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 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 40:9 | And Johanan the son of Kareah and all the captains of the forces | Context of leadership post-exile |
| Jeremiah 40:13 | Now Ishmael the son of Nethaniah came...with ten men | Ishmael's arrival and plot |
| Jeremiah 41:2 | And Ishmael... struck down Gedaliah the son of Ahikam | The assassination of Gedaliah |
| Jeremiah 41:4 | It happened on the second day after the slaughter | Timing of Ishmael's further atrocities |
| Jeremiah 41:7 | But when Johanan... and all the forces with him | Johanan's pursuit of Ishmael |
| Jeremiah 41:9 | As for Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, when he heard... | Ishmael's attempted escape with captives |
| Jeremiah 41:14 | For all the men whom Ishmael had carried away captive... | The attempt to rescue captives |
| Jeremiah 41:16 | Then Johanan the son of Kareah... took all the remnant | Johanan's responsibility to the people |
| Jeremiah 43:2 | Then Azariah the son of Hoshaiah and Johanan... spoke to Jeremiah | Johanan's consultation with Jeremiah later |
| 2 Kings 25:25 | But in the seventh month Ishmael the son of Nethaniah | Parallel account of Ishmael's actions |
| Isaiah 11:1 | But a shoot will come from the stump of Jesse | Messiah as the hope for continuity |
| Psalm 79:1 | O God, the nations have invaded your inheritance | Lament for desecration and loss |
| Genesis 50:11 | And when the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw mourning | Mourning customs in ancient Israel |
| Genesis 50:25 | And Joseph took an oath from the sons of Israel | Importance of proper burial for Jacob |
| 2 Samuel 3:35 | And when they had all brought him to eat that day | Honoring the dead, dignity in death |
| Luke 24:50 | Then he led them out as far as Bethany | Jesus blessing his disciples |
| Acts 8:2 | And devout men buried Stephen, and made great lamentation over him | Caring for martyrs and the deceased |
| Matthew 27:60 | and he placed it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out... | Burial of Jesus |
| John 19:40 | So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in burial wrappings | Respect for the deceased |
| Lamentations 3:28 | Let him sit alone and be silent | Post-destruction desolation |
| Lamentations 4:3 | Even jackals offer the breast to their young | Cruelty and neglect in devastation |
Jeremiah 41 verses
Jeremiah 41 8 Meaning
This verse records that Johanan and his companions arrived at Gedaliah's residence in Mizpah, bearing the bodies of Ishmael's victims. They intended to bury them with Gedaliah and his loyalists, demonstrating their continued commitment to his leadership even after his death. It highlights their reverence for the fallen and their desire to accord them a proper burial.
Jeremiah 41 8 Context
This verse occurs in the aftermath of the assassination of Gedaliah, the governor of Judah appointed by Nebuchadnezzar after the fall of Jerusalem. Ishmael, a member of the royal family, murdered Gedaliah and many Jews and Chaldeans loyal to him. Johanan, a military leader, was absent during the initial attack. Upon hearing of the massacre, Johanan gathered his forces and pursued Ishmael. This verse marks Johanan's return to Mizpah with the surviving captives and the bodies of the murdered, before they decide their next steps amidst the ensuing chaos and fear of Babylonian reprisal.
Jeremiah 41 8 Word Analysis
- וַיָּשֻׁבוּ (vayashuvú): "And they returned." This is the Hiphil perfect of the verb "shuv" (שׁוּב), meaning to turn, return, or go back. It signifies their movement back to Mizpah after pursuing Ishmael.
- וַיִּקְחוּ (vayiqħú): "And they took." This is the Qal perfect of the verb "laħaq" (לָקַח), meaning to take, seize, or lay hold of. It indicates their action of carrying the bodies.
- אֶת־כָּל־הַשְּׁאֵרִית (’eth-kol-hašš’ērith): "all the remnant." "Kol" (כָּל) means all or every. "Ša’ērith" (שְּׁאֵרִית) is a feminine noun meaning remainder, remnant, survivors, or leftovers. This refers to the people who were spared by Ishmael or rescued by Johanan.
- אֲשֶׁר־אִתּוֹ (’asher-’ithô): "who were with him." This clarifies that the remnant refers to those who were with Gedaliah before Ishmael's attack.
- בְּמִצְפָּה (bĕmiṣpâ): "at Mizpah." Mizpah was a significant city in Benjamin, often serving as a gathering place for national assemblies and religious events.
- וְאֶת־הַנִּהְרָגִים (wĕ’eth-hanhärgîm): "and the slain." "Naharagîm" (נִהְרָגִים) is the Niphal participle of the verb "harag" (הָרַג), meaning to kill or slay. It refers to those who were killed by Ishmael.
- אֲשֶׁר־הָרַג (’asher-hārag): "whom he had killed." This attributes the killing to Ishmael.
- גְּדַלְיָהוּ (gĕdalyāhū): "Gedaliah." The name means "Yahweh has become great."
- בְּמִצְפָּה (bĕmiṣpâ): "at Mizpah." The repetition of the location reinforces the site of both the betrayal and the current action.
Phrase/Group Analysis:
- "all the remnant who were with him": This phrase specifically refers to the loyalists of Gedaliah, those who had not joined Ishmael or were not among those killed, underscoring Johanan's effort to gather and protect the loyal faction.
- "and the slain, whom he had killed by Gedaliah at Mizpah": This accusatory phrase, though slightly restructured here by combining phrases for clarity in English, highlights the gravity of Ishmael's actions and directly implicates him and the location where the primary atrocities occurred.
Jeremiah 41 8 Bonus Section
This event marks a significant turning point in the post-exilic history of Judah. The failure of Jewish leadership, culminating in Gedaliah's assassination and the subsequent flight to Egypt, signifies the complete dissolution of any stable remnant community in the land of Judah. The narrative emphasizes the consequences of rebellion and internal strife, a recurring theme throughout the books of Kings and Jeremiah. Johanan's subsequent actions, though intended to protect the people, ultimately lead them away from the promised land, setting the stage for further complications and spiritual challenges for the Jewish exiles. The respect shown to the dead underscores the deep-seated value of proper burial rites within the Israelite tradition, a practice that provides dignity and marks a transition for both the deceased and the community.
Jeremiah 41 8 Commentary
Johanan's action of gathering the remnant and bringing the bodies back to Mizpah demonstrates a commitment to order and respect in a time of utter chaos. It is an act of loyalty to the fallen leader, Gedaliah, and a pragmatic step in managing the immediate crisis. This act signifies an attempt to regain control and provide closure for the surviving community, even in the face of extreme trauma and fear of future retribution from Babylon. It foreshadows their subsequent decision to flee to Egypt, a move born from their desire to escape the consequences of Ishmael's actions and their perceived lack of security in Judah.