Jeremiah 41:1

KJV

¶ Now it came to pass in the seventh month, [that] Ishmael the son of Nethaniah the son of Elishama, of the seed royal, and the princes of the king, even ten men with him, came unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah; and there they did eat bread together in Mizpah.

KJV (with Strong's)

Now it came to pass in the seventh {H7637} month {H2320}, that Ishmael {H3458} the son {H1121} of Nethaniah {H5418} the son {H1121} of Elishama {H476}, of the seed {H2233} royal {H4410}, and the princes {H7227} of the king {H4428}, even ten {H6235} men {H582} with him, came {H935} unto Gedaliah {H1436} the son {H1121} of Ahikam {H296} to Mizpah {H4709}; and there they did eat {H398} bread {H3899} together {H3162} in Mizpah {H4708}.

Complete Jewish Bible

In the seventh month Yishma'el the son of N'tanyahu, the son of Elishama, of royal blood and one of the chief officials of the king, came with ten men to G'dalyahu in Mitzpah. While eating a meal together there in Mitzpah,

Berean Standard Bible

In the seventh month, Ishmael son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, who was a member of the royal family and one of the king’s chief officers, came with ten men to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah, and they ate a meal together there.

American Standard Version

Now it came to pass in the seventh month, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, of the seed royal andone ofthe chief officers of the king, and ten men with him, came unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah; and there they did eat bread together in Mizpah.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jeremiah 41:1 marks a somber turning point in the post-exilic history of Judah, introducing Ishmael, a descendant of the royal line, who, accompanied by ten men, arrived in Mizpah to meet Gedaliah, the Babylonian-appointed governor. This initial encounter, deceptively peaceful and sealed by the sharing of a meal, tragically sets the stage for a brutal act of betrayal and murder that would further destabilize the fragile remnant of Judah, plunging it deeper into chaos and fear just months after the devastating fall of Jerusalem.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows the establishment of Gedaliah as governor over the remaining population of Judah by Nebuchadnezzar, as detailed in [Jeremiah 40](/jeremiah/40 "Jeremiah 40 - Gedaliah Appointed Governor"). Chapter 40 portrays Gedaliah as a compassionate and wise leader who actively encouraged the scattered Jewish exiles and those who had remained in the land to settle, cultivate, and live peacefully under Babylonian suzerainty. He explicitly warned them against any form of rebellion, assuring them of divine favor and safety if they submitted to the new order. Ishmael's arrival and the subsequent events of [Jeremiah 41](/jeremiah/41 "Jeremiah 41 - Ishmael's Treachery") represent a sudden and devastating subversion of this nascent peace. The narrative abruptly shifts from a precarious but hopeful attempt at restoration to a shocking act of internal violence, which ultimately precipitates the remnant's flight to Egypt, directly defying God's explicit commands and Jeremiah's prophetic warnings.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The events of Jeremiah 41:1 unfold in the immediate aftermath of Jerusalem's catastrophic fall to Babylon in 586 BC, a cataclysmic event vividly described in [Jeremiah 39](/jeremiah/39 "Jeremiah 39 - The Fall of Jerusalem"). The "seventh month" likely refers to Tishrei (September/October), a few months after the city's destruction, indicating a period when the surviving population was attempting to establish a semblance of normalcy. Mizpah, a strategically significant town northwest of Jerusalem, was chosen by Gedaliah as the administrative center for his governorship, signifying a new, albeit diminished, locus of Jewish authority. The act of "eating bread together" was profoundly significant in the ancient Near East, symbolizing fellowship, trust, and often a binding covenant or agreement. To share a meal with someone implied a sacred bond of peace and hospitality, making Ishmael's subsequent actions an egregious violation of deeply ingrained social norms and a profound act of treachery. Ishmael's "seed royal" status indicates his Davidic lineage, which likely fueled his resentment of Gedaliah, a non-royal appointee, and his ambition to reclaim political power.
* **Key Themes:** Jeremiah 41:1 serves as a critical entry point for several potent themes that resonate throughout the book. Foremost is the theme of **Betrayal and Deception**, powerfully illustrated by Ishmael's feigned peace and shared meal, which cunningly masks his murderous intent. This act starkly highlights the pervasive **Political Instability and Power Struggles** that continued to plague Judah even after national devastation, with internal factions fiercely vying for control rather than uniting for survival. Ishmael's royal lineage underscores a desperate, misguided attempt to restore the Davidic monarchy through violent means, directly opposing God's judgment and the divinely ordained Babylonian rule. Furthermore, the verse tragically demonstrates the **Persistence of Human Depravity**, revealing that even after experiencing severe divine judgment and national catastrophe, the human heart remained stubbornly prone to violence, self-serving ambition, and a profound disregard for life and peace. This echoes Jeremiah's consistent prophetic message about the unrepentant sinfulness of the heart, as articulated in passages like [Jeremiah 17:9](/jeremiah/17-9 "Jeremiah 17:9 - The Deceitfulness of the Heart").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Ishmael (Hebrew, _Yishmâʻêʼl'_):** From the root meaning "God will hear," this name carries a hopeful theological meaning, yet it stands in tragic irony against Ishmael's actions in this chapter. Far from being divinely inspired or heard favorably by God, Ishmael acts as an agent of chaos, destruction, and betrayal, seemingly deaf to the calls for peace and stability that Gedaliah sought to establish. His name becomes a poignant contrast to his wicked deeds.
* **Gedaliah (Hebrew, _Gᵉdalyâh'_):** Meaning "Jah has become great," this name is a profound declaration of Yahweh's sovereignty and power. Gedaliah was a righteous and wise leader, providentially appointed by God through Nebuchadnezzar to bring order and a measure of peace to the devastated remnant of Judah. His name, celebrating God's greatness, stands in stark and painful contrast to his tragic and unjust fate, underscoring the depth of the betrayal he suffered and the subsequent disruption to God's intended, albeit temporary, peace for Judah.
* **Eat bread together (Hebrew, _ʼâkal lechem yachad'_):** This phrase combines the primitive root "to eat" (_ʼâkal_), "food/bread" (_lechem_), and "unitedly/together" (_yachad_). In ancient Near Eastern culture, sharing a meal, particularly bread, was a sacred act symbolizing fellowship, peace, and often a binding covenant or agreement of trust. Ishmael's participation in this meal with Gedaliah, only to then murder him and his companions, represents a profound and heinous violation of hospitality and trust, making his treachery even more egregious and morally reprehensible.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Now it came to pass in the seventh month,"**: This precise temporal marker places the event a few months after the fall of Jerusalem, providing context for the fragile state of the Jewish remnant. It indicates a period when the survivors were attempting to establish a semblance of normalcy and order under Gedaliah's leadership in Mizpah, highlighting the sudden and unexpected disruption to this nascent peace.
* **"[that] Ishmael the son of Nethaniah the son of Elishama, of the seed royal, and the princes of the king, even ten men with him, came unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah;"**: This clause introduces the primary antagonist, Ishmael, and his target, Gedaliah. Ishmael's detailed lineage, specifically "of the seed royal," is crucial, signaling his Davidic ancestry and potential claim to the throne. This lineage likely fueled his motivation for rebellion against Gedaliah, who, though a respected figure, was appointed by the foreign Babylonian power. His retinue of "ten men" suggests a small, determined, and likely armed, contingent, whose arrival at Mizpah, Gedaliah's administrative center, sets the stage for the impending conflict.
* **"and there they did eat bread together in Mizpah."**: This final clause describes an act of apparent fellowship and peace. The shared meal, a deeply significant cultural gesture of trust and hospitality, serves as a deceptive prelude to the violent betrayal that immediately follows in the subsequent verses. It underscores the profound hypocrisy and malice of Ishmael's intentions, turning a symbol of unity into a precursor for bloodshed.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several powerful literary devices to heighten its dramatic impact and theological significance. **Foreshadowing** is subtly yet powerfully present in the seemingly innocuous act of "eating bread together," which, in light of the subsequent narrative, becomes a chilling prelude to betrayal and murder. This creates a strong sense of dramatic **Irony** for the reader, who is aware of the impending tragedy that Gedaliah is oblivious to. Further **Irony** is found in Ishmael's name, meaning "God will hear," which stands in stark contrast to his actions that are clearly contrary to God's will for the remnant's peace and stability. The description of Ishmael as "of the seed royal" introduces **Symbolism**, representing not only his legitimate lineage but also the persistent, often destructive, human ambition for power and earthly authority, even in the face of divine judgment and national devastation. This royal lineage also establishes a powerful **Contrast** with Gedaliah, who, though not of royal blood, was appointed by God's providence through Nebuchadnezzar to bring order, only to be tragically undone by one who claimed a higher, yet earthly, authority.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 41:1 serves as a stark and painful reminder of the enduring presence of sin and human depravity, even in the midst of profound national suffering and divine judgment. Despite the recent catastrophe of Jerusalem's fall and the opportunity for a new, albeit humble, beginning under Gedaliah, internal strife, self-serving ambition, and a spirit of rebellion quickly reasserted themselves. This event underscores the profound theological truth that external circumstances, no matter how dire or transformative, do not inherently change the human heart's capacity for evil. It highlights the tragic reality that the greatest threats to God's people often come from within, through betrayal and a rejection of divinely appointed authority, rather than solely from external enemies. The violation of the sacred bond of hospitality through the shared meal further emphasizes the depth of moral decay and the chilling nature of premeditated treachery.

* [Psalm 41:9](/psalms/41-9 "Psalm 41:9 - Betrayal by a Friend")
* [Luke 22:47-48](/luke/22-47-48 "Luke 22:47-48 - Judas's Betrayal of Jesus")
* [Proverbs 26:24-26](/proverbs/26-24-26 "Proverbs 26:24-26 - Deceitful Lips and a Wicked Heart")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah 41:1 presents a sobering lesson on the fragility of peace and the insidious nature of betrayal. It reminds us that even when God provides a clear path to stability and recovery, human sin, unchecked ambition, and deceit can quickly unravel it. For us today, this verse calls for profound discernment in our relationships and interactions. Not everyone who approaches with an outward show of fellowship, symbolized by "eating bread together," truly has our best interests at heart. It challenges us to look beyond superficial gestures to the true intentions of the heart, recognizing that even those within our own communities or "of the seed royal" (those with status, influence, or perceived authority) can harbor destructive motives. Spiritually, it underscores the persistent need for personal and communal repentance, acknowledging that the capacity for betrayal and self-interest resides within all human hearts apart from divine grace. It also encourages us to pray for and uphold leaders who genuinely seek peace and justice, and to be vigilant against those who would sow discord for selfish gain, remembering that true peace begins with a transformed heart.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Ishmael's "seed royal" status inform our understanding of ambition and power, especially in times of crisis or transition?**
* **What does the act of "eating bread together" signify in this context, and how does its profound violation speak to the nature of betrayal and broken trust?**
* **In what ways might we, or our communities, be vulnerable to internal divisions and betrayals, even when seeking peace and stability?**
* **How can we cultivate discernment to recognize deceptive intentions, even when presented with outward signs of fellowship and goodwill?**

### FAQ

**What was the significance of Mizpah in this narrative?**

Answer: Mizpah was a strategically important town that Gedaliah, the Babylonian-appointed governor, chose as his administrative center for the Jewish remnant after the destruction of Jerusalem. It served as a symbol of the attempt to re-establish order and a new, albeit limited, form of Jewish self-governance under Babylonian oversight. Its significance is heightened by the fact that it was here that Gedaliah sought to gather and reassure the scattered Jews, making it the focal point for both the fragile peace and the subsequent tragic betrayal. Mizpah had a long and significant history as a gathering place and a site of national assembly in Israel, as seen in [Judges 20:1](/judges/20-1 "Judges 20:1 - Israel Gathers at Mizpah") and [1 Samuel 7:5-6](/1_samuel/7-5-6 "1 Samuel 7:5-6 - Samuel Judges at Mizpah"), adding another layer of irony to its role as the site of such a devastating internal conflict.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jeremiah 41:1, with its chilling depiction of betrayal under the guise of fellowship, finds profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the ultimate act of treachery against the Son of God. Ishmael, "of the seed royal," betrays Gedaliah, a divinely appointed leader, over a shared meal, leading to chaos and further suffering for the remnant of Judah. This dark motif is powerfully echoed in the New Testament with Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus's own disciples, who betrayed the true King, the [Son of David](/matthew/1-1 "Matthew 1:1 - Jesus, Son of David"), with a kiss—a symbol of greeting and affection—after sharing the Passover meal with Him. Just as Ishmael's act plunged Judah into deeper distress, Judas's betrayal led to the crucifixion of Christ, the ultimate act of human depravity against divine love. However, unlike Gedaliah's tragic end, Christ's betrayal and death were not the final word. They were part of God's redemptive plan, culminating in His resurrection and the establishment of a new covenant, where true peace and reconciliation are offered to all who believe. The "bread" shared in Jeremiah 41:1 was a symbol of broken trust and violated hospitality, but the bread of the Lord's Supper, instituted by Christ, became a profound symbol of His broken body and shed blood, offered as a covenant of grace for the forgiveness of sins, inviting us to partake in a fellowship that can never be betrayed by God ([1 Corinthians 11:23-26](/1_corinthians/11-23-26 "1 Corinthians 11:23-26 - Institution of the Lord's Supper")). Thus, the treachery in Mizpah highlights humanity's persistent sinfulness, which ultimately required the perfect sacrifice of the [Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God") to bring true and lasting peace.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Jeremiah 40:8

Then they came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, even Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth, and the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniah the son of a Maachathite, they and their men.

Jeremiah 40:6

Then went Jeremiah unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah; and dwelt with him among the people that were left in the land.

Psalms 41:9

Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up [his] heel against me.

James 4:1

¶ From whence [come] wars and fightings among you? [come they] not hence, [even] of your lusts that war in your members?

James 4:3

Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume [it] upon your lusts.

2 Chronicles 22:10

¶ But when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal of the house of Judah.

Jeremiah 36:20

¶ And they went in to the king into the court, but they laid up the roll in the chamber of Elishama the scribe, and told all the words in the ears of the king.