Jeremiah 40

THE word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD These words refer to the forty s ond Chapter, where begins the Revelation which Jeremiah had from God, for all this Chapter and the next are no prophe e, but only an Historical Narration of some passages after the taking of the City, and so cannot be called a prophesie, but are a piece of History previous to that prophesie., after that Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard had let him go from Ramah Rama was a City in the Tribe of Benjamin near Gibeon, Vide chap. 31.15., when he ha taken him being bound in chains among all that were carried away captive of Jerusalem, and Judah, which were carried away captive into Babylon Jeremiah was by mistake and expres y contrary to the Kings orders, chap. 39.11. manacled and carried away amongst the other prisoners, probably the Captain of the Guard at that place call'd over his prisoners, and amongst them he found the prophet contrary to his expectation..

And the captain of the guard took Jeremiah, and said unto him, The LORD thy God has pronounced this evil upon this place.

Now the LORD has brought it, and done according as he has said, because ye have sinned against the LORD, and have not obeyed his voice, therefore this thing is come upon you This Pagan Commander could see that which the blind Jews would not understand; they said, wherefore is this great evil come upon us? Nebuzar-adan knew wherefore and gives God the glory of his Masters Victory, as also of his own faithfulness, saying God had but done what he said, brought the evil which he had pronounced against that City, he also acknowledgeth Gods Justice, that this evil was come upon them, because of their sins. Thus, the men of Tyre and Sidon, and of Nineveh (and according to our Saviours words) shall rise up in Judgment, against the Iews that lived in our Saviours time; and Nebuzar-adan another day shall rise up in Judgment against those Jewes that lived in Jeremiahs time, and shall condemn them..

And now behold I loose thee this day from the chains which were upon thine hand: if it seemeth good unto thee, to come with me into Babylon, come, and I will look well unto thee: but if it seem ill unto thee to come with me into Babylon, forbear: behold, all the land is before thee: whither it seemeth good and convenient for thee to go, thither go Nebuzar-adan like a faithful Servant remembers his Masters orders to him about the Prophet, chap. 39.11. and offers Jeremiah greater favour than to any others of his Prisoners; he determined others by his right of conquest to what they should do, but he giveth the Prophet a liberty to choose whether he would go to Babylon, or stay at Jerusalem in his own country, he promised him that if he would go to Babylon, he would take a particular care of him..

Now while he was not yet gone back It is not much material whether we interpret the He here mentioned of Jeremiah or Gedaliah if we interpret it of Jeremiah the sense is, That before Jeremiah was gone out of the presence of Nebuzar-adan. he either by his silence or by some declaration of his Mind that is not here recorded, declaring that he was more inclined to stay in his own country, bid him Go back, &c. If we understand it of Gedaliah, the sense must be, Because Gedaliah is not to come back any more to me Go thou to him, &c., he said, Go back also to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan We read that the King of Babylon left Gedaliah as his Vice-Roy or Deputy in Judah. What he was, more then the son of Ahikam, and Grandchild of Shaphan, the Scripture tells us not only that he was left by the King of Babylon as Ruler over the people he thought fit to leave, 2 King. 25.22. probably he was one of them who during the Siege had gone out to the King of Babylon, to him the Captain of the Guard directeth the Prophet, but gives him liberty to dwell where he pleaseth., whom the king of Babylon, has made governour over the cities of Judah and dwell with him among the people: or go wheresoever it seemeth convenient for thee to go. So the captain of the guard gave him victuals and a reward, and let him go So sends him away with Victuals and a Reward. It is more then probable that the King of Babylon had heard from some of the Jews who during the Siege had made an escape to his Army that the Scope of the Prophets prophesies were for the delivery of the City, and the Jews submission to him as was before said..

Then went Jeremiah unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, to Mizpah Mizpah was built by Asa, 1 King. 15.22. or rather en larged or further built, for we read of it as a City belonging to the Tribe of Benjamin, Josh. 18.26., and dwelt with him among the people that were left in the land.

Now when all the captains of the forces which were in the fields, even they and their men heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam governour in the land, and had committed unto him, men women and children, and of the poor of the land, of them that were not carried away captive to Babylon.

Then they came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, even Ishmael the son of Nethani h, and Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth, and the sons of Ephai the Netophatite, and Jezaniah the son of a Maachathite, they and their men It is most likely that these Captains with their forces, were no newly raised and formed companies, for to what purpose should that be when their City and whole Country was lost? but some Commanders of Parties, which either were within the City till it was taken, and then escaped out, or were about before somewhere in the Country, and were not so much regarded by the Chaldeans, who were more intent upon the conquest of the City, than pursuing these little Parties, who they knew could do them no hurt. These hearing that the business was over, and a Deputy Governour set up, who was of their own Country, and a man of a good ingenuous Temper, out of the love they had to their Native Country come unto him. Of these Captains we read little (save I mael, of whom we shall afterwards r ad more) nor are we at all concerned to seek their Genealogy..

And Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, sware unto them and to their men, saying They might reasonably suspect that the Chaldeans would have a jealous Eye upon any con lux of people to Ierusalem especially Military men, and therefore be something suspicious of him who was the Chaldean Deputy Governour, the securing of them from fears on this account was the cause of this Voluntary Oath taken by Gedaliah., Fear not to serve the Chaldeans, dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you He incourageth them to be servants to the C a deans and to dwell in the land, assuring them that if they would, they should fare well, he was well enough a ured of the C ldeans favour, that if they would live peaceably in their own land, they should, they would not come any more to carry them away Captive..

As for me, Behold I will dwell at Mizpah, to serve the Chaldeans, which will come unto us That is I have made choice of Mizpah a City upon the Frontires, where I intend to make my residence, it being a Conve e t place for me to receive orders from the King of Babylon and to manage state matters.: but ye, gather ye wine and summer-fruits, and oyl, and put them in your vessels, and dwell in your cities that ye have taken But do ye live in the Country, and gather such fruits as the Country affordeth, do not fear being stript or spoiled of them, but do as you use to do in the times of greatest peace, and security..

Likewise when all the Jews that were in Moab, and amongst the Ammonites, and in Edom, and that were in all the countries, heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant of Judah, and that he had set over them Gedaliah the son o Ahikam, the son of Shaphan.

Even all the Jews returned out of all places whither they were driven, and came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah unto Mizpah, and gathered wine, and summer-fruits very much Probably upon the King of Babylons first invading Iudah, many fled, and more as he went on in his conquests, over-running the Country, and it is likely at the taking of the City many escaped, and fled into several Countries, as they had opportunity or judged this or that Country would be safest, some fled to Moa, some to Am o some to Ed m, some one way, some another: but when they heard that the King of Babylon had set a Governour of their own Religion and Country over them they came back to him, and there being few people left in the Land which was of it self wonderfully fruitful, they gathered a great plenty of Grapes and other Summer-fruits which the Country produced..

¶ Moreover, Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were in the fields, came to Gedaliah to Mizpah They had been with him before er. 8, 9 but now they come to discover a conspiracy against his life..

And said unto him, Dost thou certainly know for doest thou not, for not is plainly understood as the sense makes evident. that Baalis the king of the Ammonites has sent Ishmael the so of Nethaniah to slay thee? Whether this Baalis be a proper name of the King of the Ammonites, or as some think an appellative name, signifying the Lady or the Queen Regent is incertain, what made the Prince of the Ammonites do this can be but guessed, probably the old hatred they had to Israel, or hopes that they should have the better fishing in these waters when they were troubled. But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam believed them not Gedaliah seems a man of a good humour not too credulous, and believes not the Information..

Then Johanan the son of Kareah spake to Gedaliah in Mizpah secretly, saying, Let me go, I pray thee, and I will slay Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and no man shall know it: wherefore should he slay thee, that all the Jews which are gathered unto thee should be scattered, and the remnant of Judah perish Discerning that Gedaliah took no great notice of his words spoken to him in the presence of the other Captains, he goeth to him secretly, offereth him his service to prevent the stroke, if he might have commission from him; mindeth him that if he did not value his own life, yet he ought to consider, in what a condition the people would be in, in case he were cut off, they were now but a small remnant, and then that remn nt also would perish..

But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, said unto Johanan the son of Kareah, Thou shalt not do this thing, for thou speakest falsly of Ishmael Thus God dementates those whom he designeth to destroy. Gedaliah in this shows an excellent temper, not to be over credulous and suspicious, Charity thinks no ill, but not that Prudence which became a chief Magistrate. He ought to have been watchful against one, against whom he had received such an information, which we shall in the next chapter find he was not, but was slain by him..