Jeremiah 40 13

Jeremiah 40:13 kjv

Moreover Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were in the fields, came to Gedaliah to Mizpah,

Jeremiah 40:13 nkjv

Moreover Johanan the son of Kareah and all the captains of the forces that were in the fields came to Gedaliah at Mizpah,

Jeremiah 40:13 niv

Johanan son of Kareah and all the army officers still in the open country came to Gedaliah at Mizpah

Jeremiah 40:13 esv

Now Johanan the son of Kareah and all the leaders of the forces in the open country came to Gedaliah at Mizpah

Jeremiah 40:13 nlt

Soon after this, Johanan son of Kareah and the other military leaders came to Gedaliah at Mizpah.

Jeremiah 40 verses

Jeremiah 40 13 Meaning

The verse describes a significant conversation after the fall of Jerusalem. Ishmael, son of Nethaniah, conspires with Baalis, king of the Ammonites, to assassinate Gedaliah, the appointed Babylonian governor of Judah. This verse explicitly states their secret meeting and malicious plan to strike down Gedaliah and the Judeans who had surrendered and remained with him. It highlights the betrayal and impending danger faced by those who had submitted to Babylonian authority.

Jeremiah 40 13 Context

Jeremiah chapter 40 describes the aftermath of the Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem and the appointment of Gedaliah as governor over the remnant left in the land. This appointment was meant to provide a semblance of order and stability for the remaining Judeans. Chapter 40 sets the scene for Ishmael's betrayal by introducing him and his companions and the concern they express about Babylonian oversight to Gedaliah. This specific verse, 40:13, then reveals the sinister motive behind Ishmael's visit and their plot. The historical context is one of extreme vulnerability and uncertainty for the Judean people following national devastation.

Jeremiah 40 13 Word Analysis

• And: Conjunction connecting this verse to the preceding narrative, indicating continuity.

• Ishmael: Hebrew: יִשְׁמָעֵאל (Yishma'el). Meaning "God hears." A descendant of David through an illicit relationship, ironically bearing a name of divine promise. This highlights the distortion of God's promises through wicked actions.

• the son of Nethaniah: Hebrew: בֶּן-נְתַנְיָה (ben-Nətanyah). Nethaniah was likely from a prominent, possibly royal, lineage, indicating Ishmael came from a notable background, adding weight to his actions and betrayal.

• of Elishama: Hebrew: אֱלִישָׁמָע (ʼĔlîshāmāʻ). "God has heard." Another name evoking divine awareness, contrasted with Ishmael's intent to silence and destroy.

• Said: Hebrew: אָמַר (ʼāmar). Expressed, spoke.

• unto: Preposition indicating direction towards.

• Gedaliah: Hebrew: גְּדַלְיָּה (Gədaljá). Meaning "Yahweh is great." The appointed governor.

• Go, I pray thee: Hebrew: לֵךְ־נָא (leḵ-nāʼ). A humble or persuasive entreaty. Ishmael's feigned sincerity is key to his plot.

• and smite: Hebrew: וְהַכֵּה (wəhaḵķēh). "And strike down," a direct command for violent action.

• all the people with me: Refers to Ishmael's associates, confirming he wasn't acting alone but had a conspiracy.

• in Mizpah: Hebrew: בַּמִּצְפָּה (baMMiṣpâ). A significant location for prayer and assembly, now tainted by Ishmael's presence and plotting. This intentionality towards a sacred/meeting place underscores the desecration.

• even all the people of Judah that are with him: Specifies the targets: Gedaliah and the faithful Judeans who had stayed under his leadership after the fall of Jerusalem, underscoring the intra-Judean nature of the conflict and the deep betrayal.

• Ishmael and his accomplices: Their deliberate act to deceive Gedaliah into a supposedly friendly visit at Mizpah highlights a deceptive strategy common in plots of betrayal.

• The motive of conspiracy: The alliance with Baalis, king of the Ammonites, reveals foreign political interests seeking to destabilize the remnants of Judah. This demonstrates how internal betrayal can be exploited by external enemies.

• The target of assassination: The deliberate focus on assassinating Gedaliah and the Judeans with him reveals the objective was to eliminate the established leadership and sow chaos among the remaining populace.

• The location "Mizpah": Choosing a place often associated with covenant and divine remembrance for the setting of this treacherous plot heightens the dramatic irony and the moral depravity of their actions.

Jeremiah 40 13 Bonus Section

Ishmael's lineage and association with royal Davidic blood, as well as the choice of the name Elishama (meaning "God has heard"), create a poignant contrast. He is a descendant of promise who actively works against God's remaining people and appointed leadership. His actions, carried out in conspiracy with an idolatrous foreign king (Baalis), reflect a rejection of God's sovereignty and the covenant established through His servants like Gedaliah. The deliberate planning highlights a chosen path of rebellion rather than submission to God's current purposes.

Jeremiah 40 13 Commentary

Ishmael's proposal to Gedaliah was a thinly veiled invitation to sin and destruction, masked as counsel. He sought to lure Gedaliah and his men into a false sense of security under the guise of eliminating perceived threats from the Ammonites, likely referring to their king, Baalis. This verse reveals the treacherous nature of Ishmael's heart, aligning with Baalis to annihilate the very remnant of God's people. This act of violent betrayal foreshadows further turmoil and the scattering of the remaining Judeans, emphasizing the dire consequences of wickedness and deceit within the community.