--- title: "Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible · Volume 1: Genesis to Jeremiah" author: "Adam Clarke" languages: [en] shelf: "Commentaries" section: 900 of 914 url: https://scriptura.si/works/adam-clarke-commentary-volume-1-genesis-to-jeremiah/900/ cite: "Adam Clarke, Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible · Volume 1: Genesis to Jeremiah, section 900. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/adam-clarke-commentary-volume-1-genesis-to-jeremiah/900/" --- # Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible · Volume 1: Genesis to Jeremiah *Adam Clarke* Clarke's learned notes on the Hebrew and Greek, verse by verse, from Genesis to Revelation: volume 1 of 2. ## 900. Jeremiah · 41 of 55 Source: https://scriptura.si/works/adam-clarke-commentary-volume-1-genesis-to-jeremiah/900/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/adam-clarke-commentary-volume-1-genesis-to-jeremiah/900/#p-N ### Verse 1 [¶1] The word that came to Jeremiah - This and the four following chapters contain a particular account of what passed in the land of Judea from the taking of the city to the retreat of the people into Egypt, and the prophecies of Jeremiah concerning them there. [¶2] Had let him go from Ramah - This has embarrassed most of the commentators. Dr. Blayney has thrown much light upon it by his translation and note: - "The word that came to Jeremiah from Jehovah, after that Nebu-Zaradan captain of the guards had taken him, and let him go from Ramah: for he had been bound with chains among all the captives of Jerusalem and Judah, who were carried away captive to Babylon." "Had Taken Him, and Let Him Go. - Most interpreters have understood בקחתו אתו bekachto otho of Nebuchadnezzar's having first taken Jeremiah as a captive unto Ramah. But if the order of the sentence be well observed, as well as the more common use of the verb לקח lakach, it will, I think, rather appear that those words relate to his taking or having him brought to him, in order to give him his discharge." ### Verse 2 [¶4] The Lord thy God hath pronounced - I know that thou art a true prophet, for what thou hast predicted from thy God is come to pass. ### Verse 4 [¶6] Come; and I will look well unto thee - Thou art now at full liberty to do as thou pleasest; either to come to Babylon or to stay in thy own land. ### Verse 5 [¶8] Go back also to Gedaliah - If thou wilt stay in thy own land, thou hadst best put thyself under the protection of thy countryman Gedaliah, whom the King of Babylon has made governor of the land. ### Verse 8 [¶10] Ishmael the son of Nethaniah - This is he who afterwards murdered Gedaliah. He had been employed to do this by Baalis, king of the Ammonites, with whom he appears to have taken refuge during the siege. See [Jer 40:14]. ### Verse 14 [¶12] But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam believed then not - The account given of this man proves him to have been a person of uncommon greatness of soul. Conscious of his own integrity and benevolence, he took the portrait of others from his own mind; and therefore believed evil of no man, because he felt none towards any in his own breast. He may be reproached for being too credulous and confident: but any thing of this kind that may be justly charged against him serves only to show the greatness of his mind. A little soul is ever suspicious, and ready to believe the worst of every person and thing. A great mind acts always on the contrary. ### Verse 16 [¶14] Thou shalt not do this thing - He cannot be so base. [¶15] Thou speakest falsely of Ishmael - He thought it quite possible that the man who was capable of becoming an assassin was capable of telling a lie; and therefore he would not credit what he said. Had he been a little more distrustful, he would have saved his own life. The next chapter shows that Johanan's information was too true. So noble Gedaliah lost his life by not believing that evil of others of which he himself was incapable. ### Introduction [¶17] Ishmael executes his conspiracy against Gedaliah the governor and his companions, and attempts to carry away the Jews who were with him captives to the Ammonites, [Jer 41:1-10]; but Johanan recovers them, and purposes to flee into Egypt, [Jer 41:11-18]. ### Verse 1 [¶19] Now - in the seventh month - Answering to the first new moon in our month of October. [¶20] There they did eat bread together - This was the same as making a solemn covenant; for he who ate bread with another was ever reputed a friend. ### Verse 2 [¶22] Smote Gedaliah - See the preceding chapter, [Jer 41:14]. ### Verse 5 [¶24] Having their beards shaven - All these were signs of deep mourning, probably on account of the destruction of the city. ### Verse 6 [¶26] Weeping all along as he went - This felonious hypocrite pretended that he also was deeply afflicted, and wished to bear them company in their sorrow. [¶27] Come to Gedaliah - He will appoint you vineyards and fields. ### Verse 7 [¶29] Slew them - He kept the murder of Gedaliah secret, and no doubt had a band of his assassins lodged in Mizpah; and he decoyed these fourscore men thither that he might have strength to slay them. He kept ten alive because they told him they had treasures hidden in a field, which they would show him. Whether he kept his word with them is not recorded. He could do nothing good or great; and it is likely that, when he had possessed himself of those treasures, he served them as he had served their companions. Grain is preserved to the present day in subterranean pits, called mattamores, in different parts of the east. ### Verse 9 [¶31] Now the pit - was it which Asa the king had made for fear of Baasha - See [1Kgs 15:22]. Asa made this cistern as a reservoir for water for the supply of the place; for he built and fortified Mizpah at the time that he was at war with Baasha, king of Israel. ### Verse 10 [¶33] Carried away captive - He took all these that he might sell them for slaves among the Ammonites. ### Verse 14 [¶35] Went unto Johanan - They were weary of the tyranny of Ishmael, and were glad of an opportunity to abandon him. ### Verse 16 [¶37] The women - children, and the eunuchs - These were all most probably, persons who belonged to the palace and harem of Zedekiah: some of them his own concubines and their children. ### Verse 17 [¶39] Dwelt in the habitation of Chimham - The estate that David gave Chimham, the son of Barzillai. See [2Sam 19:37], etc. He took this merely as a resting-place; as he designed to carry all into Egypt, fearing the Chaldeans, who would endeavor to revenge the death of Gedaliah. ### Introduction [¶41] Johanan and the remnant of the people desire Jeremiah to ask counsel of God what they should do, [Jer 42:1-3]. The prophet assures them of safety in Judea, but destruction in Egypt, [Jer 42:4-18]; and reproves their hypocrisy in asking counsel with which they had no intention to comply, [Jer 42:19-22]. ### Verse 1 [¶43] The captains of the forces - The different leaders of the small bands or companies, collected from different parts of the land. The principal are those here named.