Jeremiah 41
1 Ishmael, treacherously killing Gedaliah and others, purposes with the residue to flee unto the Ammonites.
11 Johanan recovers the captives, and is minded to flee into Egypt.
seventh month <02320 07637> [the seventh month.]
This was the month {Tisri,} answering to the new moon of September, the seventh of the sacred, but the first of the civil year; on the third day of which the Jews keep a fast, in commemoration of the death of Gedaliah, to which the prophet Zechariah refers, ch. 8:19; 39:2; 52:6. 2 Ki 25:3, 8, 25. Zec 7:5; 8:19.
Ishmael <03458> [Ishmael.]
Elishama <0476> [Elishama.]
member ........... Zedekiah's <02233 04428> [of the.]
member <02233> [seed.]
eating <0398> [they did.]
killed <05221> [and smote.]
king <04428> [whom.]
murdered <04191> [after.]
arrived ................................ present <0935> [came.]
Shechem <07927> [Shechem.]
Shiloh <07887> [Shiloh.]
Samaria <08111> [Samaria.]
beards <02206> [their beards.]
All these were signs of deep mourning; which, though forbidden on funeral occasions, were customary, and perhaps counted allowable, on seasons of public calamity, and this mourning was probably on account of the destruction of Jerusalem.
temple <01004> [to the.]
cry <01058> [weeping, etc. Heb. in going and weeping.]
slaughtered <07819> [slew.]
kill ............................... kill <04191> [Slay.]
hidden <04301> [treasures.]
These "treasures hid in the field" were doubtless laid up in subterranean pits, similar to the {mattamores} in Barbary, in which, Dr. Shaw informs us, they deposit the grain when winnowed; two or three hundred of them being sometimes together, and the smallest holding four hundred bushels. The same mode of keeping corn prevails in Syria and the Holy Land.
cistern <0953> [the pit.]
This was probably a large reservoir for receiving rain water, which Asa had caused to be made in the midst of the city, in case of a siege.
<03027 01436> [because of Gedaliah. or, near Gedaliah. Heb. by the hand, or the side of Gedaliah. was it.]
<06440> [for fear.]
people ................. rest .... people <07611 05971> [all the.]
royal <04428> [even.]
Nebuzaradan <05018> [whom.]
son ..... son ................. Ammonites <01121> [to the.]
Johanan <03110> [Johanan.]
fight <03898> [to fight.]
large <07227> [the great.]
people <05971> [that when.]
They appear to have been weary of the tyranny of Ishmael, and glad of an opportunity to abandon him.
escape <04422> [escaped.]
eight <0582 08083> [eight men.]
soldiers <01397> [even.]
<03643> [Chimham.]
<03212> [to go.]
As Johanan and the other princes had taken a decided part against Ishmael, they had no sufficient reason to fear that the Chaldeans would revenge on them the murder of Gedaliah; but perhaps Johanan was unwilling to be superseded in the command which he had rightly assumed, and so used his influence to induce the whole company to take refuge in Egypt; and their old attachment to the Egyptians rendered them more ready to concur in this ruinous measure.
were afraid ... what .... might do <03372> [for they.]
Ishmael <06440 03458> [because.]
king <04428> [whom.]
