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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Jeremiah 41:1-10

It is hard to say which is more astonishing, God's permitting or men's perpetrating such villanies as here we find committed. Such base, barbarous, bloody work is here done by men who by their birth should have been men of honour, by their religion just men, and this done upon those of their own nature, their own nation, their own religion, and now their brethren in affliction, when they were all brought under the power of the victorious Chaldeans, and smarting under the judgments of God, upon... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 41:5

That there came certain from Shechem, from Shiloh, and from Samaria ,.... Places in the ten tribes, and which belonged to the kingdom of Israel; so that it seems even at this distance of time, though the body of the ten tribes had been many years ago carried captive, yet there were still some religious persons sons remaining, and who had a great regard to the temple worship at Jerusalem: even fourscore men, having their beards shaven, and their clothes rent, and having cut themselves ;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 41:6

And Ishmael the son of Nethaniah went forth to Mizpah to meet them ,.... Hearing there was such a number of men upon the road to Jerusalem, in such a habit, and upon such a design, he thought it advisable to go out and meet them, and stop them, and decoy them into the city, and there destroy them; lest, if they should have got any hint of what had been done by him, they should spread it, and raise the country upon him, before he had executed his whole design: weeping all along as he went ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 41:5

Having their beards shaven - All these were signs of deep mourning, probably on account of the destruction of the city. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 41:6

Weeping all along as he went - This felonious hypocrite pretended that he also was deeply afflicted, and wished to bear them company in their sorrow. Come to Gedaliah - He will appoint you vineyards and fields. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 41:5

Verse 5 The Prophet skews here, that after Ishmael had polluted his hands, he made no end of his barbarity. And thus wicked men become hardened; for even if they dread at first to murder innocent men, when once they begin the work, they rush on to the commission of numberless murders. This is what the Prophet now tells us had happened; for after Gedaliah was killed, he says, that eighty men came from Shechem, from Shiloh, and from Samaria, who brought incense and offering, to present them in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 41:1-10

Devils incarnate. 1. If ever there was such a one, this Ishmael was of whom these verses tell. His atrocities remind us of the Indian Mutiny, its leader, and the well at Cawnpore (cf. Jeremiah 41:9 ). Treachery, ingratitude, murder, massacre, greed, cowardice,—all are gathered in this detestable character (cf. Mr. Grove's article "Ishmael," Smith's 'Dictionary of the Bible'). 2 . And such men are permitted to be. So clearly seen is this, that every drama has its villain; they are... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 41:1-18

A great crime and its consequence. I. A GREAT CRIME . The slaying of Gedaliah was accompanied by circumstances making it peculiarly atrocious. 1 . The breach of good fellowship. There had been professions of amity before. Gedaliah shows by deed his confidence in Ishmael, sitting down with him at a common meal. 2 . The subsequent slaughter. The slaying of Gedaliah was not enough to serve the purpose. A man, once entered on the ways of crime, cannot say, "So far I will go,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 41:4-7

The news of the deed of violence had not yet been spread, and Ishmael seized the opportunity of imbruing his hands in fresh blood. He could have had no personal motive; but his employer, Baalis, desired that "the remnant in Judah might perish" ( Jeremiah 40:15 ). read more

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