Introduction By way of reminder: Jerusalem has fallen--jeremiah has been freed by the Babylonians; Gedaliah has been made provisional Governor of Judea. In Chapter 40 the new Governor encourages the remnant to submit to the King of Babylon and makes his headquarters in Mizpah. When the scattered Jews hear a provisional Governor has been named--many gather to him. Johanan--a leading Jewish soldier gets wind that Ishmael is plotting to kill the new Governor-- and that Ishmael is not acting alone. Ishmael has been hired by a foreign king to carry out the assassination. Gedaliah refuses to believe the report (40:16). This will put in motion not only his own tragic death but the death of many more Jews. In this chapter Johanan s tragic warning will be fulfilled. Ishmael will kill Gedaliah (vv.1-3) and then kill 70 pilgrims who were making their way to the ruins of the destroyed Temple to offer sacrifice (vv.4-9). Ishmael will enslave many more prominent citizens (v.10). Johanan and other soldiers will mount a rescue and defeat Ishmael and release the captives (vv.11-18). In later chapters Johanan will ask Jeremiah to pray concerning God s will as to where the people should go (see Chapter 42:1-6); after 10 days Jeremiah announces God s twofold will in the matter; remain in Judah in live (42:7-12); they need not fear the King of Babylon--or retire to Egypt and die (42:13-22); if they go to Egypt--all the bad things that have happened to them in Judah--will follow them in Egypt. Jeremiah has been a faithful shepherd; Ishmael--a deceitful traitor--and Johanan a flawed leader. Ishmael Assassinates The Governor Gedaliah (vv.1-3) Jeremiah 41:1 18 (NKJV) 1Now 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. The month is given (Tishri--corresponding to our September-October) but not the year--which has made for endless debate among Bible teachers. Did the assassination take place three months after the fall of Jerusalem or later? Conservative scholars suggest three months was not enough time to pick up the pieces, appoint the Governor and decide who was going to stay and who was going to go to Babylon (suggested date 583-582 B.C.--see 52:30). The Governor did not heed the warnings of Johanan. Not only did he disregard the intel concerning the plot to kill him--he invited his killer to dinner. 1
In the Middle East hospitality is very important. You do not invite guests to eat with you and then expect them to betray you. In the Middle East the act of eating together is pledge of friendship and loyalty. Ishmael will use the Middle Eastern custom as a ruse to carry out murder. Josephus the Jewish Historian adds some details-- Ishamel came again to Gedaliah...and when he had feasted Ishmael, and those that were with him, in a splendid manner at his table, and had given them presents, he became disordered in drink, while he endeavored to be very merry with them: and when Ishmael saw him in that case, and that he was drowned in his cups to that degree of insensibility, and fallen asleep, he rose up on a sudden with his ten friends and slew Gedaliah....(Antiquities IX, x4). 2Then Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and the ten men who were with him, arose and struck Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, with the sword, and killed him whom the king of Babylon had made governor over the land. Judah has been defeated, Jerusalem destroyed, the people deported, the land impoverished; and now the plot to execute the Governor is accomplished. 3Ishmael also struck down all the Jews who were with him, that is, with Gedaliah at Mizpah, and the Chaldeans who were found there, the men of war. The plot is completely successful. They kill Gedaliah and all the Jewish officials of the new government--and even kill the Babylonian guards left to guard the Governor. But this will not satisfy the blood lust awakened in the heart of Ishmael. A little bird was flying south for the winter. It was so cold the bird froze and fell to the ground in a large field. While it was lying there, a cow came by and dropped some dung on it. As the frozen bird lay there in the pile of cow dung, it began to realize how warm it was. The dung was actually thawing him out! He lay there all warm and happy, and soon began to sing for joy. A passing cat heard the bird singing and came to investigate. Following the sound, the cat discovered the bird under the pile of cow dung, and promptly dug it out and ate it. I think you know the moral of the story. 1) Not everyone who drops a pile of dung on you is your enemy. 2) Not everyone who gets you out of the pile of dung is your friend. 3) And when you re in deep dung, it s best to keep your mouth shut! 2
Ishmael Slaughters 70 Pilgrims (vv.4-9) 4And it happened, on the second day after he had killed Gedaliah, when as yet no one knew it, The plot was so successful it took days for people to get wind of the massacre. 5that certain men came from Shechem, from Shiloh, and from Samaria, eighty men with their beards shaved and their clothes torn, having cut themselves, with offerings and incense in their hand, to bring them to the house of the Lord. The pilgrims were from three northern kingdom cities; Shechem, Shiloh and Samaria. 6Now Ishmael the son of Nethaniah went out from Mizpah to meet them, weeping as he went along; and it happened as he met them that he said to them, Come to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam! Ishmael has violated the Middle Eastern custom of hospitality and will now add hypocrisy and greed to his growing list of character flaws. 7So it was, when they came into the midst of the city, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah killed them and cast them into the midst of a pit, he and the men who were with him. 8But 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. Why did he spare them? Greed. Shiloh was located some 18 miles north of Jerusalem; Mizpah either 4 or 8 miles--if Ishmael was planning to carry out military operations or guerilla operations--he would need food and supplies. 3
9Now the pit into which Ishmael had cast all the dead bodies of the men whom he had slain, because of Gedaliah, was the same one Asa the king had made for fear of Baasha king of Israel. Ishmael the son of Nethaniah filled it with the slain. Have you ever taken a cross country trip with friends or family and seen a sign that says; Historical Marker Up Ahead or Historical Landmark? King Asa had built the cistern as part of the water supply of Mizpah--when he was fortifying the city against King Baasha of Israel (see 1 Kings15:22; 2 Chronicles 16:6). Archeologists digging at Tell en Nasbeh have uncovered some 50 plus cisterns. Ishmael Enslaves Leading Citizens (v.10) 10Then Ishmael carried away captive all the rest of the people who were in Mizpah, the king s daughters and all the people who remained in Mizpah, whom Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had committed to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam. And Ishmael the son of Nethaniah carried them away captive and departed to go over to the Ammonites. What crimes can we add to Ishmael s growing list of perverse behavior? Kidnapping. The word translated the king s daughters is princess--and does not necessarily mean Zedekiah s actual daughters (you will remember Zedekiah witnessed the execution of his sons (chapter 39:6; 38:22). Johanan s Soldiers Free The Captives (vv.11-18) 11But when Johanan the son of Kareah and all the captains of the forces that were with him heard of all the evil that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had done, 12they took all the men and went to fight with Ishmael the son of Nethaniah; and they found him by the great pool that is in Gibeon. Gibeon (the hill)--this town was in the territory belonging to the tribe of Benjamin; it is mentioned in Joshua and 2 Samuel--according to Josephus it was 40 or 50 Stadia (4-6 miles) from Jerusalem (see Josephus Antiquities; VII, xi,7; Wars II, xix,1). A village called el Jib, about 4
5 and 1/2 miles north-northwest is believed to be the site; nearby are several excavated reservoirs and pools and lake that fills with rain in the winter (see Andrew Blackwood; Jeremiah p.271). 13So it was, when all the people who were with Ishmael saw Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces who were with him, that they were glad. 14Then all the people whom Ishmael had carried away captive from Mizpah turned around and came back, and went to Johanan the son of Kareah. Ismael had enough force to hold them hostage and herd them along--but not enough when help drew near! 15But Ishmael the son of Nethaniah escaped from Johanan with eight men and went to the Ammonites. Ishmael manages to escape with eight of his men and return to the territory of King Baalis of Ammon. Johanan showed great courage in liberating the captives. But a crack in his character will emerge in the next chapter when Johanan reveals his own lack of faith in going to Egypt. We expect bad behavior from evil men. Johanan will ignore the warnings of Jeremiah to stay in the land and not go to Egypt. How easy it is for a good man--to go down a path of rebellion and disobedience--to go astray--by turning away from the Word of God. 16Then Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were with him, took from Mizpah all the rest of the people whom he had recovered from Ishmael the son of Nethaniah after he had murdered Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the mighty men of war and the women and the children and the eunuchs, whom he had brought back from Gibeon. 17And they departed and dwelt in the habitation of Chimham, which is near Bethlehem, as they went on their way to Egypt, 5
Chimham was one of David s mighty men--and apparently became a hotel-keeper (see 2 Samuel 19:37-38). 18because of the Chaldeans; for they were afraid of them, because Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had murdered Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, whom the king of Babylon had made governor in the land. Johanan fears reprisals from the King of Babylon. You can t kill the Governor--appointed by the King of Babylon and expect to get away with it. Johanan decides it would be safer to withdraw with the whole group to Egypt. With this in mind they make a temporary halt at the inn at Chimham, near Bethlehem (chapter 41:16-18). Conclusion Ishmael was a cunning and ruthless man who would stop at nothing to get his way. Do you find it hard to believe that there are desperate and wicked people in this world? Johanan had enough courage to face Ishmael and want to kill him--but soon his courage will collapse and fear will overwhelm him as he faces the prospect of staying in Judah or going to Egypt. What was God s will? What was God s plan? God intended to plant and to build. Where was Jeremiah and Baruch? Probably with the band of captives. Would the new leader settle things with his fist or with his faith? Would the self-appointed leadership of Johanan point them in the wrong or the right direction? 6