mh_parser/vol_split/24 - Jeremiah/Chapter 40.xml

<div2 id="Jer.xli" n="xli" next="Jer.xlii" prev="Jer.xl" progress="43.38%" title="Chapter XL">
<h2 id="Jer.xli-p0.1">J E R E M I A H.</h2>
<h3 id="Jer.xli-p0.2">CHAP. XL.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Jer.xli-p1" shownumber="no">We have attended Jerusalem's funeral pile, and
have taken our leave of the captives that were carried to Babylon,
not expecting to hear any more of them in this book: perhaps we may
in Ezekiel; and we must in this and the four following chapters
observe the story of those few Jews that were left to remain in the
land after their brethren were carried away, and it is a very
melancholy story; for, though at first there were some hopeful
prospects of their well-doing, they soon appeared as obstinate in
sin as ever, unhumbled and unreformed, till, all the rest of the
judgments threatened in <scripRef id="Jer.xli-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.28.1-Deut.28.68" parsed="|Deut|28|1|28|68" passage="De 28:1-68">Deut.
xxviii.</scripRef> being brought upon them, that which in the
<scripRef id="Jer.xli-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Deut.28.68" parsed="|Deut|28|68|0|0" passage="De 28:68">last verse</scripRef> of that dreadful
chapter completes the threatenings was accomplished, "The Lord
shall bring thee into Egypt again." In this chapter we have, I. A
more particular account of Jeremiah's discharge and his settlement
with Gedaliah, <scripRef id="Jer.xli-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Jer.40.1-Jer.40.6" parsed="|Jer|40|1|40|6" passage="Jer 40:1-6">ver. 1-6</scripRef>.
II. The great resort of the Jews that remained scattered in the
neighbouring countries to Gedaliah, who was made their governor
under the king of Babylon; and the good posture they were in for a
while under him, <scripRef id="Jer.xli-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Jer.40.7-Jer.40.12" parsed="|Jer|40|7|40|12" passage="Jer 40:7-12">ver.
7-12</scripRef>. III. A treacherous design formed against Gedaliah,
by Ishmael, which we shall find executed in the next chapter,
<scripRef id="Jer.xli-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Jer.40.13-Jer.40.16" parsed="|Jer|40|13|40|16" passage="Jer 40:13-16">ver. 13-16</scripRef>.</p>
<scripCom id="Jer.xli-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Jer.40" parsed="|Jer|40|0|0|0" passage="Jer 40" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Jer.xli-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:Jer.40.1-Jer.40.6" parsed="|Jer|40|1|40|6" passage="Jer 40:1-6" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Jer.xli-p1.8">
<h4 id="Jer.xli-p1.9">The Preservation of Jeremiah; Jeremiah's
Adherence to Gedaliah. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.xli-p1.10">b. c.</span> 588.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Jer.xli-p2" shownumber="no">1 The word that came to Jeremiah from the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.xli-p2.1">Lord</span>, after that Nebuzar-adan the captain
of the guard had let him go from Ramah, when he had taken him being
bound in chains among all that were carried away captive of
Jerusalem and Judah, which were carried away captive unto Babylon.
  2 And the captain of the guard took Jeremiah, and said unto
him, The <span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.xli-p2.2">Lord</span> thy God hath
pronounced this evil upon this place.   3 Now the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.xli-p2.3">Lord</span> hath brought <i>it,</i> and done according
as he hath said: because ye have sinned against the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.xli-p2.4">Lord</span>, and have not obeyed his voice, therefore
this thing is come upon you.   4 And now, behold, I loose thee
this day from the chains which <i>were</i> upon thine hand. If it
seem good unto thee to come with me into Babylon, come; and I will
look well unto thee: but if it seem ill unto thee to come with me
into Babylon, forbear: behold, all the land <i>is</i> before thee:
whither it seemeth good and convenient for thee to go, thither go.
  5 Now while he was not yet gone back, <i>he said,</i> Go
back also to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, whom
the king of Babylon hath made governor over the cities of Judah,
and dwell with him among the people: or go wheresoever it seemeth
convenient unto thee to go. So the captain of the guard gave him
victuals and a reward, and let him go.   6 Then went Jeremiah
unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah; and dwelt with him among
the people that were left in the land.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jer.xli-p3" shownumber="no">The title of this part of the book, which
begins the chapter, seems misapplied (<i>The word which came to
Jeremiah</i>), for here is nothing of prophecy in this chapter, but
it is to be referred to <scripRef id="Jer.xli-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:Jer.42.7" parsed="|Jer|42|7|0|0" passage="Jer 42:7"><i>ch.</i>
xlii. 7</scripRef>, where we have a message that God sent by
Jeremiah to the captains and the people that remained. The story
between is only to introduce that prophecy and show the occasion of
it, that it may be the better understood, and Jeremiah, being
himself concerned in the story, was the better able to give an
account of it.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jer.xli-p4" shownumber="no">In these verses we have Jeremiah's
adhering, by the advice of Nebuzar-adan, to Gedaliah. It should
seem that Jeremiah was very honourably fetched out of the court of
the prison by the king of Babylon's princes (<scripRef id="Jer.xli-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:Jer.39.13" parsed="|Jer|39|13|0|0" passage="Jer 39:13"><i>ch.</i> xxxix. 13, 14</scripRef>), but afterwards,
being found among the people in the city, when orders were given to
the inferior officers to bind all they found that were of any
fashion, in order to their being carried captives to Babylon, he,
through ignorance and mistake, was bound among the rest and hurried
away. Poor man! he seems to have been born to hardship and
abuse—<i>man of sorrows</i> indeed! But when the captives were
brought manacled to Ramah, not far off, where a council of war, or
court-martial, was held for giving orders concerning them, Jeremiah
was soon distinguished from the rest, and, by special order of the
court, was discharged. 1. The captain of the guard solemnly owns
him to be a true prophet (<scripRef id="Jer.xli-p4.2" osisRef="Bible:Jer.40.2-Jer.40.3" parsed="|Jer|40|2|40|3" passage="Jer 40:2,3"><i>v.</i>
2, 3</scripRef>): "<i>The Lord thy God,</i> whose messenger thou
has been and in whose name thou hast spoken, <i>has</i> by thee
<i>pronounced this evil upon this place;</i> they had fair warning
given them of it, but they would not take the warning, and <i>now
the Lord hath brought it,</i> and, as by thy mouth he said it, so
by my hand <i>he hath done what he said.</i>" He seems thus to
justify what he had done, and to glory in it, that he had been
God's instrument to fulfil that which Jeremiah had been his
messenger to foretell; and upon that account it was indeed the most
glorious action he had ever done. He tells all the people that were
now in chains before him <i>It is because you have sinned against
the Lord that this thing has come upon you.</i> The princes of
Israel would never be brought to acknowledge this, though it was as
evident as if it had been written with a sun-beam; but this heathen
prince plainly sees it, that a people that had been so favoured as
they had been by the divine goodness would never have been
abandoned thus had they not been very provoking. The people of
Israel had been often told this from the pulpit by their prophets,
and they would not regard it; now they are told it from the bench
by the conqueror, whom they dare not contradict and who will make
them regard it. Note, Sooner or later men shall be made sensible
that their sin is the cause of all their miseries. 2. He gives him
free leave to dispose of himself as he thought fit. He <i>loosed
him from his chains</i> a second time (<scripRef id="Jer.xli-p4.3" osisRef="Bible:Jer.40.4" parsed="|Jer|40|4|0|0" passage="Jer 40:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>), invited him to come along with
him to Babylon, not as a captive, but as a friend, as a companion;
and <i>I will set my eye upon thee</i> (so the word is), not only,
"<i>I will look well to thee,</i>" but "I will show thee respect,
will countenance thee, and will see that thou be safe and well
provided for." If he was not disposed to go to Babylon, he might
dwell where he pleased in his own country, for it was all now at
the disposal of the conquerors. He may go to Anathoth if he please,
and enjoy the field he has purchased there. A great change with
this good man! He that but lately was tossed from one prison to
another may now walk at liberty from one possession to another. 3.
He advised him to go to Gedaliah and settle with him. This
Gedaliah, <i>made governor of the</i> land under <i>the king of
Babylon,</i> was an honest Jew, who (it is probably) betimes went
over with his friends to the Chaldeans, and approved himself so
well that he had this great trust put into his hands, <scripRef id="Jer.xli-p4.4" osisRef="Bible:Jer.40.5" parsed="|Jer|40|5|0|0" passage="Jer 40:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>. <i>While</i> Jeremiah
had <i>not yet gone back,</i> but stood considering what he should
do, Nebuzar-adan, perceiving him neither inclined to go to Babylon
nor determined whither to go, turned the scale for him, and bade
him by all means <i>go to Gedaliah.</i> Sudden thoughts sometimes
prove wise ones. But when he gave this counsel he did not design to
bind him by it, nor will he take ill if he do not follow it: <i>Go
wheresoever it seemeth convenient unto thee.</i> It is friendly in
such cases to give advice, but unfriendly to prescribe and to be
angry if our advice be not take. Let Jeremiah steer what course he
pleases, Nebuzar-adan will agree to it, and believe he does for the
best. Nor does he only give him his liberty, and an approbation of
the measures he shall take, but provides for his support: He
<i>gave him victuals and a</i> present, either in clothes or money,
<i>and</i> so <i>let him go.</i> See how considerate <i>the captain
of the guard</i> was in his kindness to Jeremiah. He set him at
liberty, but it was in a country that was laid waste, and in which,
as the posture of it now was, he might have perished, though it was
his own country, if he had not been thus kindly furnished with
necessaries. Jeremiah not only accepted his kindness, but took his
advice, and went to Gedaliah, to Mizpah, <i>and dwelt with him,</i>
<scripRef id="Jer.xli-p4.5" osisRef="Bible:Jer.40.6" parsed="|Jer|40|6|0|0" passage="Jer 40:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>. Whether we may
herein commend his prudence I know not; the event does not commend
it, for it did not prove at all to his comfort. However, we may
commend his pious affection to the land of Israel, that unless he
were forced out of it, as Ezekiel, and Daniel, and other good men
were, he would not forsake it, but chose rather to dwell with the
poor in the holy land than with princes in an unholy one.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Jer.xli-p4.6" osisRef="Bible:Jer.40.7-Jer.40.16" parsed="|Jer|40|7|40|16" passage="Jer 40:7-16" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Jer.xli-p4.7">
<h4 id="Jer.xli-p4.8">Gedaliah's Address to the
People. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.xli-p4.9">b. c.</span> 588.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Jer.xli-p5" shownumber="no">7 Now when all the captains of the forces which
<i>were</i> in the fields, <i>even</i> they and their men, heard
that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam
governor in the land, and had committed unto him men, and women,
and children, and of the poor of the land, of them that were not
carried away captive to Babylon;   8 Then they came to
Gedaliah to Mizpah, even Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan
and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth,
and the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniah the son of a
Maachathite, they and their men.   9 And Gedaliah the son of
Ahikam the son of Shaphan sware unto them and to their men, saying,
Fear not to serve the Chaldeans: dwell in the land, and serve the
king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you.   10 As for
me, behold, I will dwell at Mizpah to serve the Chaldeans, which
will come unto us: but ye, gather ye wine, and summer fruits, and
oil, and put <i>them</i> in your vessels, and dwell in your cities
that ye have taken.   11 Likewise when all the Jews that
<i>were</i> in Moab, and among the Ammonites, and in Edom, and that
<i>were</i> in all the countries, heard that the king of Babylon
had left a remnant of Judah, and that he had set over them Gedaliah
the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan;   12 Even all the Jews
returned out of all places whither they were driven, and came to
the land of Judah, to Gedaliah, unto Mizpah, and gathered wine and
summer fruits very much.   13 Moreover Johanan the son of
Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that <i>were</i> in the
fields, came to Gedaliah to Mizpah,   14 And said unto him,
Dost thou certainly know that Baalis the king of the Ammonites hath
sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to slay thee? But Gedaliah the
son of Ahikam believed them not.   15 Then Johanan the son of
Kareah spake to Gedaliah in Mizpah secretly, saying, Let me go, I
pray thee, and I will slay Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and no man
shall know <i>it:</i> wherefore should he slay thee, that all the
Jews which are gathered unto thee should be scattered, and the
remnant in Judah perish?   16 But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam
said unto Johanan the son of Kareah, Thou shalt not do this thing:
for thou speakest falsely of Ishmael.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jer.xli-p6" shownumber="no">We have in these verses,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jer.xli-p7" shownumber="no">I. A bright sky opening upon the remnant of
the Jews that were left in their own land, and a comfortable
prospect given them of some peace and quietness after the many
years of trouble and terror with which they had been afflicted.
Jeremiah indeed had never in his prophecies spoken of any such good
days reserved for the Jews immediately after the captivity; but
Providence seemed to raise and encourage such an expectation, and
it would be to that miserable people as life from the dead. Observe
the particulars.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jer.xli-p8" shownumber="no">1. Gedaliah, one of themselves, is made
<i>governor in the land,</i> by <i>the king of Babylon,</i>
<scripRef id="Jer.xli-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:Jer.40.7" parsed="|Jer|40|7|0|0" passage="Jer 40:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>. To show that
he designed to make and keep them easy he did not give this
commission to one of the princes of Babylon, but to one of their
brethren, who, they might be sure, would seek their peace. He was
<i>the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan,</i> one of the princes.
We read of his father (<scripRef id="Jer.xli-p8.2" osisRef="Bible:Jer.26.24" parsed="|Jer|26|24|0|0" passage="Jer 26:24"><i>ch.</i>
xxvi. 24</scripRef>) that he took Jeremiah's part against the
people. He seems to have been a man of great wisdom and a mild
temper, and under whose government the few that were left might
have been very happy. The king of Babylon had a good opinion of him
and reposed a confidence in him, for <i>to him he committed all
that were</i> left behind.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jer.xli-p9" shownumber="no">2. There is great resort to him from all
parts, and all those that were now the Jews of the dispersion came
and put themselves under his government and protection. (1.) The
great men that had escaped the Chaldeans by force came and quietly
submitted to Gedaliah, for their own safety and common
preservation. Several are here named, <scripRef id="Jer.xli-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:Jer.40.8" parsed="|Jer|40|8|0|0" passage="Jer 40:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>. <i>They came</i> with <i>their
men,</i> their servants, their soldiers, and so strengthened one
another; and the king of Babylon had such a good opinion of
Gedaliah his delegate that he was not at all jealous of the
increase of their numbers, but rather pleased with it. (2.) The
poor men that had escaped by flight into the neighbouring countries
of Moab, Ammon, and Edom, were induced by the love they bore to
their own land to return to it again as soon as they heard that
Gedaliah was in authority there, <scripRef id="Jer.xli-p9.2" osisRef="Bible:Jer.40.11-Jer.40.12" parsed="|Jer|40|11|40|12" passage="Jer 40:11,12"><i>v.</i> 11, 12</scripRef>. Canaan itself would be
an unsafe unpleasant country if there were no government nor
governors there, and those that loved it dearly would not come back
to it till they heard there were. It would be a great reviving to
those that were dispersed to come together again, to those that
were dispersed into foreign countries to come together in their own
country, to those that were under strange kings to be under a
governor of their own nation. See here in wrath God remembered
mercy, and yet admitted some of them upon a further trial of their
obedience.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jer.xli-p10" shownumber="no">3. The model of this new government is
drawn up and settled by an original contract, which Gedaliah
confirmed with an oath, a solemn oath (<scripRef id="Jer.xli-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:Jer.40.9" parsed="|Jer|40|9|0|0" passage="Jer 40:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>): <i>He swore to them and to
their men,</i> it is probably according to the warrant and
instructions he had received from the king of Babylon, who
empowered him to give them these assurances. (1.) They must own the
property of their lands to be in the Chaldeans. "Come" (says
Gedaliah), "<i>fear not to serve the Chaldeans.</i> Fear not the
sin of it." Though the divine law had forbidden them to make
leagues with the heathen, yet the divine sentence had obliged them
to yield to the king of Babylon. "Fear not the reproach of it, and
the disparagement it will be to your nation; it is what God has
brought you to, has bound you to, and it is no disgrace to any to
comply with him. Fear not the consequences of it, as if it would
certainly make you and yours miserable; no, you will find the king
of Babylon not so hard a landlord as you apprehend him to be; if
you will but live peaceably, peaceably you shall live; disturb not
the government, and it will not disturb you. <i>Serve the king of
Babylon and it shall be well with you.</i>" If they should make any
difficulty of doing personal homage, or should be apprehensive of
danger when the Chaldeans should come among them, Gedaliah,
probably by instruction from the king of Babylon, undertakes upon
all occasions to act for them, and make their application
acceptable to the king (<scripRef id="Jer.xli-p10.2" osisRef="Bible:Jer.40.10" parsed="|Jer|40|10|0|0" passage="Jer 40:10"><i>v.</i>
10</scripRef>): "<i>As for me, behold, I will dwell at Mizpah, to
serve the Chaldeans,</i> to do homage to them in the name of the
whole body if there be occasion, to receive orders, and to pay them
their tribute when the <i>come to us.</i>" All that passes between
them and the Chaldeans shall pass through his hand; and, if the
Chaldeans put such a confidence in him, surely his own countrymen
may venture to do it. Gedaliah is willing thus to give them the
assurance of an oath that he will do his part in protecting them,
but, being apt to err (as many good men are) on the charitable
side, he did not require an oath from them that they would be
faithful to him, else the following mischief might have been
prevented. However, protection draws allegiance though it be not
sworn, and by joining in with Gedaliah they did, in effect, consent
to the terms of government, that they should <i>serve the king of
Babylon.</i> But, (2.) Though they own the property of their lands
to be in the Chaldeans, yet, upon that condition, they shall have
the free enjoyment of them and all the profits of them (<scripRef id="Jer.xli-p10.3" osisRef="Bible:Jer.40.10" parsed="|Jer|40|10|0|0" passage="Jer 40:10"><i>v.</i> 10</scripRef>): "<i>Gather you wine
and summer fruits,</i> and take them for your own use; <i>put them
in your vessels,</i> to be laid up for winter-store, as those do
that live in a land of peace and hope to <i>eat the labour of your
hand,</i> nay, the labour of other people's hands, for you reap
what they sowed." Or perhaps they were the spontaneous products of
that fertile soil, for which none had laboured. And accordingly we
find (<scripRef id="Jer.xli-p10.4" osisRef="Bible:Jer.40.12" parsed="|Jer|40|12|0|0" passage="Jer 40:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>) that
they <i>gathered wine and summer fruits very much,</i> such as were
at present upon the ground, for their corn-harvest was over some
time before Jerusalem was taken. While Gedaliah was in care for the
public safety he left them to enjoy the advantages of the public
plenty, and, for aught that appears, demanded no tribute from them;
for he sought not his own profit, but the profit of many.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jer.xli-p11" shownumber="no">II. Here is a dark cloud gathering over
this infant state, and threatening a dreadful storm. How soon is
this hopeful prospect blasted! For when God begins in judgment he
will make an end. It is here intimated to us, 1. That <i>Baalis the
king of the Ammonites</i> had a particular spite at Gedaliah, and
was contriving to take him off, either out of malice to the nation
of the Jews, whose welfare he hated the thought of, or a personal
pique against Gedaliah, <scripRef id="Jer.xli-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:Jer.40.14" parsed="|Jer|40|14|0|0" passage="Jer 40:14"><i>v.</i>
14</scripRef>. Some make Baalis to signify the queen-mother of the
king of the Ammonites, or queen-dowager, as if she were the first
mover of the bloody and treacherous design. One would have thought
this little remnant might be safe when the great king of Babylon
protected it; and yet it is ruined by the artifices of this petty
prince or princess. happy are those that have the King of kings of
their side, who can take <i>the wise in their own craftiness;</i>
for the greatest earthly king cannot with all his power secure us
against fraud and treachery. 2. That he employed <i>Ishmael, the
son of Nethaniah,</i> as the instrument of his malice, instigated
him to murder Gedaliah, and, that he might have a fair opportunity
to do it, directed him to go and enrol himself among his subjects
and promise him fealty. Nothing could be more barbarous than the
design itself, nor more base than the method of compassing it. How
wretchedly is human nature corrupted and degenerated (even in those
that pretend to the best blood) when it is capable of admitting the
thought of such abominable wickedness! Ishmael was of the seed
royal, and would therefore be easily tempted to envy and hate one
that set up for a governor in Judah, who was not, as he was, of
David's line, though he had ever so much of David's spirit. 3. That
Johanan, a brisk and active man, having got scent of this plot,
informed Gedaliah of it, yet taking it for granted he could not but
know of it before, the proofs of the matter being so very plain:
<i>Dost thou certainly know?</i> surely thou dost, <scripRef id="Jer.xli-p11.2" osisRef="Bible:Jer.40.14" parsed="|Jer|40|14|0|0" passage="Jer 40:14"><i>v.</i> 14</scripRef>. He gave him private
intelligence of it (<scripRef id="Jer.xli-p11.3" osisRef="Bible:Jer.40.15" parsed="|Jer|40|15|0|0" passage="Jer 40:15"><i>v.</i>
15</scripRef>), hoping he would then take the more notice of it. He
proffered his service to prevent it, by taking off Ishmael, whose
very name was ominous to all the seed of Isaac: <i>I will slay</i>
him. <i>Wherefore should he slay thee?</i> Herein he showed more
courage and zeal than sense of justice; for, if it be lawful to
kill for prevention, who then can be safe, since malice always
suspects the worst? 4. That Gedaliah, being a man of sincerity
himself, would by no means give credit to the information given him
of Ishmael's treachery. He said, <i>Thou speakest falsely of
Ishmael.</i> Herein he discovered more good humour than discretion,
more of the innocency of the dove than the wisdom of the serpent.
Princes become uneasy to themselves and all about them when they
are jealous. Queen Elizabeth said that she would believe no more
evil of her people than a mother would believe of her own children;
yet many have been ruined by being over-confident of the fidelity
of those about them.</p>
</div></div2>