Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary
Jeremiah 41:12

Bridgeway Bible Commentary

Ishmael’s plot against Gedaliah (40:13-41:18)

One of the former army commanders, Ishmael, was opposed to Gedaliah’s policy of submission to Babylon. With Ammonite support he plotted to kill Gedaliah. So sincere and trusting was Gedaliah, that when told of the plot, he refused to believe it (13-16). Gedaliah apparently took no precautions against the reported treachery, and when a suitable time arrived Ishmael carried out his brutal plot. He murdered Gedaliah, along with all the Judean officials and Babylonian supervisors at Gedaliah’s headquarters (41:1-3).
Ishmael wanted no news of the assassination to be made public till he had carried out the next stage of his plan. But he was surprised by the arrival of a group of men travelling to Jerusalem to mourn the destruction of the temple (4-5). To prevent news of the assassination leaking out, Ishmael killed the travellers, though some saved their lives by telling Ishmael where he could find needed food supplies (6-9). Ishmael, it seems, panicked. Not knowing exactly what to do, he decided to take the whole population of Mizpah captive to Ammon (10).
Johanan, who had first warned Gedaliah of the plot against him (see 40:13-16), decided to pursue Ishmael. He rescued the captive people of Mizpah, but Ishmael escaped into Ammon (11-15). Fearing revenge from the Babylonians because of Ishmael’s rebellion, the people of Mizpah decided it would be safer to look for refuge in Egypt than to return to Mizpah (16-18).

Coffman's Commentaries on the Bible

ISHMAEL IS DEFEATED; HE ESCAPES TO AMMON

"But when Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were with him, heard of all the evil that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had done, then they took all the men, and went to fight with Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and found him by the great waters that are in Gibeon. Now it came to pass that when all the people that were with Ishmael saw Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were with him, then they were glad. So all the people that Ishmael had carried away captive from Mizpah turned about and came back, and went unto Johanan the son of Kareah. But Ishmael the son of Nethaniah escaped from Johanan with eight men, and went to the children of Ammon."

This is a drastically abbreviated account. Johanan knew all about Ishmael and no doubt anticipated his carrying captives away for sale to the Ammonites, pursued him, overtook him, and thoroughly defeated him at Gibeon, even killing two of his ten-man body-guard.

"The great waters that are in Gibeon" This is a reference to a rather large natural lake in the area.

"They turned… and went unto Johanan" This the captives could not have done unless Johanan had already thoroughly defeated Ishmael and sent him fleeing for his life to the Ammonites. With what is said here, Ishmael disappears from Biblical history, a fitting exit indeed for the kind of man he was.

Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible

An open pool still exists at Gibeon, and a large subterranean reservoir fed by a copious natural spring. Gibeon is about two miles north of Mizpah.

Calvin's Commentary on the Bible

Here the Prophet informs us, that Ishmael did not attain his wishes; for he had resolved to sell; as it were, the people to the king of Ammon, but he was intercepted in his course. But he says first, that John the son of Kareah had heard the report, and that he, together with other leaders, went to meet him in order to intercept him in his journey. He says also that he collected all the men, even those who had been dispersed. All then they could have got, they enlisted, and went to fight with Ishmael. And the Prophet adds, that they found him at the great waters And I think they were so called because they were either a lake or a pool. I doubt not, then, but that it was a common name. Some say that the waters were then abundant, because there had been constant rains. But this conjecture is not probable. The simpler meaning is, that these waters were thus called, because in that part the abundance of water was not great in comparison with the lake. ⁽¹²⁵⁾ Ishmael then was found there. It is now added by the Prophet, that the captives rejoiced when they saw John, and immediately came over to his side. he therefore says, —

(125) There was a pool in Gibeon, mentioned in 2 Samuel 2:13; and it must have been large, otherwise it would not have been called “great waters.” — Ed.

Smith's Bible Commentary

Tonight let's turn to Jeremiah chapter 41 as we continue our study through the Bible.

Now, these are prophecies that Jeremiah made to the people after Nebuchadnezzar had come and carried away king Zedekiah as a captive to Babylon and left the poor of the people in the land, and he gave unto Gedaliah the office of governor over the people that remained there in the land. Jeremiah was given his choice of going to Babylon where he was promised special treatment, or of staying in the land with the people. And Jeremiah opted for staying in the land with the people. And so Jeremiah continued then to prophesy to the people that remained there in the land. Now he dates this particular prophecy,

in the seventh month, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, who was of the seed royal, and the princes of the king, even ten men that were with him, came to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah; and there they did eat bread together in Mizpah ( Jeremiah 41:1 ).

Now this would have been about three months after Zedekiah had been taken away captive. Now Johanan had warned the governor Gedaliah that this fellow Ishmael was no good. He said, "The king of the Ammonites has really sent him to murder you." He said, "Let me go out secretly and I'll take care of him. He's really no good. He's intending to assassinate you." But Gedaliah says, "Oh, you've been reading too many mystery novels. That's not so at all." So Gedaliah did not heed the warning of Johanan.

Now about thirty days after Johanan had given him this warning, of course Johanan had left Mizpah, that in the seventh month... Now this was the month in which, of course, they gathered for worship. It was the month of the latter part of September, the early part of October in the Jewish calendar, and it was that important month for their various feasts - the Feast of Tabernacles, the Feast of Trumpets, the Yom Kippur - all of that took place at this particular time. And so, no doubt, this Ishmael came... and he was of the royal seed. He wasn't a descendant of Zedekiah, because all of Zedekiah's sons were wiped out. But he was probably a nephew to Zedekiah. At least he felt that he had a right to the throne and was no doubt upset that Nebuchadnezzar had set Gedaliah who was not from the royal seed at all as the governor over the land. And so he came, no doubt, under the guise as a friend to worship, and Gedaliah received him and they ate bread together there in Mizpah, which he had set up as the capital because Jerusalem had been devastated.

Then Ishmael arose, and the ten men that were with him, and they smote Gedaliah with the sword, and they killed him, whom the king of Babylon had made governor over the land. Ishmael also slew all the Jews that were with him, there at Mizpah, and the Chaldeans that were there, that is the men of war ( Jeremiah 41:2-3 ).

Now "all" is to be thought of in a, not in a literal sense, but all of those that might rise up against him--all of the military men that were there, all of the men that had surrounded him, his officers and those that were his military men who could retaliate against Ishmael.

So it came to pass the second day after he had slain Gedaliah, [that they had been able to keep it a secret] no one knew it, That there was coming certain men from Shechem, from Shiloh, and Samaria, eighty men, who had their beards shaved, and their clothes were rent, and they had cut themselves, with offerings and incense in their hand, to bring them to the house of the LORD ( Jeremiah 41:4-5 ).

Now, under the law if you wanted to make a special vow to God you would shave yourself and you would tear your clothes. You wear rags. But it was forbidden to cut yourselves. God didn't want them making any markings on their bodies. And quite often in the pagan worship people would cut themselves.

You remember when the prophets of Baal were in contest with Elijah on mount Carmel and they had built their altars, and the conditions were that the god who answered by fire would be the God. And it said that these prophets of Baal prayed until about lunchtime and Elijah began to sort of kid around with them and say, "I bet your god is on a vacation. Or maybe he's gone to the bathroom. Why don't you cry a little louder?" Elijah was a coarse fellow, and the Bible says he was. So he was just, you know, that kind of a guy. And so these guys, it says, began to cut themselves. That was typical in the pagan worship, of defiling your body. They would cut themselves with their nails, scratch themselves until they bleed. Or they would take knives and slash themselves before their gods.

So that these eighty men who were coming with their offering unto the Lord and with their incense were a sort of a strange admixture, but you remember they're coming out of Samaria and Shechem and Shiloh. Now when Israel had been taken away captive by the Assyrian king, he sent other people into the land so that there was probably the admixture of these religious systems, and because it was the seventh month it would appear that these men were probably going to Jerusalem. Because Ishmael when he meets them he invites them. He says, "Well, come and see Gedaliah. Turn in and see Gedaliah." Of course, they didn't know and maybe he was testing to see if they knew about Gedaliah being slain.

Now the reason why he turned on these men is to keep them from spreading the word. He was trying to keep the word from going out that Gedaliah had been killed because he feared that the other people might come and get him if they found out. So he wanted to really establish himself firmly in the position of the ruler of the land until the new... and keep the news from going out until he could really secure himself in that position. And then it would have been too late for anybody to react or respond. So he went out to these eighty men and he invited them.

he said, Come to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam. And it was so, when they came into the midst of the city, that Ishmael slew them, and cast them in the middle of the pit, he, and the men that were with him. But ten men among them said unto Ishmael, Don't kill us: for we have hid treasures in the field, of wheat, and of barley, and of oil, and of honey ( Jeremiah 41:6-8 ).

Now this didn't mean that they had crops on the field, because at the seventh month all of the barley and wheat crops were already in. But they had to hide them, the barley and all. They would dig pits and put them in them to keep the enemy from discovering them and finding them and ripping them off. And so they said, "Hey, we've got these treasures. We've hid them in our field. We've got some honey and barley and wheat and all," and it was really a ransom that they were offering for themselves.

So he did not slay them from among their brethren. Now this pit that he threw them was the pit that Asa the king had dug ( Jeremiah 41:8-9 ).

Probably to get a fresh water supply within the city when Baasha, the king of Israel, was ready to attack them.

And so he filled this pit with these dead bodies ( Jeremiah 41:9 ).

Verse ten:

Then Ishmael carried away captive all the residue of the people that were there at Mizpah ( Jeremiah 41:10 ),

He took all of the rest of the people as captives and he was heading back towards Ammon.

even the king's daughters ( Jeremiah 41:10 ),

Probably the daughters of Zedekiah, they left them. They killed his sons, but they had no reason to kill the girls. They couldn't do much anyhow.

and all the people that remained in Mizpah, whom Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had committed to Gedaliah: Ishmael carried them away, and departed to go over to the Ammonites. But when Johanan ( Jeremiah 41:10-11 )

Now, he was the one that had warned Gedaliah that this guy's out to kill you and he was wanting Gedaliah's permission to go and kill him first.

the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were with him, heard of all the evil that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had done, that they took all the men, and went to fight with Ishmael, and they found him by the great waters that are in Gibeon ( Jeremiah 41:11-12 ).

Now to go from Mizpah to Gibeon is not a direct route to Ammon, but he was probably going to pick up the loot that these guys said that they had hid. In Gibeon there were these beautiful pools of water. We remember that the men of Ishbosheth and David met by the pools of Gibeon sitting on either side. And then the generals had the guys fighting and killing each other for their own sport there at the pools of Gibeon. So there at Gibeon, Johanan caught up with the people. And when all of the people saw Johanan, they left Ishmael and Ishmael, of course, escaped and returned to Ammon.

Then Johanan, and all of his captains of the forces that were with him, all the remnant of the people that he had recovered from Ishmael, they were brought again from Gibeon: And they departed, and dwelt in Chimham, which is by Bethlehem ( Jeremiah 41:16-17 ),

In other words, they started south toward Egypt. They were fearful now of the retaliation of Nebuchadnezzar because Gedaliah had been slain. And so they were heading south now and were as far as Chimham, which was near Bethlehem. And so it indicates that they already have purposed in their hearts to go to Egypt. It's something they had already determined to do.

Because of the Chaldeans: for they were afraid of them, because Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had killed Gedaliah, and he was the appointed governor from the Babylonian, Nebuchadnezzar ( Jeremiah 41:18 ).

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Dr. Constable's Expository Notes

Ishmael’s further atrocities and Johanan’s intervention 41:4-18

Dr. Constable's Expository Notes

Johanan, the commanders, and their men, pursued Ishmael-intending to kill him. They caught up with him by the large pool in Gibeon, about three miles southwest of Mizpah (cf. 2 Samuel 2:12-16). Since Gibeon was to the southwest of Mizpah, it seems that Ishmael was taking a roundabout way to Ammon. Perhaps he went there to take more captives, or perhaps to elude his pursuers.

Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

Then they took all the men,.... All the soldiers that were under their command; this they did at once, believing the report to be true, as they had reason to do; since they knew of Ishmael's designs, and had given notice and warning of them to Gedaliah, though he would not listen to them:

and went to fight with Ishmael the son of Nethaniah: resolving to give him battle, and to revenge the innocent blood he had shed, and rescue the captives out of his hands he was carrying to the Ammonites:

and found him by the great waters that [are] in Gibeon; taking this road to the country of Ammon, though it was not quite the direct road; either to avoid the forces of Johanan; or rather for the sake of the hid treasure at Shechem, or Shiloh, or Samaria, the ten men had promised him for their lives. These great waters were the same with the pool at Gibeon, where the servants of Ishbosheth and the servants of David met, and sat one on one side, and the other on the other; and where twelve young men on each side slew one another, and from thence called Helkathhazzurim, 2 Samuel 2:12; and the Targum calls it

"the pool of many waters, which were in Gibeon.''

Josephus p calls it a fountain in Hebron; which perhaps should be read Gibeon.

p Antiqu. l. 10. c. 9. sect. 5.

Henry's Complete Commentary on the Bible

      11 But when Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were with him, heard of all the evil that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had done,   12 Then they took all the men, and went to fight with Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and found him by the great waters that are in Gibeon.   13 Now it came to pass, that when all the people which were with Ishmael saw Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were with him, then they were glad.   14 So all the people that Ishmael had carried away captive from Mizpah cast about and returned, and went unto Johanan the son of Kareah.   15 But Ishmael the son of Nethaniah escaped from Johanan with eight men, and went to the Ammonites.   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:   17 And they departed, and dwelt in the habitation of Chimham, which is by Beth-lehem, to go to enter into Egypt,   18 Because of the Chaldeans: for they were afraid of them, because Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had slain Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, whom the king of Babylon made governor in the land.

      It would have been well if Johanan, when he gave information to Gedaliah of Ishmael's treasonable design, though he could not obtain leave to kill Ishmael and to prevent it that way, yet had staid with Gedaliah; for he, and his captains, and their forces, might have been a life-guard to Gedaliah and a terror to Ishmael, and so have prevented the mischief without the effusion of blood: but, it seems they were out upon some expedition, perhaps no good one, and so were out of the way when they should have been upon the best service. Those that affect to ramble are many times out of their place when they are most needed. However, at length they hear of all the evil that Ishmael had done (Jeremiah 41:11; Jeremiah 41:11), and are resolved to try an after-game, which we have an account of in these verses. 1. We heartily wish Johanan could have taken revenge upon the murderers, but he prevailed only to rescue the captives. Those that had shed so much blood, it was a pity but their blood should have been shed; and it is strange that vengeance suffered them to live; yet it did. Johanan gathered what forces he could and went to fight with Ishmael (Jeremiah 41:12; Jeremiah 41:12), upon notice of the murders he had committed (for though he concealed it for a time, Jeremiah 41:4; Jeremiah 41:4, yet murder will out) and which way he was gone; he pursued him, and overtook him by the great pool of Gibeon, which we read of, 2 Samuel 2:13. And, upon his appearing with such a force, Ishmael's heart failed him, his guilty conscience flew in his face, and he durst not stand his ground against an enemy that was something like a match for him. The most cruel are often the most cowardly. The poor captives were glad when they saw Johanan and the captains that were with him, looking upon them as their deliverers (Jeremiah 41:13; Jeremiah 41:13), and they immediately found a way to wheel about and come over to them (Jeremiah 41:14; Jeremiah 41:14), Ishmael not offering to detain them when he saw Johanan. Note, Those that would be helped must help themselves. These captives staid not till their conquerors were beaten, but took the first opportunity to make their escape, as soon as they saw their friends appear and their enemies thereby disheartened. Ishmael quitted his pray to save his life, and escaped with eight men,Jeremiah 41:15; Jeremiah 41:15. It seems, two of his ten men, that were his banditti or assassins (spoken of Jeremiah 41:1; Jeremiah 41:1), either deserted him or were killed in the engagement; but he made the best of his way to the Ammonites, as a perfect renegado, that had quite abandoned all relation to the commonwealth of Israel, though he was of the seed royal, and we hear no more of him. 2. We heartily wish that Johanan, when he had rescued the captives, would have sat down quietly with them, and governed them peaceably, as Gedaliah did; but, instead of that, he is for leading them into the land of Egypt, as Ishmael would have led them into the land of the Ammonites; so that though he got the command over them in a better way than Ishmael did, and honestly enough, yet he did not use it much better. Gedaliah, who was of a meek and quiet spirit, was a great blessing to them; but Johanan, who was of a fierce and restless spirit, was set over them for their hurt, and to complete their ruin, even after they were, as they thought, redeemed. Thus did God still walk contrary to them. (1.) The resolution of Johanan and the captains was very rash; nothing would serve them but they would go to enter into Egypt (Jeremiah 41:17; Jeremiah 41:17), and, in order to that, they encamped for a time in the habitation of Chimham, by Bethlehem, David's city. Probably it was some land which David gave to Chimham, the son of Barzillai, which, though it returned to David's family at the year of the Jubilee, yet still bore the name of Chimham. Here Johanan made his headquarters, steering his course towards Egypt, either from a personal affection to that country or an ancient national confidence in the Egyptians for help in distress. Some of the mighty men of war, it seems had escaped; those he took with him, and the women and children, whom he had recovered from Ishmael, who were thus emptied from vessel to vessel, because they were yet unchanged. (2.) The reason for this resolution was very frivolous. They pretended that they were afraid of the Chaldeans, that they would come and do I know not what with them, because Ishmael had killed Gedaliah,Jeremiah 41:18; Jeremiah 41:18. I cannot think they really had any apprehensions of danger upon this account; for, though it is true that the Chaldeans had cause enough to resent the murder of their viceroy, yet they were not so unreasonable, or unjust, as to revenge it upon those who appeared so vigorously against the murderers. But they only make use of this as a sham to cover that corrupt inclination of their unbelieving ancestors, which was so strong in them, to return into Egypt. Those will justly lose their comfort in real fears that excuse themselves in sin with pretended fears.