Jeremiah 40:1-16

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Jeremiah 40:1-6

The title of this part of the book, which begins the chapter, seems misapplied (The word which came to Jeremiah), for here is nothing of prophecy in this chapter, but it is to be referred to Jer. 42:7; where we have a message that God sent by Jeremiah to the captains and the people that remained. The story between is only to introduce that prophecy and show the occasion of it, that it may be the better understood, and Jeremiah, being himself concerned in the story, was the better able to give... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Jeremiah 40:7-16

We have in these verses, I. A bright sky opening upon the remnant of the Jews that were left in their own land, and a comfortable prospect given them of some peace and quietness after the many years of trouble and terror with which they had been afflicted. Jeremiah indeed had never in his prophecies spoken of any such good days reserved for the Jews immediately after the captivity; but Providence seemed to raise and encourage such an expectation, and it would be to that miserable people as... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 40:1

The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord ,.... The word of prophecy, as the Targum; but there being no prophecy in this and the following chapter, only a narration of facts, this is generally referred to what came ten days after, and which begins Jeremiah 42:7 ; so Jarchi and Kimchi; all between being included in a parenthesis, or a relation of facts preparatory, to lead on to it; though Abarbinel takes it to be a general title to all histories and prophecies in this book, from... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 40:2

And the captain of the guard took Jeremiah ,.... When he mustered his prisoners, to his great surprise he found the prophet among them, whom he took out from them, and set him free; though, before he dismissed him, he had the following conversation with him: and said unto him, the Lord thy God hath pronounced this evil on this place ; the city of Jerusalem; from whence the prophet and the rest of the captives were just brought, and which now lay in ruins; the houses burnt; the walls... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 40:3

Now the Lord hath brought it , and done according as he hath said ,.... As he purposed, so it came to pass; as he foretold by his prophet, so it was brought about by his providence. This Heathen captain acknowledges the hand of the Lord in all this; and suggests, that his master, the king of Babylon, himself, and the rest of the generals, were only instruments the Lord made use of; which is very piously as well as wisely said; and more is here acknowledged by him than by the Jews... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 40:4

And now, behold, I loose thee this day from the chains which were upon thine hands ,.... Or rather are; for, when he said these words, it is highly probable they were on him, though now ordered to be taken off; these were not what were put upon him by the Jews, when in the court of the prison; for rather his legs, than his hands, would have had fetters on them there; but what were put upon him by the Chaldeans, when he fell into their hands; though inadvertently done by the inferior... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 40:5

Now while he was not yet gone back, he said , go back also to Gedaliah ,.... These words, by different versions, are made difficult to be understood, both, whose words they are, and of whom they are spoken. Jarchi makes them to be words of God, and the sense this, "and by all this he (Jeremiah) had no mind to return; and God said to him, go back to Gedaliah.' According to the Targum, they are the words of Nebuzaradan, which paraphrases them thus; "if thou wilt not return (that is,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 40:6

Then went Jeremiah to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah ,.... A city in the tribe of Benjamin, not far from Ramathon; which, as Josephus says, was about five miles from Jerusalem. Jeremiah took the captain's advice, though it might have been better with him had he gone along with him to Babylon; but he chose rather to dwell in his own land, and suffer affliction with the people of God, than to dwell at ease in a foreign and idolatrous land: and dwelt with him among the people that were... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 40:7

Now when all the captains of the forces which were in the fields ,.... Not the captains of the king of Babylon's forces, but the captains of the king of Judah's forces; who either during the siege had lurked in the fields and villages, not daring to fall upon the Chaldean army, or attempt to raise the siege; or rather who fled with Zedekiah from Jerusalem, when the city was taken, and who deserted him, when he was apprehended, and shifted for themselves, and were dispersed about in the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 40:8

Then they came to Gedaliah to Mizpah ,.... Having heard that the Chaldean army was gone, and so were in no fear of that; and also that Gedaliah was made deputy governor, one of their own nation, a pious, prudent, good man, a man of ingenuity, mildness, and integrity; under whose government they might expect to live comfortably; and which was much preferable to captivity in a foreign country, though tributary to Babylon: even Ishmael the son of Nethaniah ; who was of the seed royal, ... read more

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