Jeremiah 41 1

Jeremiah 41:1 kjv

Now it came to pass in the seventh month, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah the son of Elishama, of the seed royal, and the princes of the king, even ten men with him, came unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah; and there they did eat bread together in Mizpah.

Jeremiah 41:1 nkjv

Now it came to pass in the seventh month that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, of the royal family and of the officers of the king, came with ten men to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, at Mizpah. And there they ate bread together in Mizpah.

Jeremiah 41:1 niv

In the seventh month Ishmael son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, who was of royal blood and had been one of the king's officers, came with ten men to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah. While they were eating together there,

Jeremiah 41:1 esv

In the seventh month, Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, son of Elishama, of the royal family, one of the chief officers of the king, came with ten men to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, at Mizpah. As they ate bread together there at Mizpah,

Jeremiah 41:1 nlt

But in midautumn of that year, Ishmael son of Nethaniah and grandson of Elishama, who was a member of the royal family and had been one of the king's high officials, went to Mizpah with ten men to meet Gedaliah. While they were eating together,

Jeremiah 41 verses

Jeremiah 41 1 Meaning

The verse describes a tragic event where Ishmael, son of Nethaniah, with ten men, arrives at Mizpah and murders Gedaliah, the governor appointed over the land, along with his Judean officials and Babylonian soldiers. This act plunged the remnant of Judah into further despair and instability following the Babylonian conquest.

Jeremiah 41 1 Context

Following the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of much of the population, the Babylonians appointed Gedaliah, a Judean, as governor over the remaining poor and a few soldiers left in the land of Judah. He set up his residence at Mizpah. Ishmael, a claimant to Davidic kingship and likely resentful of Babylonian rule and Gedaliah's authority, arrived at Mizpah with a contingent of men. This chapter marks a turning point from a fragile hope of restoration under Gedaliah to further devastation and flight. The setting of Mizpah was historically significant as a place of repentance and prayer (Judges 10:10; 1 Sam 7:5-6).

Jeremiah 41 1 Word Analysis

• In the seventh month (בַּחֹ֜דֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִיעִי – bachōdēš haššəḇî‘î) - This specifies the timing, indicating it occurred after the initial wave of deportation. The seventh month (Tishrei) was a significant month, including the Feast of Trumpets and the Day of Atonement.
• Ishmael the son of Nethaniah (וְיִשְׁמָעֵ֣ל בֶּן־נְתַנְיָ֔הוּ – wəyišmā‘ēl ben-nəṯanyāhû) - Identifies the primary perpetrator, Ishmael. The name "Ishmael" means "God hears." Nethaniah's lineage is traced back to Shelemiah in Jeremiah 40:8, suggesting he may have had some association with royalty, possibly even a fugitive during Nebuchadnezzar's invasion.
• and ten men with him (וַעֲשָׂרָ֖ה אֲנָשִׁ֣ים עִמּ֑וֹ – wə‘āśārāh ’ănāšîm ‘immô) - Highlights the conspiratorial nature of the act, executed by a small but determined group.
• came (בָּ֣אוּ – bā’û) - Simple past tense verb indicating their arrival at Mizpah.
• and sat down (וַיֵּשְׁבוּ־ – wayyēšəḇû-) - Suggests an initial posture of friendliness or deliberation before the attack.
• with Gedaliah the son of Ahikam (אֶת־גְּדַלְיָ֤הוּ בֶן־אֲחִיקָם֙ – ’eṯ-gəḏalyāhû ḇen-’ăḥîqām) - Names the victim, Gedaliah, son of Ahikam, a respected figure who had shown kindness to Jeremiah (Jeremiah 26:24). His murder represents the brutal end of a stabilizing influence.
• at Mizpah (בְּמִצְפָּ֖ה – bəmiṣpāh) - The location where the event unfolded. Mizpah was a prominent city, a site of assembly, and often a place of national significance for Israel.
• in Mizpah (בְּמִצְפָּ֔ה – bəmiṣpāh) - Repetition of the location reinforces its importance as the stage for this betrayal.
• even as he wept (בְּבַכֹּתָ֥ו – bəḇaḵḵōṯô) - This detail profoundly intensifies the horror and wickedness of the act. It suggests Gedaliah might have been moved to tears, perhaps by something previously said or by the ongoing sad state of the nation, making his vulnerability and the assassins' cruelty even more stark. This contrasts sharply with Ishmael's cold-hearted plotting.
• there at Mizpah (שָׁם בְּמִצְפָּה֙ – šām bəmiṣpāh) - Further emphasis on the specific place of this heinous crime.
• at Mizpah (בְּמִצְפָּ֗ה – bəmiṣpāh) - Triple mention of Mizpah in such close succession underlines the sanctity of the place and the sacrilege of the action.
• at Mizpah (בְּמִצְפָּ֔ה – bəmiṣpāh) - Continues the repetition, hammering home the location of this violation.
• the son of Nethaniah (בֶּן־נְתַנְיָֽהוּ׃ – ben-nəṯanyāhû) - Reiterates Ishmael's parentage, connecting him to the line of troublemakers and those opposed to God's chosen leaders.
• killed Gedaliah (הִכּ֧וּ אֶת־גְּדַלְיָ֛הוּ – hiḵḵû ’eṯ-gəḏalyāhû) - The brutal act of murder. "Hikkoo" implies striking down or slaying.
• the son of Ahikam (בֶּן־אֲחִיקָ֔ם – ḇen-’ăḥîqām) - Again names Gedaliah's father, emphasizing Gedaliah's respectable heritage.
• at Mizpah (בְּמִצְפָּ֔ה – bəmiṣpāh) - Final repetition of Mizpah in this clause.
• the governor (הַפֶּחָ֔ה – happaḥâ) - Identifies Gedaliah's official position, highlighting that the attack was also an assault on the established authority.
• whom the king of Babylon had made (אֲשֶׁר־הִפְקִ֥יד מֶֽלֶךְ־בָּבֶ֖ל – ’aššər-hip̄qîḏ mèleḵ-bāḇel) - Specifies the source of Gedaliah's authority, pointing to the Babylonian overlords. Ishmael's action, therefore, had implications for Judah's relationship with Babylon.
• and also the Jews (גַּ֥ם אֶת־הַיְּהוּדִ֑ים – gam ’eṯ-hayhûḏîm) - Extends the violence beyond Gedaliah to include his Judean entourage. This shows the targeted nature of the conspiracy against those supporting the new order.
• who were with him at Mizpah (אֲשֶׁר־הָיוּ־מִתְיַשְּׁבִ֖ים עִמּ֥וֹ בְּמִצְפָּ֑ה – ’aššər-hāyû-mityaššəḇîm ‘immô bəmiṣpāh) - Further clarifies the victims as the Jewish residents and loyalists present.
• and the Chaldeans (וְאֶת־הַכַּשְׂדִּ֥ים – wə’eṯ-haḵkaśdîm) - Includes the killing of Babylonian soldiers stationed at Mizpah. This audacious act would certainly provoke severe Babylonian reprisal and was likely a factor in Ishmael's calculations (or miscalculations).
• who were found there (אֲשֶׁר־נִמְצְאוּ־שָׁ֥ם – ’aššər-nimṣə’û-šām) - Indicates that these soldiers were present and defenseless or caught unawares.

Group analysis:

• Ishmael's identity and motive: The verse immediately introduces Ishmael, son of Nethaniah, noting he is of royal lineage. This, coupled with his ten associates, signals a politically motivated act of rebellion and assassination, targeting not just an individual but the nascent stability of the post-exilic community.
• The act of murder: The repetition of "Mizpah" emphasizes the sacredness of the place, contrasting with the desecration caused by the massacre. Gedaliah weeping makes the assassination particularly heinous, portraying vulnerability met with brutality. The inclusion of both Judeans and Chaldeans reveals the depth of Ishmael's treachery and the scope of his planned disruption.

Jeremiah 41 1 Bonus Section

The act of Ishmael son of Nethaniah, "a kinsman of the king," mirrors other instances in biblical history where those of royal or influential lineage sought to destabilize leadership for personal gain. The contrast between Ishmael's treachery and Gedaliah's quiet integrity, amplified by his tears, speaks volumes about character and divine allowance of human wickedness. The timing in the seventh month, a time often associated with reflection and repentance, makes the brutal betrayal even more stark, as it occurred during a period when any vestige of national unity and hope was desperately needed. This event directly leads to the flight of the remnant of Judah to Egypt, a desperate act initiated out of fear, as recounted in the following verses of Jeremiah chapter 41 and the beginning of chapter 42.

Jeremiah 41 1 Commentary

Ishmael's assassination of Gedaliah is a critical juncture in the history of post-exilic Judah. Gedaliah, appointed by the Babylonians, represented a fragile attempt at governing the remnants of the kingdom and fostering reconciliation. His murder, committed by Ishmael – a man of royal blood potentially seeking power – plunged the survivors into deeper fear and uncertainty. The attack, which included loyal Judeans and Babylonian guards, was a devastating blow to any semblance of order and a likely trigger for further Babylonian intervention. The weeping of Gedaliah as he was struck down highlights the deep sorrow and loss experienced by the prophet Jeremiah and the people, emphasizing the sheer wickedness of the act and the bleakness of the situation, as documented further in the subsequent verses and historical accounts.