Jeremiah 40

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 40:5

Verse 5 Jeremiah goes on with the same discourse, that Nebuzar-adan dealt bountifully with him, and permitted him to go wherever he wished. We hence conclude that Nebuchadnezzar was fully convinced of the honesty and uprightness of Jeremiah. For he knew how he was regarded among his own people, and that he might rouse great disturbances, except he was upright and quiet. As, then, Nebuchadnezzar had no doubt respecting’ the character of Jeremiah, he wished to grant him free liberty to choose his... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 40:6

Verse 6 Here is shown to us the firmness of the Prophet, that he hesitated not to reject, what Nebuzaradan kindly offered to him, and yet he might have committed a great offense in making light, as it were, of Chaldea. It was, as we know, a very pleasant country, and very fertile; and tyrants cannot bear their bounty to be despised; for when they are pleased to honor any one, however little may be what they offer, if he refuses, they regard it as a dishonor done to them. The Prophet, then,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 40:7

Verse 7 Mention has been before made of Gedaliah. We have seen that the Prophet was once rescued from death through his kindness, for he interposed for him when almost all with one consent doomed the holy Prophet to death. (119) And God bestowed on him no common honor, that while he was seeking nothing, Nebuchadnezzar should set him as governor over the land. He did not, indeed, enjoy power for any length of time; but it was yet God’s will to extend his hand to the pious man, so that he might... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 40:8

Verse 8 They then and their men, came to Gedaliah, when they heard that the king of Babylon had set Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam, over Judea, and that men, women, and children were committed to his power or keeping. And then he adds, from the poverty of the land, that is, from the dregs of the people, even from those who had not been removed to Babylon: they came, even Ishmael, etc.; who, as we shall hereafter see, became a traitor. He was, as the Prophet says, of the royal family. His spirits... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 40:9

Verse 9 Here, as I have hinted, is explained the great humanity of Gedaliah, and also his pious solicitude for his own nation, in order that the perfidy and cruelty of the son of Nethaniah might appear the more detestable, who slew a man so well deserving in his conduct to him and to others, having been led to do so by reward. The Prophet says that he swore to them; nor was it strange to interpose an oath in a state of things so disturbed. Hardly could Ishmael and the rest have any confidence,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 40:10

Verse 10 And he ordered them to gather wine, and corn, and fruit, and to store them up, as there would be no danger from war. He also ordered them to dwell in the cities which they had taken, or to which they had been driven. The verb here is ambiguous; but I prefer its most literal meaning, which ye have taken. They could not, indeed, have taken a city by force and arms, as they had only a few men, and could never have been equal to their enemies. Then the forcible taking of cities is not what... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 40:11

Verse 11 The Prophet shews here, that except intestine wickedness had arisen, the condition of the people would have been endurable until the time of exile had elapsed. God had pre-fixed, as it has been before stated, seventy years. Nebuchadnezzar had already so withdrawn the flower of the people, that still some inhabitants remained, that the land might not be wholly naked and forsaken. For besides the poor who had been left, he has already told us, that some chief men came with their troops.... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 40:12

Verse 12 He says that all the Jews; he puts in the particle גם, gam, for the sake of emphasis, and even all the Jews, who had fled either to the Moabites or to the children of Ammon, or to the Idumeans, or to other parts in other countries. There is no doubt but they made up a considerable number. Then the whole land must have had many inhabitants; and though it was not populous, yet the desolation that might have been feared, was not extreme. We hence conclude, that there was no over-statement... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 40:13

Verse 13 A sad history is here given, from which we may conclude, that God’s wrath against the people had not been appeased by the destruction of the city and the burning of the Temple. It was some token of mercy, when Gedaliah was set over the remnant of the people and the poor, who had been allowed to dwell in the land. But now Gedaliah is slain, and a miserable scattering must have ensued. The wrath also of the king of Babylon was kindled, because the Chaldeans, who had been given as guards,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 40:14

Verse 14 They therefore came and said, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah was suborned by the king of Ammon It may have been that the king of Ammon had hoped to be the king of Judea, or to have all that land as his own after the departure of the Chaldean army. But as his expectation was disappointed, he began to attempt another tiling, to render the land desolate by creating disturbances. Such then seems to have been the reason why he induced Ishmael to undertake the impious and abominable act... read more

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 40:5

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 40:6

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 40:7

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 40:8

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 40:9

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 40:10

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 40:11

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 40:12

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 40:13

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 40:14

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