Jeremiah 41 8

Jeremiah 41:8 kjv

But ten men were found among them that said unto Ishmael, Slay us not: for we have treasures in the field, of wheat, and of barley, and of oil, and of honey. So he forbare, and slew them not among their brethren.

Jeremiah 41:8 nkjv

But ten men were found among them who said to Ishmael, "Do not kill us, for we have treasures of wheat, barley, oil, and honey in the field." So he desisted and did not kill them among their brethren.

Jeremiah 41:8 niv

But ten of them said to Ishmael, "Don't kill us! We have wheat and barley, olive oil and honey, hidden in a field." So he let them alone and did not kill them with the others.

Jeremiah 41:8 esv

But there were ten men among them who said to Ishmael, "Do not put us to death, for we have stores of wheat, barley, oil, and honey hidden in the fields." So he refrained and did not put them to death with their companions.

Jeremiah 41:8 nlt

The other ten had talked Ishmael into letting them go by promising to bring him their stores of wheat, barley, olive oil, and honey that they had hidden away.

Jeremiah 41 verses

Jeremiah 41 8 meaning

Jeremiah 41:8 describes a pivotal moment during Ishmael's massacre in Mizpah, where ten men escaped death by revealing they had concealed essential food provisions in a field. Ishmael, prompted by the promise of wheat, barley, oil, and honey, spared these men, illustrating his practical motivations and the dire value of resources in post-destruction Judah. This act demonstrates that amidst indiscriminate slaughter, material gain could sway his brutal agenda.

Jeremiah 41 8 Context

Jeremiah chapter 41 is a somber narrative following the destruction of Jerusalem and the subsequent appointment of Gedaliah as governor of the remaining Jewish populace by the Babylonian Empire. Ishmael, a man of royal descent, fueled by envy and potentially influenced by the Ammonite king Baalis, assassinated Gedaliah and many of his associates (Jer 41:1-3). Ishmael then massacred another group of eighty men traveling to offer sacrifices, sparing only ten who offered hidden stores of grain (Jer 41:4-8). He proceeded to capture the remnant of the people in Mizpah, including the king's daughters, intending to lead them to Ammon. Jeremiah 41:8 thus stands as a moment of pragmatic decision amidst Ishmael's cruel and indiscriminate killings, highlighting the desperate state of the land and the extreme value placed on provisions for survival and control during a period of utter devastation and anarchy in Judah.

Jeremiah 41 8 Word analysis

• But ten men (וַעֲשָׂרָ֨ה אֲנָשִׁ֥ים / va'asarah anashim): The "but" signifies a break in the prior indiscriminate slaughter. "Ten men" specifically details the small number, indicating a minority who found a way out. This numerical detail suggests their quick action and the selectivity of their reprieve.

• were found (נִמְצְא֖וּ / nimtse'u): This passive verb highlights their presence and perhaps their visibility to Ishmael's group, making their offer possible. It also emphasizes that their existence and the opportunity for their survival came about not by direct seeking, but by being present.

• among them (בָּהֶם֙ / bahem): Refers to the larger group of people from Mizpah and surrounding areas that Ishmael was killing or taking captive. This confirms these ten were part of the intended victims.

• who said to Ishmael (אֲשֶׁר֙ אָֽמְר֣וּ אֶל־יִשְׁמָעֵ֔אל / asher amru el-yishma'el): Direct speech implies an active negotiation, a desperate plea and proposition made face-to-face. This signifies a moment of agency in dire circumstances.

• Do not kill us (אַל־תְּמִיתֵ֔נוּ / al-temitenu): A direct, imperative plea for life. It lays bare their desperation and highlights the imminent threat of death.

• for we have (יֶשׁ־לָ֠נוּ / yesh-lanu): "There is to us" – a declaration of possession, an offer of a tangible asset. This establishes their value to Ishmael beyond simply being victims.

• stores of (מַטְמֹנִ֛ים / matmonim): From the root taman (to hide, to bury). This is a crucial term, meaning "hidden treasures" or "secret hoards." It specifically indicates food that has been buried and concealed, a common practice in times of war or instability to protect valuables from plunderers. This detail reveals the desperate measures people took to secure basic provisions.

• wheat (חִטִּים֙ / hittim), barley (שְׂעֹרִ֔ים / se'orim), oil (וְשֶׁ֤מֶן / v'shemen), and honey (וּדְבַשׁ֙ / u'd'vash): These four items represent the staple foods of the ancient Near East, signifying basic necessities and valuable commodities. Wheat and barley were primary grains, olive oil was essential for cooking, light, and anointing, and honey (often date honey) provided sweetness and energy. Together, they represent substantial and life-sustaining provisions.

• hidden in the field (בַּשָּׂדֶֽה / ba'sadeh): "In the field" clarifies the location of the hidden stores. Burying goods in rural areas or agricultural land was a common and effective method to evade detection by invading armies or bandits who would typically target settled dwellings.

• So he refrained (וַיֶּחְדַּ֞ל / vayyeḥdal): "He ceased" or "he stopped." This verb marks a distinct pause in Ishmael's actions, demonstrating that the offer successfully changed his behavior. His cessation of violence was not out of mercy, but practicality.

• and did not kill them (לֹ֥א הֱמִיתָֽם / lo hemitam): A direct statement affirming their survival due to the offered provisions. It contrasts starkly with the fate of their "companions."

• among their companions (בְּתוֹךְ֙ אֲחֵיהֶֽם / betokh aḥehem): Literally "among their brothers/kinsmen." This emphasizes that these ten men were specifically singled out and spared while others from their own group or family met their demise. It highlights the brutal selectivity of survival in that moment.

• "But ten men were found among them": This phrase introduces an exception to Ishmael's general murderous campaign, marking a shift in the narrative. It emphasizes the specific, limited scope of this reprieve.

• "Do not kill us, for we have stores of wheat, barley, oil, and honey hidden in the field.": This entire statement is the direct plea and practical proposition. It lays out the "why" for Ishmael to spare them: material gain in a resource-scarce environment. The combination of valuable hidden resources and their specific location forms the irresistible offer.

• "So he refrained and did not kill them among their companions.": This shows the direct, immediate effect of the offer. Ishmael’s actions are modified by the promise of resources, revealing his pragmatic self-interest and calculated ruthlessness, contrasting his previous indiscriminate slaughter. The term "companions" underscores the isolated nature of their survival amidst the destruction of their peers.

Jeremiah 41 8 Bonus section

The practice of burying food and valuables (e.g., gold, silver, pottery) in times of national upheaval, invasion, or political instability was well-attested in the ancient Near East, not only through biblical accounts but also archeological discoveries. These "hoards" served as a desperate measure to safeguard one's assets from plunder and were often hidden with the hope of retrieval once conditions stabilized. The specific mention of "in the field" suggests the commonness of non-urban, remote hiding spots, highlighting the profound insecurity of the era. Ishmael's acceptance of the offer and the nature of the provisions also shed light on the economic realities of the period—these basic food items were more immediately useful and valuable to him than abstract loyalty or vengeance at that specific moment.

Jeremiah 41 8 Commentary

Jeremiah 41:8 provides a stark illustration of human desperation and opportunistic pragmatism in the aftermath of a national catastrophe. Ishmael, an individual characterized by ruthless ambition and murderous intent, temporarily abandons his slaughter when presented with a practical advantage: hidden food supplies. In a land devastated by war and facing extreme scarcity, wheat, barley, oil, and honey were not mere commodities but crucial elements for survival, future operations, and sustenance. Ishmael's decision to spare these ten men underscores the chilling calculus of his leadership, valuing resources that would enable his own journey and maintain his captives, over indiscriminate killing. The act reveals that even in utter depravity, self-interest can override blind violence, painting a vivid picture of the harsh realities and ethical compromises enforced by survival in post-destruction Judah.