Jeremiah 41 17

Jeremiah 41:17 kjv

And they departed, and dwelt in the habitation of Chimham, which is by Bethlehem, to go to enter into Egypt,

Jeremiah 41:17 nkjv

And they departed and dwelt in the habitation of Chimham, which is near Bethlehem, as they went on their way to Egypt,

Jeremiah 41:17 niv

And they went on, stopping at Geruth Kimham near Bethlehem on their way to Egypt

Jeremiah 41:17 esv

And they went and stayed at Geruth Chimham near Bethlehem, intending to go to Egypt

Jeremiah 41:17 nlt

They took them all to the village of Geruth-kimham near Bethlehem, where they prepared to leave for Egypt.

Jeremiah 41 verses

Jeremiah 41 17 Meaning

This verse describes Ishmael, the son of Nethaniah, leading away captives, including the daughters of Zedekiah, the king of Judah, from Mizpah. These captives were being taken towards the Ammonites, highlighting a continued act of violence and disruption in the aftermath of Jerusalem's fall.

Jeremiah 41 17 Context

This verse occurs within the broader narrative of Jeremiah chapter 41, detailing the violent aftermath of the Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem. Gedaliah, appointed governor of Judah by Nebuchadnezzar, had been assassinated by Ishmael. Following this assassination, Ishmael, driven by his own violent intentions, gathered the remaining populace of Mizpah, including the king's daughters, to move them towards the Ammonites. This action represents a further scattering and desolation of Judah, undermining any attempt at restoration and peace. The cultural context involves the intense political instability and fear following a national catastrophe, where ambitious and violent individuals could exploit the chaos.

Jeremiah 41 17 Word Analysis

• וַיַּעֲשׂ (vayyasa) - And he did/made.

  • וְ (ve) - and (conjunction)
  • יַעַשׂ (ya'aseh) - he did/made (from verb עָשָׂה -asah). This verb signifies action and consequence.

• – Ishmael the son of Nethaniah

  • – Proper noun, identifying the subject of the action.

• וְאֶת– (ve'et) - and with.

  • וְ (ve) - and (conjunction)
  • אֶת (et) - preposition marking a direct object or association.

• כָּל– (kol) - all.

  • A quantifier, emphasizing the totality of those taken.

• הַנִּשְׁאָרִים– (hanish'arim) - the remaining.

  • הַ (ha) - the (definite article)
  • נִּשְׁאָרִים (nish'arim) - remaining (from verb שָׁאַר - sha'ar, meaning to remain, to be left over). Denotes those who survived the initial devastation and captivity.

• מִן– (min) - from.

  • A preposition indicating origin or separation.

• הָעָם– (ha'am) - the people.

  • הָ (ha) - the (definite article)
  • עָם (am) - people. Refers to the general population.

• אֲשֶׁר– (asher) - who/which.

  • A relative pronoun connecting the previous phrase to the following descriptive clause.

• הוּשְׁאֲרוּ– (hush'aru) - had been left behind.

  • Passive form of שָׁאַר (sha'ar), emphasizing that their survival was a state of being left.

• בְּמִצְפָּה– (bemitzpah) - in Mizpah.

  • בְּ (be) - in (preposition)
  • מִצְפָּה (Mitzpah) - Mizpah, a significant town in Benjamin. A place of past gatherings and important events.

• – unto the Ammonites

  • אֶל– (el) - unto, to (preposition indicating direction).
  • בְּנֵי– (Benei) - sons of (demonstrating lineage/relation).
  • עַמּוֹן (Ammon) - Ammon. Referring to the Ammonite people or their territory.

• – and the daughters of Zedekiah

  • וְאֶת– (ve'et) - and with.
  • בְּנוֹת– (benot) - daughters of (plural of בת - bat).
  • צִדְקִיָּהוּ (Tzidkiyahu) - Zedekiah, the king of Judah. Highlighting royal lineage and vulnerability.

• – whom Ishmael carried away captive

  • אֲשֶׁר– (asher) - whom.
  • הִגְלָה– (higlah) - he carried away captive (from verb גָּלָה - galah, meaning to exile, carry away captive). This is a key verb associated with the Babylonian deportations.

• Words-group analysis: "the remaining people... whom Ishmael carried away captive" (כָּל הַנִּשְׁאָרִים מִן הָעָם אֲשֶׁר הוּשְׁאֲרוּ בְּמִצְפָּה ... אֲשֶׁר הִגְלָה) - This phrase signifies the complete extent of Ishmael's cruel action against those who had already endured the trauma of Jerusalem's destruction. They were "left" in a fragile state, only to be further removed from their homeland. The phrase links the "remaining" with those "carried away captive," a deliberate act by Ishmael.

Jeremiah 41 17 Bonus Section

This act by Ishmael underscores the vulnerability of the remnant community and the persistent threat from those who opposed Gedaliah's leadership, often aligning with foreign interests. Ishmael's intent to move towards the Ammonites (who were hostile to Judah) shows a strategic but wicked choice, further scattering the people away from any hope of rebuilding in their own land under Babylonian protection. This event also sets the stage for the flight to Egypt by Johanan and his men in the subsequent verses, demonstrating a desperate reaction to the continued insecurity. The daughters of Zedekiah represent a lineage that God had promised would endure, and their captivity is a stark visual of how sin and rebellion can seem to override divine promises, although God's ultimate purpose remains.

Jeremiah 41 17 Commentary

Ishmael's action here is a direct consequence of his earlier murder of Gedaliah. Having already committed treason, he now seeks to seize control or to align himself with external powers like the Ammonites. He forcibly takes all the surviving people from Mizpah, an act of profound cruelty that deepens the devastation. The particular mention of Zedekiah's daughters emphasizes the loss of the royal line and the continuation of suffering for Judah's leadership class. This move towards Ammon reinforces the fragmentation of any remnant community and its subjection to foreign influence, a grim chapter after the supposed relative stability offered by Gedaliah. The verse illustrates how self-serving and violent individuals can exploit moments of national weakness.