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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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[<A HREF="MHC24039.HTM">Previous</A>]
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1712)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>J E R E M I A H.</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XL.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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We have attended Jerusalem's funeral pile, and have taken our leave of
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the captives that were carried to Babylon, not expecting to hear any
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more of them in this book: perhaps we may in Ezekiel; and we must in
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this and the four following chapters observe the story of those few
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Jews that were left to remain in the land after their brethren were
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carried away, and it is a very melancholy story; for, though at first
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there were some hopeful prospects of their well-doing, they soon
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appeared as obstinate in sin as ever, unhumbled and unreformed, till,
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all the rest of the judgments threatened in
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+28:1-68">Deut. xxviii.</A>
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being brought upon them, that which in the
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+28:68">last verse</A>
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of that dreadful chapter completes the threatenings was accomplished,
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"The Lord shall bring thee into Egypt again." In this chapter we have,
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I. A more particular account of Jeremiah's discharge and his settlement
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with Gedaliah,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+40:1-6">ver. 1-6</A>.
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II. The great resort of the Jews that remained scattered in the
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neighbouring countries to Gedaliah, who was made their governor under
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the king of Babylon; and the good posture they were in for a while
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under him,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+40:7-12">ver. 7-12</A>.
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III. A treacherous design formed against Gedaliah, by Ishmael, which we
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shall find executed in the next chapter,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+40:13-16">ver. 13-16</A>.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Jer40_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jer40_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jer40_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jer40_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jer40_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jer40_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Preservation of Jeremiah; Jeremiah's Adherence to Gedaliah.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 588.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 The word that came to Jeremiah from the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, after that
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Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard had let him go from Ramah,
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when he had taken him being bound in chains among all that were
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carried away captive of Jerusalem and Judah, which were carried
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away captive unto Babylon.
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2 And the captain of the guard took Jeremiah, and said unto
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him, The L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> thy God hath pronounced this evil upon this place.
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3 Now the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> hath brought <I>it,</I> and done according as he hath
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said: because ye have sinned against the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, and have not
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obeyed his voice, therefore this thing is come upon you.
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4 And now, behold, I loose thee this day from the chains which
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<I>were</I> upon thine hand. If it seem good unto thee to come with me
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into Babylon, come; and I will look well unto thee: but if it
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seem ill unto thee to come with me into Babylon, forbear: behold,
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all the land <I>is</I> before thee: whither it seemeth good and
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convenient for thee to go, thither go.
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5 Now while he was not yet gone back, <I>he said,</I> Go back also
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to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, whom the king
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of Babylon hath made governor over the cities of Judah, and dwell
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with him among the people: or go wheresoever it seemeth
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convenient unto thee to go. So the captain of the guard gave him
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victuals and a reward, and let him go.
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6 Then went Jeremiah unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah;
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and dwelt with him among the people that were left in the land.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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The title of this part of the book, which begins the chapter, seems
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misapplied (<I>The word which came to Jeremiah</I>), for here is
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nothing of prophecy in this chapter, but it is to be referred to
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+42:7"><I>ch.</I> xlii. 7</A>,
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where we have a message that God sent by Jeremiah to the captains and
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the people that remained. The story between is only to introduce that
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prophecy and show the occasion of it, that it may be the better
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understood, and Jeremiah, being himself concerned in the story, was the
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better able to give an account of it.</P>
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<P>
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In these verses we have Jeremiah's adhering, by the advice of
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Nebuzar-adan, to Gedaliah. It should seem that Jeremiah was very
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honourably fetched out of the court of the prison by the king of
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Babylon's princes
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+39:13"><I>ch.</I> xxxix. 13, 14</A>),
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but afterwards, being found among the people in the city, when orders
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were given to the inferior officers to bind all they found that were of
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any fashion, in order to their being carried captives to Babylon, he,
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through ignorance and mistake, was bound among the rest and hurried
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away. Poor man! he seems to have been born to hardship and
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abuse--<I>man of sorrows</I> indeed! But when the captives were brought
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manacled to Ramah, not far off, where a council of war, or
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court-martial, was held for giving orders concerning them, Jeremiah was
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soon distinguished from the rest, and, by special order of the court,
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was discharged.
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1. The captain of the guard solemnly owns him to be a true prophet
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+40:2,3"><I>v.</I> 2, 3</A>):
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"<I>The Lord thy God,</I> whose messenger thou has been and in whose
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name thou hast spoken, <I>has</I> by thee <I>pronounced this evil upon
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this place;</I> they had fair warning given them of it, but they would
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not take the warning, and <I>now the Lord hath brought it,</I> and, as
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by thy mouth he said it, so by my hand <I>he hath done what he
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said.</I>" He seems thus to justify what he had done, and to glory in
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it, that he had been God's instrument to fulfil that which Jeremiah had
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been his messenger to foretell; and upon that account it was indeed the
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most glorious action he had ever done. He tells all the people that
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were now in chains before him <I>It is because you have sinned against
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the Lord that this thing has come upon you.</I> The princes of Israel
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would never be brought to acknowledge this, though it was as evident as
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if it had been written with a sun-beam; but this heathen prince plainly
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sees it, that a people that had been so favoured as they had been by
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the divine goodness would never have been abandoned thus had they not
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been very provoking. The people of Israel had been often told this from
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the pulpit by their prophets, and they would not regard it; now they
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are told it from the bench by the conqueror, whom they dare not
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contradict and who will make them regard it. Note, Sooner or later men
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shall be made sensible that their sin is the cause of all their
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miseries.
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2. He gives him free leave to dispose of himself as he thought fit. He
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<I>loosed him from his chains</I> a second time
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+40:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>),
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invited him to come along with him to Babylon, not as a captive, but as
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a friend, as a companion; and <I>I will set my eye upon thee</I> (so
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the word is), not only, "<I>I will look well to thee,</I>" but "I will
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show thee respect, will countenance thee, and will see that thou be
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safe and well provided for." If he was not disposed to go to Babylon,
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he might dwell where he pleased in his own country, for it was all now
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at the disposal of the conquerors. He may go to Anathoth if he please,
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and enjoy the field he has purchased there. A great change with this
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good man! He that but lately was tossed from one prison to another may
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now walk at liberty from one possession to another.
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3. He advised him to go to Gedaliah and settle with him. This
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Gedaliah, <I>made governor of the</I> land under <I>the king of
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Babylon,</I> was an honest Jew, who (it is probably) betimes went over
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with his friends to the Chaldeans, and approved himself so well that he
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had this great trust put into his hands,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+40:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>.
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<I>While</I> Jeremiah had <I>not yet gone back,</I> but stood
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considering what he should do, Nebuzar-adan, perceiving him neither
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inclined to go to Babylon nor determined whither to go, turned the
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scale for him, and bade him by all means <I>go to Gedaliah.</I> Sudden
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thoughts sometimes prove wise ones. But when he gave this counsel he
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did not design to bind him by it, nor will he take ill if he do not
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follow it: <I>Go wheresoever it seemeth convenient unto thee.</I> It is
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friendly in such cases to give advice, but unfriendly to prescribe and
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to be angry if our advice be not take. Let Jeremiah steer what course
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he pleases, Nebuzar-adan will agree to it, and believe he does for the
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best. Nor does he only give him his liberty, and an approbation of the
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measures he shall take, but provides for his support: He <I>gave him
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victuals and a</I> present, either in clothes or money, <I>and</I> so
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<I>let him go.</I> See how considerate <I>the captain of the guard</I>
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was in his kindness to Jeremiah. He set him at liberty, but it was in a
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country that was laid waste, and in which, as the posture of it now
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was, he might have perished, though it was his own country, if he had
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not been thus kindly furnished with necessaries. Jeremiah not only
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accepted his kindness, but took his advice, and went to Gedaliah, to
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Mizpah, <I>and dwelt with him,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+40:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>.
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Whether we may herein commend his prudence I know not; the event does
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not commend it, for it did not prove at all to his comfort. However,
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we may commend his pious affection to the land of Israel, that unless
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he were forced out of it, as Ezekiel, and Daniel, and other good men
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were, he would not forsake it, but chose rather to dwell with the poor
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in the holy land than with princes in an unholy one.</P>
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<A NAME="Jer40_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jer40_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jer40_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jer40_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jer40_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jer40_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jer40_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jer40_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jer40_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jer40_16"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Gedaliah's Address to the People.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 588.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>7 Now when all the captains of the forces which <I>were</I> in the
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fields, <I>even</I> they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon
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had made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam governor in the land, and had
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committed unto him men, and women, and children, and of the poor
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of the land, of them that were not carried away captive to
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Babylon;
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8 Then they came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, even Ishmael the son of
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Nethaniah, and Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, and
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Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth, and the sons of Ephai the
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Netophathite, and Jezaniah the son of a Maachathite, they and
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their men.
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9 And Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan sware unto
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them and to their men, saying, Fear not to serve the Chaldeans:
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dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be
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well with you.
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10 As for me, behold, I will dwell at Mizpah to serve the
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Chaldeans, which will come unto us: but ye, gather ye wine, and
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summer fruits, and oil, and put <I>them</I> in your vessels, and dwell
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in your cities that ye have taken.
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11 Likewise when all the Jews that <I>were</I> in Moab, and among
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the Ammonites, and in Edom, and that <I>were</I> in all the countries,
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heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant of Judah, and
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that he had set over them Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of
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Shaphan;
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12 Even all the Jews returned out of all places whither they
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were driven, and came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah, unto
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Mizpah, and gathered wine and summer fruits very much.
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13 Moreover Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of
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the forces that <I>were</I> in the fields, came to Gedaliah to Mizpah,
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14 And said unto him, Dost thou certainly know that Baalis the
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king of the Ammonites hath sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to
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slay thee? But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam believed them not.
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15 Then Johanan the son of Kareah spake to Gedaliah in Mizpah
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secretly, saying, Let me go, I pray thee, and I will slay Ishmael
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the son of Nethaniah, and no man shall know <I>it:</I> wherefore
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should he slay thee, that all the Jews which are gathered unto
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thee should be scattered, and the remnant in Judah perish?
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16 But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said unto Johanan the son of
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Kareah, Thou shalt not do this thing: for thou speakest falsely
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of Ishmael.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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We have in these verses,</P>
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<P>
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I. A bright sky opening upon the remnant of the Jews that were left in
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their own land, and a comfortable prospect given them of some peace and
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quietness after the many years of trouble and terror with which they
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had been afflicted. Jeremiah indeed had never in his prophecies spoken
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of any such good days reserved for the Jews immediately after the
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captivity; but Providence seemed to raise and encourage such an
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expectation, and it would be to that miserable people as life from the
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dead. Observe the particulars.</P>
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<P>
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1. Gedaliah, one of themselves, is made <I>governor in the land,</I> by
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<I>the king of Babylon,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+40:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>.
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To show that he designed to make and keep them easy he did not give
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this commission to one of the princes of Babylon, but to one of their
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brethren, who, they might be sure, would seek their peace. He was
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<I>the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan,</I> one of the princes. We
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read of his father
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+26:24"><I>ch.</I> xxvi. 24</A>)
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that he took Jeremiah's part against the people. He seems to have been
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a man of great wisdom and a mild temper, and under whose government the
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few that were left might have been very happy. The king of Babylon had
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a good opinion of him and reposed a confidence in him, for <I>to him he
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committed all that were</I> left behind.</P>
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<P>
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2. There is great resort to him from all parts, and all those that were
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now the Jews of the dispersion came and put themselves under his
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government and protection.
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(1.) The great men that had escaped the Chaldeans by force came and
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quietly submitted to Gedaliah, for their own safety and common
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preservation. Several are here named,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+40:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>.
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<I>They came</I> with <I>their men,</I> their servants, their soldiers,
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and so strengthened one another; and the king of Babylon had such a
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good opinion of Gedaliah his delegate that he was not at all jealous of
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the increase of their numbers, but rather pleased with it.
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(2.) The poor men that had escaped by flight into the neighbouring
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countries of Moab, Ammon, and Edom, were induced by the love they bore
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to their own land to return to it again as soon as they heard that
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Gedaliah was in authority there,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+40:11,12"><I>v.</I> 11, 12</A>.
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Canaan itself would be an unsafe unpleasant country if there were no
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government nor governors there, and those that loved it dearly would
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not come back to it till they heard there were. It would be a great
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reviving to those that were dispersed to come together again, to those
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that were dispersed into foreign countries to come together in their
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own country, to those that were under strange kings to be under a
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governor of their own nation. See here in wrath God remembered mercy,
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and yet admitted some of them upon a further trial of their
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obedience.</P>
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<P>
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3. The model of this new government is drawn up and settled by an
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original contract, which Gedaliah confirmed with an oath, a solemn oath
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+40:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>):
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<I>He swore to them and to their men,</I> it is probably according to
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the warrant and instructions he had received from the king of Babylon,
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who empowered him to give them these assurances.
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(1.) They must own the property of their lands to be in the Chaldeans.
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"Come" (says Gedaliah), "<I>fear not to serve the Chaldeans.</I> Fear
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not the sin of it." Though the divine law had forbidden them to make
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leagues with the heathen, yet the divine sentence had obliged them to
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yield to the king of Babylon. "Fear not the reproach of it, and the
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disparagement it will be to your nation; it is what God has brought you
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to, has bound you to, and it is no disgrace to any to comply with him.
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Fear not the consequences of it, as if it would certainly make you and
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yours miserable; no, you will find the king of Babylon not so hard a
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landlord as you apprehend him to be; if you will but live peaceably,
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peaceably you shall live; disturb not the government, and it will not
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disturb you. <I>Serve the king of Babylon and it shall be well with
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you.</I>" If they should make any difficulty of doing personal homage,
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or should be apprehensive of danger when the Chaldeans should come
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among them, Gedaliah, probably by instruction from the king of Babylon,
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undertakes upon all occasions to act for them, and make their
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application acceptable to the king
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+40:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>):
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"<I>As for me, behold, I will dwell at Mizpah, to serve the
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Chaldeans,</I> to do homage to them in the name of the whole body if
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there be occasion, to receive orders, and to pay them their tribute
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when the <I>come to us.</I>" All that passes between them and the
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Chaldeans shall pass through his hand; and, if the Chaldeans put such a
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|
confidence in him, surely his own countrymen may venture to do it.
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|
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
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|
good men are) on the charitable side, he did not require an oath from
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|
them that they would be faithful to him, else the following mischief
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|
might have been prevented. However, protection draws allegiance though
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|
it be not sworn, and by joining in with Gedaliah they did, in effect,
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|
consent to the terms of government, that they should <I>serve the king
|
|
of Babylon.</I> But,
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(2.) Though they own the property of their lands to be in the
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|
Chaldeans, yet, upon that condition, they shall have the free enjoyment
|
|
of them and all the profits of them
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+40:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>):
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"<I>Gather you wine and summer fruits,</I> and take them for your own
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|
use; <I>put them in your vessels,</I> to be laid up for winter-store,
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|
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
|
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+40:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>)
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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>
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<P>
|
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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,
|
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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,
|
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+40:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>.
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|
|
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
|
|
ye 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.
|
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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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+40:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>.
|
|
|
|
He gave him private intelligence of it
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+40:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>),
|
|
|
|
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>
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|
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