighted, pragmatic, though extreme, assessment of the danger and Gedaliah's apparent naivete or trusting nature, which ultimately proves to be his fatal flaw. The language used by Johanan, particularly the earnest "I pray thee" and the dire, escalating consequences he outlines (from Gedaliah's death to the scattering and perishing of the remnant), conveys a powerful sense of plea and urgency, emphasizing the exceptionally high stakes involved in this pivotal moment for the surviving Jewish community.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This passage profoundly underscores the theological theme of the preservation of the remnant, a recurring and vital motif throughout the Old Testament. Even in the midst of severe divine judgment and national catastrophe, God consistently preserves a faithful few, ensuring the continuity of His covenant promises and the lineage through which the Messiah would come. Johanan's desperate plea to protect the "remnant in Judah" reflects this divine concern, even if his proposed method is a humanly conceived, morally ambiguous act. The unheeded warning to Gedaliah serves as a tragic echo of Israel's consistent failure to heed God's warnings delivered through His prophets, ultimately leading to their exile and now threatening the very survival of those who remained. It highlights the critical importance of discernment, wisdom, and decisive action in leadership, especially when facing threats that could jeopardize the very existence and future of God's people.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah 40:15 challenges us to deeply consider the weighty responsibility of leadership and the critical importance of discernment, particularly in times of profound vulnerability and crisis. Gedaliah's tragic failure to believe Johanan's urgent and accurate warning, perhaps stemming from a desire for peace, a reluctance to resort to violence, or a naive trust in others, ultimately led to his own demise and the further scattering and suffering of the very people he was appointed to protect. This serves as a sober and poignant reminder that true wisdom involves not only good intentions and a desire for harmony but also a clear-eyed and realistic assessment of reality, including the potential for deep-seated malice and treachery in others. For us today, this passage prompts profound reflection on how we respond to warnings, whether they come from trusted advisors, spiritual leaders, or even the subtle promptings of the Holy Spirit. Are we willing to confront uncomfortable truths or take difficult, even unpopular, actions to protect what is truly precious, whether it be a community, a family, our personal integrity, or our own spiritual well-being? The passage also highlights the complex ethical dilemmas that can arise when attempting to protect a vulnerable group, forcing us to grapple with the tension between pacifism and the necessity of decisive intervention in the face of existential threats.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why did Johanan propose to slay Ishmael secretly, and not openly?
Answer: Johanan's proposal to slay Ishmael "secretly" (Hebrew: çêther') was likely a calculated decision motivated by several critical factors aimed at minimizing further chaos and maximizing the chances of preserving the fragile Jewish remnant. Firstly, an open assassination of a man of royal descent, especially one backed by a foreign power like the Ammonites (Jeremiah 40:14), could have provoked immediate and widespread retaliation from Ishmael's followers or his external patrons, leading to a full-scale civil conflict. Secondly, it was an attempt to avoid further destabilizing the already precarious political situation in Judah under Babylonian rule. The Babylonians had appointed Gedaliah as governor to maintain order, and any overt act of violence or internal strife could have led to harsher Babylonian intervention, potentially resulting in more deportations or the complete dissolution of the Jewish presence in the land. A secret act would, in Johanan's mind, remove the immediate threat without creating a larger public crisis or revealing the deep internal divisions that could be exploited by external enemies. It was a desperate measure to achieve a critical outcome with the least possible collateral damage.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Jeremiah 40:15 depicts a desperate human attempt to preserve a physical remnant through a morally ambiguous act, it ultimately points to the greater, divinely ordained preservation found in Jesus Christ. The "remnant in Judah" that Johanan sought to protect, whose very existence was precarious, foreshadows the spiritual remnant, those whom God preserves not by human machinations or violence, but through faith in His Son. Just as Johanan desired to prevent the scattering and perishing of the Jews, Jesus, the Good Shepherd, declares His divine mission to gather His sheep, stating, "I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand" (John 10:28). The tragic failure of human leaders like Gedaliah to discern and act decisively upon warnings underscores the profound need for the perfect, omniscient, and discerning leadership of Christ, who "knew what was in man" (John 2:25) and could not be deceived by treacherous hearts. Furthermore, the idea of one being slain to prevent the perishing of many, though tragically misapplied and unfulfilled in this Old Testament context, finds its ultimate and redemptive fulfillment in the voluntary, perfect sacrifice of the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). Jesus, unlike Ishmael, was not a treacherous plotter but the willing sacrifice, whose death on the cross secured the eternal preservation, gathering, and spiritual life of all who believe, forming the true, imperishable remnant of God's people, the Church, "purchased with His own blood" (Acts 20:28).