Jeremiah 41:11-18; ; Jeremiah 42:1-6
The news of the terrible massacre at Mizpah has reached Johanan. He quickly proceeds to head off Ishmael’s army and, when they meet, all the people whom Ishmael was taking to captivity to Ammon rush to change sides. Ishmael himself, realising that he is up against a more powerful opponent, escapes with eight men and finds shelter with Baalis, his protector. For their part, Johanan and the people he had rescued stay at the inn at Chimham near Bethlehem (perhaps the same one where, later on, no place would be found for the Son of God – Luke 2:7).
However, these poor people are by no means out of danger yet. The murder of the governor chosen by the king of Babylon leaves the Jews to face the wrath of the latter when he finds out about it. Nebuchadnezzar, who has been pushed to the limit by the repeated rebellions of the people of Judah, will certainly intervene with the utmost severity, the innocent ones paying the price for the guilty this time. In their fear and perplexity, Johanan and his companions turn in apparent humility to Jeremiah whom we find here amongst them again. He is the bearer of the Word of God which is, and let us repeat it, the only source of light for us as it is for this people (Psalms 119:105).