Westminster Annotations, Jeremiah · Chapter 41
CHAP. XLI.
Vers. 1. IN the seventh monethmonth] Containing part of September and part of October: whence was occasioned the fast of the seventh monethmonth for the murther of Gedaliah, Zech. 7. 5. and 8. 19.
of the seed royall] Heb. of the kingdome. Ezek. 17. 13. One who might the rather in that regard pretend to have more right to the rulership of the land then Gedaliah.
princes of the king] Heb. great ones. Chap. 39. 13. Zedekiahs princes; such of them as had escaped.
ten men with him] Ten of the princes; besides their retinue: else so small a number could not have effected what they did. vers. 3.
they did eat bread together] Being entertained by him, and admitted to his board, as familiar friends, Psal. 41. 9. Luk. 14. 1.
V. 3. the Chaldeans that were found there] Or, were there. a… Esth. 1. 5. Chap. 52. 25.
V. 5. there came certain from Sechem, &c.] Whose way to Jerusalem lay by Mizpah.
having their beards shaven, and their clothes rent, and having out themselves] In manner and habite of mourners; but heathenish, and forbidden in the law, Levit. 19. 27. Deut. 14. 1. 1 King. 18. 28. Chap. 16. 6. & 47. 5.
to the house of the LORD] To the place where it lately stood.
V. 6. weeping all along as he went] Heb. in going and weeping. Chap. 50. 4. Making shew of the like sorrow with them, that they might not mistrust him.
V. 7. slew them, and cast them into the midst of the pit] Heb. slew them into the midst of the pit. (Or, into the pit. as Isa. 5. 8.) See the like defective speeches, Psal. 89. 39. 44. Isa. 39. 14, 17, 21.
V. 8. ten men were found among them] Or, were among them. as vers. 3.
slew them not among] Or, with. Heb. in the midst of. Chap. 39. 14. Vers. 3.
their brethren] Or, countr…ymen. as Deut. 17. 15.
V. 9. all the dead bodies] As well of those whom he slew before, vers. 3. as of these fourscore. vers. 5.
because of Gedaliah] To conceal the murder of him. Or, neer; or, with, or, about Gedaliah. Chap. 38. 10. that were present with him, or belonging to him. Heb. by the hand; or, by the side of Gedaliah. 1 Sam. 19. 3. 1 Chron. 18. 17.
which Asa the king had made] When he fortified that citie with the stones and timber which he fetched from Ramah: 1 King. 15. 22. and withall digged pits and trenches for warlike occasions: as this might be for receipt of water, to serve in a siege. Isa. 22. 9, 11.
for fear of Baasha] Heb from the face of. Or, from before. or, in regard. or, because of. Chap. 4. 4. Vers. 18.
V. 10. the kings daughters] Whom the Chaldeans had left behind; not so much regarding them; when they took away his sonnes; or being by some means concealed, and so escaping in the surprisall of the citie. See Chap. 38. 23. & 39. 6.
the captain of the guard] Chap. 39. 9.
to go over to the Ammonites] Heb. sonnes of Ammon. Chap. 49. 1. Being set on work by their King to do, what he had done, Chap. 40. 14.
V. 11. Johanan] Or, John. Chap. 40. 8. So vers. 14, 16, &c.
all the captains] That had served under Zedekiah. See Chap. 40. 8.
V. 12. by the great waters that are in Gibeon] The great pool; of which, 2 Sam. 2. 13.
V. 13. Johanan] Or, John. vers. 13. and so after.
V. 15. escaped from Johanan] Heb. from the face of him. vers. 9.
went to the Ammonites] Heb. sonnes of Ammon. vers. 10. Whose King was the chief plotter of this murder and mischief, Chap. 40. 14.
V. 17. in the habitation of Chimham] Which David, in likelihood, out of his own patrimonie had conferred upon Chimham the sonne of Barzillai, 2 Sam. 19. 38. and though returning to the crown at the yeer of release, Ezek. 46. 17. yet might still bear his name, who by such gift had sometime held and enjoyed it. Psal. 49. 11.
V. 18. Because of the Chaldeans] Heb. from the face of. as vers. 9.