Jeremiah 41:5

5. Shechem,… Shiloh,… and Samaria These places are not named in topographical order. The reason does not appear. It may be on account of rhythm, or it may be that most of the men came from Shechem, and that the other two places are simply mentioned as incidentally connected with the affair.

Cut themselves This practice was strictly forbidden by the law, (Leviticus 19:28; Leviticus 21:5; Deuteronomy 14:1,) and yet seems to have remained in common use. (Jeremiah 7:29; Isaiah 22:12; Ezekiel 7:18, etc.) These signs of grief had reference to the calamity which had befallen Jerusalem.

Offerings and incense Notwithstanding their violating Jewish law as above, there can be little doubt that they were Jews. Possibly in the region of Samaria. from which they came, heathen practices had been fallen into to an unusual extent.