Jeremiah 40:14-16 KJV

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Jeremiah 40:13-14

One of the remaining Judean princes, Johanan (cf. Jeremiah 40:8), asked Gedaliah if he was aware that the king of Ammon had encouraged another one of the Judean princes, Ishmael (cf. Jeremiah 40:8), to assassinate him. Ishmael’s ancestor Elishama (Jeremiah 41:1) was one of David’s sons (2 Samuel 5:16), so he may have aspired to rule Judah. Baalis, the Ammonite king, shared Zedekiah’s antagonism for Babylon (cf. Jeremiah 27:1-11), so he did not want a Babylonian puppet governing Judah.... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Jeremiah 40:15

Johanan offered to assassinate Ishmael secretly, so Gedaliah would not die, and harm would not come to the remnant community. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Jeremiah 40:16

Gedaliah refused to permit Johanan to carry out his assassination plot, because he thought Johanan was misjudging Ishmael. Gedaliah was too trusting and naïve, even though he was a capable ruler and apparently a man of faith. His commitment to his own people seems to have blinded him to the political intrigues that were swirling around him (cf. John 2:24-25). He would have been wise to seek the Lord’s will through Jeremiah and then follow it. read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 40:1-16

Gedaliah as Governor (586 b.c.)Jeremiah 40:7 to Jeremiah 43:6 are briefly summarised in 2 Kings 25:22-26. The account in the book of Kings mentions merely the accomplished results; while here the process by which these results were brought about are fully detailed. We learn here in particular that Ishmael benNethaniah was prompted to assassinate Gedaliah by the Ammonite king, Baalis, and that Gedaliah was warned of the plot by Johanan, but that he refused to believe that Ishmael would do such a... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Jeremiah 40:14

(14) Dost thou certainly know that Baalis . . .—The king of the Ammonites so named appears from Jeremiah 27:3 to have been in alliance with Zedekiah; and Ishmael, as belonging to the royal house of Judah, seems to have been still plotting with him against the authority of the Chaldæans. Open resistance being now impossible, they have recourse to assassination. The plot becomes known, and Johanan, faithful to his new protector, warns him against it, but, as the sequel shows, in vain. Gedaliah,... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 40:1-16

CHAPTER XIIIGEDALIAHJeremiah 39:1-18; Jeremiah 40:1-16; Jeremiah 41:1-18; Jeremiah 52:1-34"Then arose Ishmael ben Nethaniah, and the ten men that were with him, and smote with the sword and slewGedaliah ben Ahikam ben Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon had made king over the land." Jeremiah 41:2WE now pass to the concluding period of Jeremiah’s ministry. His last interview with Zedekiah was speedily followed by the capture of Jerusalem. With that catastrophe the curtain falls upon another act in... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Jeremiah 40:1-16

III. AFTER THE FALL OF JERUSALEM (40-45) CHAPTERS 40-41 The Treachery in the Land and the Flight to Egypt 1. Jeremiah’s choice (Jeremiah 40:1-6 ) 2. Gedaliah and Ishmael’s deed (Jeremiah 40:7-16 ; Jeremiah 41:1-3 ) 3. Ishmael’s further atrocities and retreat (Jeremiah 41:4-18 ) Jeremiah 40:1-6 . The opening paragraph of this chapter tells us of the choice which was given to Jeremiah. He was loosed from the prisoner’s chains and told by the captain of the guard “If it seems good unto... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - Jeremiah 40:14

40:14 And said to him, Dost thou certainly know that {g} Baalis the king of the Ammonites hath sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to slay thee? But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam believed them not.(g) For under the colour of entertaining Ishmael, he sought only to make them destroy one another. read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - Jeremiah 40:16

40:16 But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said to Johanan the son of Kareah, Thou shalt {h} not do this thing: for thou speakest falsely of Ishmael.(h) Thus the godly who think no harm to others are soonest deceived and never lack such as conspire their destruction. read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 40:1-16

LAST MESSAGE TO THE REMNANT Chapter 40 opens with an account of Nebuchadnezzar’s kindness to Jeremiah, inspired by what he had known of the latter’s advice to his countrymen (Jeremiah 40:1-4 ). Jeremiah had been the friend of Babylon, but not necessarily the enemy of his own nation. His patriotism was unquestioned, but the highest expression of his patriotism was his counsel to Judah to obey the will of God and submit to Babylon. Jeremiah’s choice of action is in Jeremiah 40:5-6 . The new... read more