Ver. 1. The word of the Lord which came to Jeremiah.] This word, what it was, Jeremiah will show, (Jeremiah 42:7) after the circumstances of his enlargement related, and other matters of story premised. Vatablus rendereth it, Actio quam gessit Dominus cum Ieremiah. After that Nebuzaradan had let him go from Ramah.] Which was the place of rendezvous, whither Jeremiah was also brought, with the rest of the captives, and manacled also—as he was found in the court of the prison—but soon set free and dismissed. A difference shall one day—at that great day especially—be discerned “between the righteous and the wicked; between him that serveth God, and him that serveth him not.” (Malachi 3:18) Jeremiah is here, by some oversight of the officers, contrary to Nebuchadnezzar’s command, (Jeremiah 39:11,14) but not without a special providence of God, brought bound to Ramah, ad opprobrium gentis, et in gloriam suam: that the Jews, now captives, and to be carried to Babylon, might see their madness in persecuting so true a prophet, and persevering in their sinful practices, to their so utter undoing, against all admonition.
Ver. 2. And the captain of the guard took Jeremiah.] Took him and loosed him, as he should have done before. Saying, The Lord thy God hath pronounced this evil upon this place.] Oratio militaris, sed bene theologica. A strange speech to come out of such a man’s mouth. How could the captives present hear it, and not be affected with it? Thus Balaam’s ass sometimes rebuked his master’s madness, but to little good effect.
Ver. 3. Now the Lord hath brought it, and done according.] A bad man, we see, may speak piously. Samuel himself could not have spoken more gravely, severely, divinely, than the fiend did to Saul. (1 Samuel 28:13-20) Well then may lewd men be good preachers, &c.
Ver. 4. And now, behold, I loose thee.] I dismiss thee with all due honour, as a true prophet, however undervalued and afflicted by thine unworthy countrymen. Come, and I will look well unto thee.] Heb., I will set mine eye upon thee, that is, I will give thee singular respect, and observe thee to the utmost. Behold, all the land is before thee.] What could Pharaoh say more to Joseph? (Genesis 47:6) or Abraham to Lot? (Genesis 13:9)
Ver. 5. Now while he was not yet gone back.] But yet showed by his looks or otherwise, that he was not willing to go to Babylon; Nebuchadnezzar, who had already set his eyes upon him, [as Jeremiah 40:4] perceiving it, said, Go back unto Gedaliah.] Who shall both protect thee and provide for thee. So the captain of the guard gave him victuals,] i.e., Necessaries for his journey; for he came out of prison nudus tanquam ex mari, bare and needy. And a reward.] Or, A present, fit for a prophet, donum honorarium, such as they used to give the seers, (1 Samuel 9:8 1 Kings 14:3) and such as he might safely and comfortably take, as from God himself, who had promised it. (Jeremiah 15:11) Ex ipso vultu vel silentio Ieremiae, &c.
Ver. 6. Then went Jeremiah unto Gedaliah.] Blessing himself from the Chaldeans’ proffered kindness (as Luther also did alate from the great Turk, who invited him to him, and promised him to be his good lord), he maketh Moses’s choice, (Hebrews 11:25) and David’s, (Psalms 84:10) rather to abide with God’s poor people in the promised land, than to be great in the court of Babylon. How few at this day would have been of his mind!
Ver. 7. Now when all the captains of the forces that were in the fields.] The dispersed Jews, with their captains and centurions, such as had lain lurking during the siege, or had fled when Zedekias did, and escaped. Heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah.] Whom they knew to be a pious and prudent man; and would be a father unto them instead of a king. Nebuchadnezzar might have set a Babylonian governor, who would have ruled them with rigour. But God, in mercy to his poor people, moved him to make choice of this man, famous for his mildness and integrity; to whom therefore they resort, but not all for the same good end, as the sequel showed; for Ishmael was a very Judas.
Ver. 8. Then they came to Gedaliah to Mizpah.] Where Samuel dwelt, (1 Samuel 7:16,17) not far from Shiloh. Even Ishmael.] Who was of the blood royal (Jeremiah 41:1) and envied Gedaliah his so great preferment, whom he looked upon for a transfuga, deserter and a traitor, for revolting to Nebuchadnezzar, which yet he did in obedience to God’s word by the prophet Jeremiah.
Ver. 9. And Gedaliah sware unto them,] viz., That what he spake was from his heart, and out of good affection to them all.
Ver. 10. As for me, behold, I will dwell at Mizpah.] To agitate for you, to the Chaldeans; and to secure you to mine utmost. But ye, gather ye wine.] Humanissima haec sunt, pia, et utilissima Gedaliae verba ad populum. It was a wonder the Chaldees, after so long a siege, had left any fruits behind them. Soldiers today lay all waste mostly.
Ver. 11. Likewise when all the Jews.] Who had fled into foreign parts, for help and safety.
Ver. 12. And gathered wine and summer fruits very much.] So is God wont to reward those that love their country.
Ver. 13. Moreover Johanan came to Gedaliah to Mizpah.] Ishmael perhaps had solicited them to take part with him.
Ver. 14. That Baalis the king of the Ammonites.] Set on work by Beelzebub the prince of devils to hinder so good a work. But Gedaliah believed them not.] No more did Julius Caesar those that forewarned him of the conspiracy against him. The Duke of Guise, the same day that he was slain by the command of Henry III, King of France, had a scroll laid under his napkin, as he sat at dinner, wherein was written, that his life was in danger; he underwrote: They dare not; and so threw it from him under the table. But it proved that they both dared to do it, and did do it, the same day. Gedaliah, likely, thought that Ishmael dared not attempt anything against him, because of the Babylonians; besides, he knew his own innocence, and Ishmael’s pretended familiarity with him, which he might think the other captains envied. Sure it is, that good Gedaliah was too secure. Nam qui omnia credit, et qui nihil credit, ex aequo peccat. It is no less a fault to believe nothing, than to believe everything; sine vano publica fama. Reports are neither to be overly heeded, nor overly slighted, especially where life is concerned. Speed, 1212. Seneca.
Ver. 15. Let me go, I pray thee, and I will slay Ishmael.] He offereth his service for the slaying of Ishmael, and it had been happy he had done it, sed immodico obsequio sibi fidem derogat, his forwardness rendereth him suspected. Gedaliah seemeth to have been of our Queen Elizabeth’s temper, who was heard to profess, that she could believe nothing of her people that parents would not believe of their children. Camden.
Ver. 16. Thou shalt not do this thing.] This just man would not have any man die indicta causa, before his cause had been heard, were he never so wicked. For thou speakest falsely of Ishmael.] So Gedaliah thought, but it proved otherwise. Ishmael is pleaded for, but without cause. Queen Elizabeth complained that in truth she had oft found treason; so shall all princes, who therefore had need to be very cautious, and yet not overly credulous. King’s craft is not easily learned.