And as for the people that remained ,.... That were left in the land to be vinedressers and husbandmen; over these the king of Babylon made Gedaliah governor, to whom the captains, with their scattered troops, came, and submitted for a time; of whom; see Gill on Jeremiah 40:7 ; see Gill on Jeremiah 40:8 ; see Gill on Jeremiah 40:9 . read more
And it came to pass in the seventh month ,.... Not of Gedaliah's government, but of the year, the month Tisri or September, near two months after the destruction of Jerusalem; the Jews say fifty two days after it; of the death of Gedaliah, and the man that slew him, as here related; see Gill on Jeremiah 41:1 , Jeremiah 41:2 , Jeremiah 41:3 . read more
To Mizpah - This is said to have been situated on the east side of the river Jordan, and most contiguous to Babylon, and therefore the most proper for the residence of Gedaliah, because nearest to the place from which he was to receive his instructions. But there were several places of this name, and we do not exactly know where this was situated. read more
Gedaliah sware to them - He pledged himself in the most solemn manner to encourage and protect them. read more
Smote Gedaliah - This was at an entertainment which Gedaliah had made for them; see Jeremiah 41:1 , etc. He was not content with this murder, but slew fourscore more, who were coming with offerings to the temple, and took several as prisoners, among whom were some of the king's daughters; and set off to go to the Ammonites: but Johanan, the son of Careah, hearing of these outrages, raised a number of men, and pursued Ishmael upon which Ishmael's prisoners immediately turned and joined... read more
THE LAST SIEGE OF JERUSALEM . THE JEWS LED INTO CAPTIVITY . HISTORY OF THE REMNANT LEFT BEHIND . RELEASE FROM PRISON OF JEHOIACHIN . read more
History of the remnant left in the land by Nebuzar-adan . Nebuchadnezzar, when he carried off Zedekiah to Babylon, appointed, as governor of Judaea, a certain Gedaliah, a Jew of good position, but not of the royal family. Gedaliah made Mizpah, near Jerusalem, his residence; and here he was shortly joined by a number of Jews of importance, who had escaped from Jerusalem and hidden themselves until the Babylonians were gone. Of these the most eminent were Johanan the son of Karcah, and... read more
Rulers and their enemies. "And as for the people that remained in the land of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon had left," etc. By this fragment of Jewish history two observations are suggested. I. MEN ARE SOMETIMES ELEVATED INTO RESPONSIBLE POSITIONS . Gedalaih , a friend of Jereremiah's, and acting under the prophet's counsel, took the government of Judaea, and fixed his court at Mizpah. He seemed on the whole qualified for the office he assumed. The people... read more
Gedaliah and the remnant. Nothing could more effectually show the hopeless condition of the people, and their unfitness for self-government, than this brief narrative of events which followed the destruction of Jerusalem. The detailed history is given in Jeremiah 40-43. I. GEDALIAH MADE GOVERNOR . It was necessary to appoint a governor over the land, and for this purpose Nebuchadnezzar chose "Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan." The country was desolate, and had been... read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Kings 25:22-30
In these verses we have, I. The dispersion of the remaining people. The city of Jerusalem was quite laid waste. Some people there were in the land of Judah (2 Kgs. 25:22) that had weathered the storm, and (which was no small favour at this time, Jer. 45:5) had their lives given them for a prey. Now see, 1. What a good posture they were put into. The king of Babylon appointed Gedaliah, one of themselves, to be their governor and protector under him, a very good man, and one that would make the... read more