Bible Commentaries
Jeremiah 40

Introduction

Overview

Jeremiah 40:1, Jeremiah, being set free by Nebuzar-adan, goes to Gedaliah; Jeremiah 40:7, The dispersed Jews repair unto him; Jeremiah 40:13, Johanan revealing Ishmael’s conspiracy is not believed.

Verse 1

The word: This, and the four following chapters, record the events which occurred in Judea from the taking of Jerusalem to the retreat of the remnant of the people to Egypt; and contain several prophecies of Jeremiah concerning them there; which were "the word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord." It appears that Jeremiah, after being freed from prison, continued among the Jews, till he was bound, with others of them, and carried to Ramah; where he was set a liberty in the manner related.

after: Jeremiah 39:11-14

Ramah: Jeremiah 31:15, Joshua 18:25, 1 Samuel 7:17

bound: Psalms 68:6, Psalms 107:16, Acts 12:6, Acts 12:7, Acts 21:13, Acts 28:20, Ephesians 6:20, *marg.

chains: or, manacles

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 25:8 - Nebuzaradan Jeremiah 39:9 - Nebuzaradan Jeremiah 39:14 - took Ezekiel 7:23 - a chain

Verse 2

The Lord: Jeremiah 22:8, Jeremiah 22:9, Deuteronomy 29:24-28, 1 Kings 9:8, 1 Kings 9:9, 2 Chronicles 7:20-22, Lamentations 2:15-17

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 29:25 - Because Nehemiah 9:30 - therefore Jeremiah 11:17 - pronounced Jeremiah 15:11 - verily I Jeremiah 25:9 - Nebuchadrezzar Jeremiah 50:7 - We offend Ezekiel 20:48 - General Ezekiel 39:23 - the heathen Acts 28:16 - captain

Verse 3

because: Jeremiah 50:7, Nehemiah 9:28, Nehemiah 9:33, Daniel 9:11, Daniel 9:12, Romans 2:5, Romans 3:19

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 29:25 - Because Deuteronomy 32:31 - General 2 Chronicles 36:17 - he brought Nehemiah 9:30 - therefore Jeremiah 22:9 - General Ezekiel 20:48 - General Ezekiel 39:23 - the heathen

Verse 4

Reciprocal: Genesis 44:21 - that I may 1 Kings 17:6 - the ravens Esther 3:11 - to do Jeremiah 28:14 - I have put Jeremiah 36:5 - General Jeremiah 37:14 - said Jeremiah 39:12 - look well to him Jeremiah 40:5 - or go Acts 12:6 - bound

Verse 5

Go back: Jeremiah 39:14, Jeremiah 41:2, 2 Kings 25:22-24

Ahikam: Jeremiah 26:24, 2 Kings 22:12, 2 Kings 22:14, 2 Chronicles 34:20

or go: Jeremiah 40:4, Jeremiah 15:11, Ezra 7:6, Ezra 7:27, Nehemiah 1:11, Nehemiah 2:4-8, Proverbs 16:7, Proverbs 21:1

gave him: Jeremiah 52:31-34, 2 Kings 8:7-9, Job 22:29, Acts 27:3, Acts 27:43, Acts 28:10, Hebrews 13:6

victuals and a reward: Rather, "victuals (aruchah a stated allowance, sufficient for the journey), and a present," masseatḣ

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 13:7 - I will give Jeremiah 41:18 - whom Jeremiah 52:16 - certain

Verse 6

Then: It has been doubted whether Jeremiah acted prudently in this decision, as the event seems to indicate the contrary, and as it was the evident meaning of all his predictions that the Jews should not prosper in their own country till the expiration of seventy years. But he was evidently influenced by the most unbounded love to his country, for whose welfare he had watched, prayed, and lived; and he now chose rather to share her adversities, her sorrows, her wants, her afflictions, and her disgrace, than to be the companion of princes, and to sit at the table of kings. His patriotism was as unbounded as it was sincere: he only ceased to live for country when he ceased to breathe. Jeremiah 39:14

Mizpah: Joshua 15:38, Judges 20:1, Judges 21:1, 1 Samuel 7:5, 1 Samuel 7:6, Mizpeh

Reciprocal: Joshua 11:3 - land 1 Kings 15:22 - Mizpah 2 Kings 25:22 - the people 2 Chronicles 34:20 - Ahikam Nehemiah 3:15 - Mizpah Jeremiah 40:8 - came Jeremiah 40:13 - Johanan Jeremiah 41:1 - Ishmael Ezekiel 5:3 - a few

Verse 7

all the: Jeremiah 39:4, 2 Kings 25:4, 2 Kings 25:22, 2 Kings 25:23-26

the poor: Jeremiah 39:10, Ezekiel 33:24-29, Ezekiel 45:16

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 24:14 - the poorest sort 2 Kings 25:12 - left of the poor Jeremiah 41:2 - whom Jeremiah 41:10 - whom Jeremiah 41:11 - Johanan Jeremiah 43:6 - every

Verse 8

came: Jeremiah 40:6, Jeremiah 40:11, Jeremiah 40:12

even: Jeremiah 40:14, Jeremiah 41:1-16, 2 Kings 25:23, 2 Kings 25:25

Johanan: Jeremiah 41:11, Jeremiah 41:16, Jeremiah 42:1, Jeremiah 42:8, Jeremiah 43:2, Jeremiah 43:5

Jonathan: Jeremiah 37:15, Jeremiah 37:20, Jeremiah 38:26

Netophathite: 2 Samuel 23:28, 2 Samuel 23:29, 1 Chronicles 2:54, 1 Chronicles 11:30, Ezra 2:2, Ezra 2:22, Nehemiah 7:26

Maachathite: Deuteronomy 3:14, Joshua 12:5, 2 Samuel 10:6, 2 Samuel 10:8, 2 Samuel 23:34, 1 Chronicles 2:48

Reciprocal: Jeremiah 36:14 - Nethaniah

Verse 9

sware: 1 Samuel 20:16, 1 Samuel 20:17, 2 Kings 25:24

Fear: Jeremiah 27:11, Jeremiah 38:17-20, Genesis 49:15, Psalms 37:3, Psalms 128:2

Reciprocal: Genesis 46:3 - fear not 2 Chronicles 34:20 - Ahikam Jeremiah 27:8 - that nation Lamentations 5:9 - General Matthew 1:20 - fear not

Verse 10

serve: Heb. stand before, Jeremiah 35:19, Deuteronomy 1:38, Proverbs 22:29, Luke 21:36

gather: Jeremiah 39:10

summer: Jeremiah 40:12, Jeremiah 48:32, 2 Samuel 16:1, Isaiah 16:9, Micah 7:1

Reciprocal: Joshua 11:3 - land 1 Kings 15:22 - Mizpah 2 Kings 25:24 - sware to them Ecclesiastes 5:9 - the profit Amos 8:2 - A basket

Verse 11

all the Jews: Jeremiah 24:9, Isaiah 16:4, Ezekiel 5:3, Ezekiel 5:12, Ezekiel 25:2, Ezekiel 25:6, Ezekiel 25:8, Ezekiel 25:12, Ezekiel 35:5, Ezekiel 35:15, Obadiah 1:11-14

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 22:9 - Shaphan 2 Kings 25:23 - And when 2 Chronicles 34:8 - sent Shaphan Jeremiah 40:8 - came Jeremiah 41:10 - all the Jeremiah 43:5 - took Ezekiel 34:6 - wandered

Verse 12

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 16:1 - summer 2 Kings 25:23 - And when Isaiah 16:9 - for Jeremiah 8:3 - in all Jeremiah 40:8 - came Jeremiah 40:10 - summer Jeremiah 41:10 - all the Jeremiah 43:5 - took Jeremiah 44:18 - we have Ezekiel 34:6 - wandered

Verse 13

Johanan: Johanan and his companions seem to have acted honestly in this affair. They had received intelligence of designs formed against Gedaliah's life, and consequently against the whole new settlement. Ishmael, being a branch of David's family, was probably displeased that another was preferred above him; and the king of the Ammonites, out of hatred to the Jews, employed him to slay Gedaliah. But Gedaliah, conscious of his own integrity and benevolence, took the portrait of others from his own mind; and therefore believed evil of no man, because he felt none towards any in his own breast. He may be reproached for being too credulous and confiding; but this only serves to shew the greatness of his soul; for a little mind is always suspicious, and ready to believe the worst of every person and thing. Jeremiah 40:6-8

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 16:9 - let me go Jeremiah 41:11 - Johanan Jeremiah 42:1 - all the Jeremiah 42:8 - Johanan Jeremiah 43:2 - Johanan 1 Corinthians 13:5 - thinketh

Verse 14

Ammonites: Jeremiah 25:21, Jeremiah 41:10, Jeremiah 49:1-6, 1 Samuel 11:1-3, 2 Samuel 10:1-6, Ezekiel 25:2-6, Amos 1:13-15

Ishmael: Jeremiah 40:8, Jeremiah 41:2, Jeremiah 41:10, Proverbs 26:23-26, Isaiah 26:10, Micah 7:5

slay thee: Heb. strike thee in soul

believed: 1 Corinthians 13:5-7

Reciprocal: 2 Chronicles 34:20 - Ahikam Proverbs 29:10 - but

Verse 15

Let: 1 Samuel 24:4, 1 Samuel 26:8, Job 31:31

wherefore: Jeremiah 12:3, Jeremiah 12:4, 2 Samuel 18:3, 2 Samuel 21:17, Ezekiel 33:24-29, John 11:50

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 25:25 - Ishmael Isaiah 24:1 - scattereth Isaiah 33:15 - stoppeth

Verse 16

Thou shalt: Jeremiah 41:2, Matthew 10:16, Matthew 10:17, Romans 3:8

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 25:25 - Ishmael Job 31:31 - the men Isaiah 33:15 - stoppeth