Jeremiah 41:16

Then took Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that [were] with him, all the remnant of the people whom he had recovered from Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, from Mizpah, after [that] he had slain Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, [even] mighty men of war, and the women, and the children, and the eunuchs, whom he had brought again from Gibeon:

Then took {H3947} Johanan {H3110} the son {H1121} of Kareah {H7143}, and all the captains {H8269} of the forces {H2428} that were with him, all the remnant {H7611} of the people {H5971} whom he had recovered {H7725} from Ishmael {H3458} the son {H1121} of Nethaniah {H5418}, from Mizpah {H4709}, after {H310} that he had slain {H5221} Gedaliah {H1436} the son {H1121} of Ahikam {H296}, even mighty {H1397} men {H582} of war {H4421}, and the women {H802}, and the children {H2945}, and the eunuchs {H5631}, whom he had brought again {H7725} from Gibeon {H1391}:

Yochanan the son of Kareach and the military commanders with him then took all the rest of the people he had freed from Yishma'el the son of N'tanyahu, those Yishma'el had taken from Mitzpah after assassinating G'dalyahu the son of Achikam - the heroes, the soldiers, the women, the children and the officers he had brought back from Giv'on -

Then Johanan son of Kareah and all the commanders of the armies with him took the whole remnant of the people from Mizpah whom he had recovered from Ishmael son of Nethaniah after Ishmael had killed Gedaliah son of Ahikam: the soldiers, women, children, and court officials he had brought back from Gibeon.

Then took Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were with him, all the remnant of the people whom he had recovered from Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, from Mizpah, after that he had slain Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, to wit, the men of war, and the women, and the children, and the eunuchs, whom he had brought back from Gibeon.

Commentary

Commentary on Jeremiah 41:16 (KJV)

Jeremiah 41:16 describes a pivotal moment in the tumultuous period following the destruction of Jerusalem and the beginning of the Babylonian exile. It details the successful recovery of a diverse group of Jewish survivors by Johanan, the son of Kareah, after they had been captured by the treacherous Ishmael.

Context

Following the fall of Jerusalem to Babylon, Gedaliah, a trusted Jewish official, was appointed governor over the remaining population by the Babylonian king. His role was to stabilize the land and encourage the scattered Jews to return and live peacefully under Babylonian rule. However, Ishmael, a member of the royal family and seemingly driven by jealousy or political ambition, assassinated Gedaliah at Mizpah (Jeremiah 41:2). After this heinous act, Ishmael took many of the remaining people captive, including the king's daughters, intending to flee to the Ammonites. Johanan, a military captain who had previously warned Gedaliah about Ishmael's plot, pursued Ishmael and successfully intercepted him, recovering the captives. This verse specifically identifies the people Johanan recovered: a remnant comprising "mighty men of war, and the women, and the children, and the eunuchs," highlighting the varied composition of the survivors.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Rescue and Recovery: The verse highlights the successful rescue mission by Johanan, bringing a diverse group back from captivity under Ishmael. This act provided a temporary reprieve for the remnant of Judah who had endured immense suffering.
  • Post-Exilic Instability: It vividly portrays the fragile and dangerous conditions in Judah immediately following the destruction of Jerusalem and the Babylonian exile. The murder of Gedaliah, the Babylonian-appointed governor, created immense uncertainty and fear among the survivors, leaving them vulnerable to further violence and displacement.
  • Leadership in Crisis: Johanan emerges as a decisive leader, acting to protect the people when the established authority (Gedaliah) had been violently removed. His actions here set the stage for later decisions regarding the people's future, as they sought guidance from the prophet Jeremiah (Jeremiah 42:1).
  • The Vulnerability of the Remnant: The inclusion of "women, and the children, and the eunuchs" underscores the vulnerability of this group, emphasizing their dependence on strong, protective leadership in a chaotic time.

Practical Application

This passage reminds us of the human struggle for security and stability in times of profound upheaval. It underscores the importance of wise and courageous leadership, especially when facing the consequences of treachery or disaster. For the remnant of Judah, their recovery was a moment of relief, but their subsequent choices, often driven by fear of Babylonian retribution, would continue to challenge their faith and obedience to God's prophet. The narrative serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of seeking human solutions over divine guidance, as seen in their eventual flight to Egypt against God's clear command (Jeremiah 43:7). It highlights how fear can lead to poor decisions, even when God's will is made known.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Jeremiah 42:8

    Then called he Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces which [were] with him, and all the people from the least even to the greatest,

  • Jeremiah 43:4

    So Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces, and all the people, obeyed not the voice of the LORD, to dwell in the land of Judah.

  • Jeremiah 43:7

    So they came into the land of Egypt: for they obeyed not the voice of the LORD: thus came they [even] to Tahpanhes.

  • Jeremiah 41:10

    Then Ishmael carried away captive all the residue of the people that [were] in Mizpah, [even] the king's daughters, and all the people that remained in Mizpah, whom Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had committed to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam: and Ishmael the son of Nethaniah carried them away captive, and departed to go over to the Ammonites.
← Back