Jeremiah 40 15

Jeremiah 40:15 kjv

Then Johanan the son of Kareah spake to Gedaliah in Mizpah secretly saying, Let me go, I pray thee, and I will slay Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and no man shall know it: wherefore should he slay thee, that all the Jews which are gathered unto thee should be scattered, and the remnant in Judah perish?

Jeremiah 40:15 nkjv

Then Johanan the son of Kareah spoke secretly to Gedaliah in Mizpah, saying, "Let me go, please, and I will kill Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and no one will know it. Why should he murder you, so that all the Jews who are gathered to you would be scattered, and the remnant in Judah perish?"

Jeremiah 40:15 niv

Then Johanan son of Kareah said privately to Gedaliah in Mizpah, "Let me go and kill Ishmael son of Nethaniah, and no one will know it. Why should he take your life and cause all the Jews who are gathered around you to be scattered and the remnant of Judah to perish?"

Jeremiah 40:15 esv

Then Johanan the son of Kareah spoke secretly to Gedaliah at Mizpah, "Please let me go and strike down Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and no one will know it. Why should he take your life, so that all the Judeans who are gathered about you would be scattered, and the remnant of Judah would perish?"

Jeremiah 40:15 nlt

Later Johanan had a private conference with Gedaliah and volunteered to kill Ishmael secretly. "Why should we let him come and murder you?" Johanan asked. "What will happen then to the Judeans who have returned? Why should the few of us who are still left be scattered and lost?"

Jeremiah 40 verses

Jeremiah 40 15 meaning

Jeremiah 40:15 details Johanan, son of Kareah's urgent and private plea to Gedaliah, the newly appointed governor of Judah, at Mizpah. Johanan offers to secretly assassinate Ishmael, son of Nethaniah, to prevent Ishmael from killing Gedaliah. Johanan’s core motivation is to safeguard Gedaliah’s life, thus averting the scattering of the remaining Jewish community and the ultimate perishing of the nascent Israelite remnant, which would result from the loss of their designated leader.

Jeremiah 40 15 Context

Jeremiah chapter 40 opens with Jeremiah being released by the Babylonians after the fall of Jerusalem (Jer 39). He is given the choice to go to Babylon or stay in the land. He chooses to stay with Gedaliah, son of Ahikam, whom Nebuchadnezzar has appointed governor over the poor people left in Judah, based in Mizpah. Gedaliah encourages the scattered Jewish people to return and settle, promising them well-being under Babylonian rule. Johanan, a military commander, and other officers, return to Gedaliah and report hearing about a plot by Ishmael, a man of royal descent, to kill Gedaliah, instigated by Baalis, king of Ammon. Despite Johanan's clear warning (Jer 40:13-14), Gedaliah refuses to believe the report, dismissing it as false. Jeremiah 40:15 then directly follows this refusal, showcasing Johanan's renewed attempt to persuade Gedaliah and offering a radical solution to the imminent threat, driven by a fear for the stability and survival of the newly established Jewish community.

Jeremiah 40 15 Word analysis

• Then Johanan: (יוֹחָנָן Yōḥānān), meaning "the Lord has been gracious." Johanan here embodies pragmatic, decisive action in contrast to Gedaliah's trusting nature.
• the son of Kareah: (קָרֵחַ Qārēaḥ), meaning "bald." A patronymic providing identity, without particular theological significance for the action.
• said to Gedaliah: (גְדַלְיָהוּ Gəḏalyāhū), meaning "the Lord has become great." Gedaliah was known for his peaceable character and openness.
• in Mizpah: (מִצְפָּה Miṣpāh), meaning "watchtower." A historically significant town in Benjamin, serving as the administrative center for the Babylonian-appointed government, holding both spiritual and political weight.
• privately: (בַּסָּתֶר baś-sāṯer), from סֵתֶר sēṯer, "secret, hidden place." Johanan seeks a private conversation, emphasizing the gravity and sensitivity of his proposal. He aimed to act decisively without public panic.
• 'Let me go and kill: (וְאַכֶּנּוּ v̱ə’aḵennū), from נָכָה nāḵāh, meaning "to strike, to smite, to kill." This is an outright proposal of assassination, reflecting the high stakes and desperation.
• Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, (יִשְׁמָעֵאל Yišmāʿēʾl, "God hears"; נְתַנְיָה Nəṯanyāh, "the Lord has given"). Ishmael, though of royal lineage, acts with malicious intent, betraying trust. His actions tragically contradict his name's meaning.
• and no one will know it.: (אִישׁ לֹא יֵדָע ’îš lō’ yêḏāʿ), literally "no man will know." Johanan proposes a stealthy operation, believing discretion is key to avoiding further conflict and political turmoil in an already fractured land.
• Why should he take your life,: (לָמָּה יַכֶּכָּה לָנֶפֶשׁ lāmmāh yaḵekkāh lānnefeš), "Why should he strike you to the soul/life?" A direct warning of fatal consequences, linking Gedaliah's life directly to the fate of the entire remnant.
• so that all the Jews who are gathered to you: Refers to the people who had scattered during the siege and invasion, but returned upon hearing of Gedaliah’s benevolent rule and the promise of a peaceful life. They represented the fragile hope of the future.
• should be scattered: (וְנָפֹצוּ v̱ənāfōṣū), from נָפַץ nāfaṣ, "to scatter, break." This verb is commonly used in prophetic literature to describe Israel’s dispersion due to judgment and disobedience. Its use here indicates a dreaded regression to utter chaos.
• and the remnant of Israel perish?': (וְאָבְדָה v̱ə’āvəḏâ), from אָבַד ’āvaḏ, "to perish, be lost, destroyed." This signifies the absolute end of their collective existence in the land, nullifying any hope for national restoration or a continuation of God's covenant people.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "Then Johanan... said to Gedaliah... privately,": This phrase emphasizes the seriousness and confidentiality of Johanan's communication. It's a last-ditch effort after a public warning was dismissed, signaling the depth of Johanan's conviction and concern. The 'private' setting hints at an 'under the table' solution, driven by political expediency rather than established law.
• "'Let me go and kill Ishmael... and no one will know it.'": This stark proposal highlights Johanan's proactive and extreme measures to avert an even greater disaster. The idea of keeping it secret reflects an understanding of the delicate post-war political climate and the potential for a small conflict to escalate into wide-scale disorder.
• "'Why should he take your life, so that all the Jews... should be scattered and the remnant of Israel perish?'": This powerful rhetorical question underscores the dire consequences of Gedaliah's potential assassination. It broadens the scope of the threat from merely an individual's life to the entire survival of the community. "Scattered" recalls divine judgment, while "perish" suggests total obliteration, demonstrating Johanan's grasp of the geopolitical fragility and theological implications. The reference to the "remnant of Israel" evokes prophetic hopes for a continuing line despite judgment.

Jeremiah 40 15 Bonus section

• The concept of a "remnant" (שְׁאָר šə’ār) is a recurring theological theme in the prophets, especially in Jeremiah and Isaiah. Johanan's concern that this "remnant... perish" highlights the crucial significance placed on this small surviving group, which was seen as bearing the hope for Israel's future, a testament to God's enduring covenant and faithfulness even amidst judgment.
• Gedaliah's refusal to believe Johanan's warning is often interpreted by scholars as a noble but fatal flaw – an excessive credulity or unwillingness to contemplate such malevolence in others, particularly one of royal lineage. This trust ultimately proves detrimental, costing him his life and plunging the Jewish community back into despair and further dispersion.
• Mizpah's selection as the administrative center itself carries significance. It had been a gathering place (Judg 20), a place for national repentance (1 Sam 7:5-6), and a symbol of national unity. Ishmael's plot to overthrow Gedaliah here was a direct assault on the symbolic heart of the Jewish remnant's last hope.
• The phrase "no one will know it" underscores Johanan's pragmatism but also subtly points to the ethical dilemma of operating in secrecy outside the law to maintain order, reflecting the brokenness of the legal and political structures after the national catastrophe. It also reflects a lack of full faith in the due process, an assessment of their desperate circumstances.

Jeremiah 40 15 Commentary

Jeremiah 40:15 is a moment of stark contrast between two leaders – Johanan, the pragmatic military commander, and Gedaliah, the peace-loving and trusting governor. Johanan's offer to secretly assassinate Ishmael, driven by the real and immediate threat to Gedaliah's life, exposes the brutal political realities of post-destruction Judah. His logic is rooted in consequentialism: an act of individual violence, if clandestine, could prevent widespread chaos, further scattering, and the ultimate destruction of the fragile Israelite remnant that had gathered under Gedaliah's leadership.

Gedaliah's appointment by Babylon had represented a fragile hope for continuity and restoration, a chance for the people to resettle and rebuild. Ishmael, however, a royal descendant likely driven by ambition and supported by Ammonite interests, sought to dismantle this nascent stability. Johanan perceived Gedaliah as too naive or trusting for such treacherous times. His proposed pre-emptive strike, though morally questionable, aimed to protect the greater good, seeing Gedaliah's survival as paramount to the survival of the people and God's promise of a remnant. This episode tragically illustrates the struggle between ideal leadership (trust and peace) and the harsh necessity of wisdom, discernment, and, sometimes, even difficult choices in the face of profound evil. It foreshadows the tragic outcome of Gedaliah's unwavering trust, as he eventually ignores Johanan's warning (Jer 40:16) with devastating consequences (Jer 41).