Focused Passage

Jeremiah 41:4-10

Mizpah Betrayed: Murder, Fear, and the Drift Toward Egypt

The chapter moves from assassination at Mizpah, to mass slaughter and captivity, to a partial rescue at Gibeon, and finally to the remnant's fear-driven movement toward Egypt.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

4 On the second day after the murder of Gedaliah, when no one yet knew about it,

5 eighty men who had shaved off their beards, torn their garments, and cut themselves came from Shechem, Shiloh, and Samaria, carrying grain offerings and frankincense for the house of the LORD.

6 And Ishmael son of Nethaniah went out from Mizpah to meet them, weeping as he went. When Ishmael encountered the men, he said, “Come to Gedaliah son of Ahikam.”

7 And when they came into the city, Ishmael son of Nethaniah and the men with him slaughtered them and threw them into a cistern.

8 But ten of the men among them said to Ishmael, “Do not kill us, for we have hidden treasure in the field—wheat, barley, oil, and honey!” So he refrained from killing them with the others.

9 Now the cistern into which Ishmael had thrown all the bodies of the men he had struck down along with Gedaliah was a large one that King Asa had made for fear of Baasha king of Israel. Ishmael son of Nethaniah filled it with the slain.

10 Then Ishmael took captive all the remnant of the people of Mizpah—the daughters of the king along with all the others who remained in Mizpah—over whom Nebuzaradan captain of the guard had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam. Ishmael son of Nethaniah took them captive and set off to cross over to the Ammonites.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 4

Original words

- וַיְהִ֛י H1961 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular On the second הַשֵּׁנִ֖י H8145 Article | Number - ordinal masculine singular day בַּיּ֥וֹם H3117 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular after the murder לְהָמִ֣ית H4191 Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker of Gedaliah גְּדַלְיָ֑הוּ H1436 Noun - proper - masculine singular when no לֹ֥א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle one וְאִ֖ישׁ H376 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular yet knew about it יָדָֽע׃ H3045 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular

Verse 5

Cross-references

1 Kings 16:24 Classic cross-references 2 Kings 25:9 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 14:1 Classic cross-references Jeremiah 16:6 Classic cross-references Joshua 18:1 Classic cross-references

Original words

eighty שְׁמֹנִ֣ים H8084 Number - common plural . . . אִ֔ישׁ H376 Noun - masculine singular men אֲ֠נָשִׁים H582 Noun - masculine plural who had shaved off מְגֻלְּחֵ֥י H1548 Verb - Pual - Participle - masculine plural construct their beards זָקָ֛ן H2206 Noun - common singular torn וּקְרֻעֵ֥י H7167 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine plural construct their garments בְגָדִ֖ים H899 Noun - masculine plural and cut themselves וּמִתְגֹּֽדְדִ֑ים H1413 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Participle - masculine plural came וַיָּבֹ֣אוּ H935 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural from Shechem מִשְּׁכֶ֞ם H7927 Preposition-m | Noun - proper - feminine singular Shiloh מִשִּׁל֤וֹ H7887 Preposition-m | Noun - proper - feminine singular and Samaria וּמִשֹּֽׁמְרוֹן֙ H8111 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - proper - feminine singular vvv בְּיָדָ֔ם H3027 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine plural carrying לְהָבִ֖יא H935 Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct grain offerings וּמִנְחָ֤ה H4503 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular and frankincense וּלְבוֹנָה֙ H3828 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular for the house בֵּ֥ית H1004 Noun - masculine singular construct of the LORD יְהוָֽה׃ H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular

Verse 6

Cross-references

2 Samuel 3:16 Classic cross-references Jeremiah 50:4 Classic cross-references

Original words

And Ishmael יִשְׁמָעֵ֨אל H3458 Noun - proper - masculine singular son בֶּן־ H1121 Noun - masculine singular construct of Nethaniah נְתַנְיָ֤ה H5418 Noun - proper - masculine singular went out וַ֠יֵּצֵא H3318 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular from מִן־ H4480 Preposition Mizpah הַמִּצְפָּ֔ה H4709 Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular to meet them לִקְרָאתָם֙ H7122 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine plural weeping וּבֹכֶ֑ה H1058 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular . . . וַֽיְהִי֙ H1961 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular as he went הֹלֵ֥ךְ H1980 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular . . . הָלֹ֖ךְ H1980 Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute When [Ishmael] encountered [the men] כִּפְגֹ֣שׁ H6298 Preposition-k | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct - אֹתָ֔ם H853 Direct object marker | third person masculine plural he said וַיֹּ֣אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Come בֹּ֖אוּ H935 Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural . . . אֶל־ H413 Preposition to אֲלֵיהֶ֔ם H413 Preposition | third person masculine plural Gedaliah גְּדַלְיָ֥הוּ H1436 Noun - proper - masculine singular son בֶן־ H1121 Noun - masculine singular construct of Ahikam אֲחִיקָֽם׃ס H296 Noun - proper - masculine singular

Verse 7

Cross-references

Isaiah 14:19 Classic cross-references Ezekiel 22:27 Classic cross-references Isaiah 59:7 Classic cross-references Psalms 55:23 Classic cross-references

Original words

- וַיְהִ֕י H1961 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular And when they came כְּבוֹאָ֖ם H935 Preposition-k | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine plural into אֶל־ H413 Preposition . . . תּ֣וֹךְ H8432 Noun - masculine singular construct the city הָעִ֑יר H5892 Article | Noun - feminine singular Ishmael יִשְׁמָעֵ֤אל H3458 Noun - proper - masculine singular son בֶּן־ H1121 Noun - masculine singular construct of Nethaniah נְתַנְיָה֙ H5418 Noun - proper - masculine singular and the men וְהָאֲנָשִׁ֥ים H582 Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine plural - אֲשֶׁר־ H834 Pronoun - relative with him אִתּֽוֹ׃ H854 Preposition | third person masculine singular slaughtered them וַיִּשְׁחָטֵ֞ם H7819 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine plural and threw them into אֶל־ H413 Preposition . . . תּ֣וֹךְ H8432 Noun - masculine singular construct a cistern הַבּ֔וֹר H953 Article | Noun - masculine singular . . . ה֖וּא H1931 Pronoun - third person masculine singular

Verse 8

Cross-references

Isaiah 45:3 Classic cross-references Job 2:4 Classic cross-references Proverbs 21:20 Classic cross-references Proverbs 13:8 Classic cross-references

Original words

But ten וַעֲשָׂרָ֨ה H6235 Conjunctive waw | Number - masculine singular of the men אֲנָשִׁ֜ים H582 Noun - masculine plural נִמְצְאוּ־ נִמְצְאוּ־ H4672 Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural among them בָ֗ם Preposition | third person masculine plural said וַיֹּאמְר֤וּ H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural to אֶל־ H413 Preposition Ishmael יִשְׁמָעֵאל֙ H3458 Noun - proper - masculine singular Do not אַל־ H408 Adverb kill us תְּמִתֵ֔נוּ H4191 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | first person common plural for כִּֽי־ H3588 Conjunction we have יֶשׁ־ H3426 Adverb hidden treasure מַטְמֹנִים֙ H4301 Noun - masculine plural in the field בַּשָּׂדֶ֔ה H7704 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular wheat חִטִּ֥ים H2406 Noun - feminine plural barley וּשְׂעֹרִ֖ים H8184 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural oil וְשֶׁ֣מֶן H8081 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular and honey וּדְבָ֑שׁ H1706 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular So he refrained וַיֶּחְדַּ֕ל H2308 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular . . . וְלֹ֥א H3808 Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle from killing them הֱמִיתָ֖ם H4191 Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine plural with בְּת֥וֹךְ H8432 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct the others אֲחֵיהֶֽם׃ H251 Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural

Verse 9

Cross-references

Isaiah 14:19 Classic cross-references 1 Kings 15:17 Classic cross-references 1 Samuel 13:6 Classic cross-references 2 Chronicles 16:1 Classic cross-references 2 Samuel 17:9 Classic cross-references

Original words

Now the cistern וְהַבּ֗וֹר H953 Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singular into which אֲשֶׁר֩ H834 Pronoun - relative Ishmael יִשְׁמָעֵאל֙ H3458 Noun - proper - masculine singular - אֵ֣ת׀ H853 Direct object marker had thrown הִשְׁלִ֨יךְ H7993 Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular . . . שָׁ֤ם H8033 Adverb all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct the bodies פִּגְרֵ֣י H6297 Noun - masculine plural construct of the men הָאֲנָשִׁ֗ים H582 Article | Noun - masculine plural he had struck down הִכָּה֙ H5221 Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular along with בְּיַד־ H3027 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct Gedaliah גְּדַלְיָ֔הוּ H1436 Noun - proper - masculine singular . . . ה֗וּא H1931 Pronoun - third person masculine singular - אֲשֶׁ֤ר H834 Pronoun - relative was a large one that אֲשֶׁ֤ר H834 Pronoun - relative King הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ H4428 Article | Noun - masculine singular Asa אָסָ֔א H609 Noun - proper - masculine singular had made עָשָׂה֙ H6213 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular for fear מִפְּנֵ֖י H6440 Preposition-m | Noun - common plural construct of Baasha בַּעְשָׁ֣א H1201 Noun - proper - masculine singular king מֶֽלֶךְ־ H4428 Noun - masculine singular construct of Israel יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל H3478 Noun - proper - masculine singular - אֹת֗וֹ H853 Direct object marker | third person masculine singular Ishmael יִשְׁמָעֵ֥אל H3458 Noun - proper - masculine singular son בֶּן־ H1121 Noun - masculine singular construct of Nethaniah נְתַנְיָ֖הוּ H5418 Noun - proper - masculine singular filled it מִלֵּ֛א H4390 Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular with the slain חֲלָלִֽים׃ H2491 Noun - masculine plural

Verse 10

Cross-references

Jeremiah 40:14 Classic cross-references Jeremiah 38:23 Classic cross-references Jeremiah 40:7 Classic cross-references Jeremiah 40:11 Classic cross-references Jeremiah 43:6 Classic cross-references

Original words

Then Ishmael יִ֠שְׁמָעֵאל H3458 Noun - proper - masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker took captive וַיִּ֣שְׁבְּ׀ H7617 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct the remnant שְׁאֵרִ֨ית H7611 Noun - feminine singular construct of the people הָעָ֜ם H5971 Article | Noun - masculine singular אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֲשֶׁ֣ר H834 Pronoun - relative of Mizpah בַּמִּצְפָּ֗ה H4709 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the daughters בְּנ֤וֹת H1323 Noun - feminine plural construct of the king הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ H4428 Article | Noun - masculine singular along with וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct the others הָעָם֙ H5971 Article | Noun - masculine singular who remained הַנִּשְׁאָרִ֣ים H7604 Article | Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine plural in Mizpah בַּמִּצְפָּ֔ה H4709 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular over whom אֲשֶׁ֣ר H834 Pronoun - relative Nebuzaradan נְבֽוּזַרְאֲדָן֙ H5018 Noun - proper - masculine singular captain רַב־ H7227 Noun - masculine singular construct of the guard טַבָּחִ֔ים H2876 Noun - masculine plural . . . אֶת־ H854 Direct object marker had appointed הִפְקִ֗יד H6485 Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular Gedaliah גְּדַלְיָ֖הוּ H1436 Noun - proper - masculine singular son בֶּן־ H1121 Noun - masculine singular construct of Ahikam אֲחִיקָ֑ם H296 Noun - proper - masculine singular Ishmael יִשְׁמָעֵ֣אל H3458 Noun - proper - masculine singular son בֶּן־ H1121 Noun - masculine singular construct of Nethaniah נְתַנְיָ֔ה H5418 Noun - proper - masculine singular took them captive וַיִּשְׁבֵּם֙ H7617 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine plural and set off וַיֵּ֕לֶךְ H1980 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular to cross over לַעֲבֹ֖ר H5674 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct to אֶל־ H413 Preposition the Ammonites בְּנֵ֥י H1121 Noun - masculine plural construct . . . עַמּֽוֹן׃ס H5983 Noun - proper - masculine singular

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