Jeremiah 41:2

Then arose Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and the ten men that were with him, and smote Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan with the sword, and slew him, whom the king of Babylon had made governor over the land.

Then arose {H6965} Ishmael {H3458} the son {H1121} of Nethaniah {H5418}, and the ten {H6235} men {H582} that were with him, and smote {H5221} Gedaliah {H1436} the son {H1121} of Ahikam {H296} the son {H1121} of Shaphan {H8227} with the sword {H2719}, and slew {H4191} him, whom the king {H4428} of Babylon {H894} had made governor {H6485} over the land {H776}.

Yishma'el and the ten men with him rose and attacked G'dalyahu the son of Achikam, the son of Shafan, struck him with their swords, and assassinated the man whom the king of Bavel had appointed governor of the land.

Then Ishmael son of Nethaniah and the ten men who were with him got up and struck down Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, with the sword, killing the one whom the king of Babylon had appointed to govern the land.

Then arose Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and the ten men that were with him, and smote Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan with the sword, and slew him, whom the king of Babylon had made governor over the land.

Jeremiah 41:2 vividly describes a pivotal and tragic event in the aftermath of Judah's destruction by Babylon. This verse recounts the brutal assassination of Gedaliah, the governor appointed by Nebuchadnezzar, by Ishmael, a man of royal descent who harbored treacherous intentions.

Context

Following the devastating fall of Jerusalem and the temple in 586 BC, most of the surviving population was exiled to Babylon. However, a remnant of the poorest people was left in the land, and the King of Babylon appointed Gedaliah, a trustworthy and compassionate man, as governor over them. Gedaliah's leadership offered a glimmer of hope for stability and reconstruction, encouraging the people to settle and serve the Babylonians. However, not everyone accepted this new order. Ishmael, a member of the royal family, resented Gedaliah's authority and was likely motivated by a desire to restore a Jewish monarchy, possibly at the instigation of the Ammonite king (Jeremiah 40:14).

Key Themes

  • Treachery and Betrayal: The verse highlights the shocking act of betrayal by Ishmael against Gedaliah, who represented the best hope for the remnant's future. This act of internal strife further destabilized an already fragile community.
  • Political Instability and Violence: The assassination underscores the deep political divisions and the pervasive violence that plagued Judah even after the major conquest. It demonstrates how unchecked ambition and resentment can lead to devastating consequences for an entire people.
  • Disruption of Hope: Gedaliah's murder extinguished the nascent hope for a peaceful existence under Babylonian rule, paving the way for further flight and scattering of the remnant, contrary to the prophet Jeremiah's counsel.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrases "smote Gedaliah... with the sword, and slew him" are forceful and direct. The Hebrew verbs used, nakah (to strike, smite) and harag (to kill, slay), emphasize the decisive and violent nature of the act. There is no ambiguity; Gedaliah was definitively killed by Ishmael and his men. This immediate and brutal execution underscores the ruthlessness of the conspirators.

Practical Application

This tragic account serves as a somber reminder of the destructive power of envy, ambition, and disunity within a community. Even when external pressures are immense, internal divisions can cause irreparable harm, thwarting opportunities for peace and recovery. It emphasizes the importance of:

  • Discerning Leadership: Recognizing and supporting leaders who genuinely seek the welfare of the people, like Gedaliah.
  • Resisting Destructive Ambition: Guarding against selfish motives that prioritize personal gain or power over the common good.
  • The Peril of Internal Strife: Understanding how internal conflict can be more damaging than external threats, leading to further suffering and scattering, as seen in the subsequent events where the remnant fled to Egypt (Jeremiah 43:7).
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 2 Kings 25:25

    But it came to pass in the seventh month, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, of the seed royal, came, and ten men with him, and smote Gedaliah, that he died, and the Jews and the Chaldees that were with him at Mizpah.

  • Jeremiah 40:5

    Now while he was not yet gone back, [he said], Go back also to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon hath made governor over the cities of Judah, and dwell with him among the people: or go wheresoever it seemeth convenient unto thee to go. So the captain of the guard gave him victuals and a reward, and let him go.

  • 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.

  • Psalms 109:5

    And they have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love.

  • 2 Samuel 20:9

    And Joab said to Amasa, [Art] thou in health, my brother? And Joab took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss him.

  • 2 Samuel 20:10

    But Amasa took no heed to the sword that [was] in Joab's hand: so he smote him therewith in the fifth [rib], and shed out his bowels to the ground, and struck him not again; and he died. So Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri.

  • 2 Samuel 3:27

    And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there under the fifth [rib], that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.

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