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Jeremiah Capitolo 41
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Originale inglese
It is a very tragical story that is related in this chapter, and shows that evil pursues sinners. The black cloud that was gathering in the foregoing chapter here bursts in a dreadful storm. Those few Jews that escaped the captivity were proud to think that they were still in their own land, when their brethren had gone they knew not whither, were fond of the wine and summer-fruits they had gathered, and were very secure under Gedaliah's protectorship, when, on a sudden, even these remains prove ruins too. I. Gedaliah is barbarously slain by Ishmael, Jer 41:1,2. II. All the Jews that were with him were slain likewise (Jer 41:3) and a pit filled with their dead bodies, Jer 41:9. III. Some devout men, to the number of fourscore, that were going towards Jerusalem, were drawn in by Ishmael, and murdered likewise, Jer 41:4-7. Only ten of them escaped, Jer 41:8. IV. Those that escaped the sword were taken prisoners by Ishmael, and carried off towards the country of the Ammonites, Jer 41:10. V. By the conduct and courage of Johanan, though the death of the slain is not revenged, yet the prisoners are recovered, and he now becomes their commander-in-chief, Jer 41:11-16. VI. His project is to carry them into the land of Egypt (ver. Jer 41:17-18), which we shall hear more of in the next chapter.
1-10
The Murder of Gedaliah (588 BC)
简体中文
谋杀基大利（主前588年）
¹ 七月间，王族后裔、王的大臣之一、以利沙玛的孙子、尼探雅的儿子以实玛利，带着十个手下，到米斯巴见亚希甘的儿子基大利；他们在米斯巴一同吃饭。 ² 尼探雅的儿子以实玛利和随行的十人起来，用刀击杀亚希甘的儿子、沙番的孙子基大利，把他杀了——这人正是巴比伦王所立治理那地的省长。 ³ 以实玛利又杀了在米斯巴与基大利同在的一切犹大人，和那里所遇见的迦勒底人以及战士。 ⁴ 他杀了基大利第二天，那时还没有人知道。 ⁵ 有八十人从示剑、示罗、撒玛利亚来，胡须剃去，衣服撕裂，自己割伤，手里拿着素祭和乳香，要带到耶和华殿去。 ⁶ 尼探雅的儿子以实玛利出米斯巴迎接他们，一路走着哭；遇见他们时，对他们说：「你们来见亚希甘的儿子基大利。」 ⁷ 他们进了城中，尼探雅的儿子以实玛利和随行的人便将他们杀了，丢在坑中。 ⁸ 只是他们中间有十个人对以实玛利说：「不要杀我们，因为我们田里有隐藏的财物——小麦、大麦、油、蜜。」他就免了他们，没有在弟兄中被杀。 ⁹ 以实玛利因基大利的缘故所杀一切死尸所丢的坑，正是犹大王亚萨因怕以色列王巴沙所挖的；尼探雅的儿子以实玛利把被杀的人填满了那坑。 ¹⁰ 以实玛利将米斯巴剩下的人掳去——就是众公主和米斯巴一切剩下、护卫长尼布撒拉旦交托给亚希甘之子基大利的；尼探雅的儿子以实玛利把他们掳去，要往亚扪人那里去。
很难说哪一件更令人惊奇——是神容许、还是人行出此处所载的这等恶事。此处由那些按出身本该为高贵之人、按信仰本该为正直之人，所行的竟是如此卑鄙、野蛮、血腥之事，所残害的又是与他们同血统、同国民、同信仰、如今与他们同受苦难的弟兄——这一切都发生在他们统统被得胜的迦勒底人所辖、正受神审判之时，既无任何挑衅，又无任何指望可得利益——这一切不仅是冷血所为，更带着计谋和手段。圣经中几乎找不到这样背信残忍的实例；所以我们与约翰一样，看见那「喝醉了圣徒的血」的女人时，也实在「大大的希奇」。但神容许这事，是为了叫一群不肯自卑的民之毁灭得以成全，使他们审判的度量得以填满——他们已填满了自己罪孽的度量。愿这事激起我们对人的恶行的愤慨，并对神的公义存敬畏之心。
一、以实玛利和他的同党首先背信地杀了基大利本人。巴比伦王虽使他成了大人物，授权他作所征服之「那地的省长」；神虽使他成为好人，作本国的大福，他为这地福祉所尽的力犹如死中复生——这些都不能保他安全。以实玛利是「王族后裔」（耶41:1），所以嫉妒基大利的日益显赫，又因他能受巴比伦王的委任而大感愤怒。他手下有十个「王的大臣」，与他怀着同样的乖戾之愤；这些人从前曾到基大利那里，要受他保护（耶40:8），如今又来拜访他；「他们在米斯巴一同吃饭」。基大利慷慨地款待他们，对他们毫不猜疑——尽管约哈难曾警告过他。他们对他假意友好，毫不提醒他要防备；他却真诚地待他们以友情，竭力厚待他们。但「同我吃饭的人，却用脚踢我」（约13:18）。他们没有寻衅滋事，只是窥伺一个机会，趁他独处时把他刺杀了（耶41:2）。
二、他们又把那里所发现一切带兵器的，无论是犹大人还是迦勒底人——凡在基大利手下任职的、或有可能为他报仇的——尽都用刀杀了（耶41:3）。迦勒底人所流的以色列人的血似乎还不够多，他们自己的王子在这里又把以色列人的血与迦勒底人的血混在一起。修理葡萄园的和耕种的正在田间忙碌，对这场血腥屠杀毫不知情；可见这事进行得何等诡秘，隐藏得何等周密。
三、有些诚实的善人，正流着泪要去为耶路撒冷的荒凉哀悼，也被以实玛利诱入，与他们一同被杀。当留意：1. 他们从哪里来（耶41:5）——「从示剑、撒玛利亚、示罗」来，这些地方本是著名的，如今却已衰微；它们属于十支派，但那些地方仍有人对以色列神的敬拜心存爱慕。2. 他们往哪里去——「往耶和华的殿」去，就是耶路撒冷的圣殿。他们无疑已听见它被毁的事，要去向它的灰烬致敬，去看它的废墟，好叫他们的眼目使他们的心为它忧伤。「他们偏爱它的尘土」（诗102:14）。他们「手里拿着素祭和乳香」，为的是若在那里发现什么坛——即使是土坛——并有祭司可献，他们也不至于空手而来；若不然，他们也表明了自己的善意，正如亚伯拉罕到「坛的地方」——尽管坛已不在。神的百姓素常「欢欢喜喜」往「耶和华的殿」去，这些人却以居丧之姿前去，「衣服撕裂，头剃光」；因为神的护理大声呼唤哭泣哀号，因为敬畏神之敬拜者的光景已不如「几个月前」了。3. 他们如何被以实玛利的恶意引入致命的网罗。以实玛利听见他们来的风声，便决心也要置他们于死地——他如此嗜血。他似乎恨恶每一个带有以色列人之名、或诚实人之貌的人。这些朝耶路撒冷去的「朝圣者」，他因他们此行的目的而怀恨。以实玛利出去迎接他们，流着鳄鱼的眼泪，假装与他们一样为耶路撒冷的荒凉哀悼；为要试探他们对基大利及其治理的态度，他把他们迎进城，见他们对他颇有敬意，便更坚定了要杀他们的决心。「他说：你们来见基大利」——假装要他们来与他同住，其实他有意要他们来与他同死（耶41:6）。他们风闻基大利的好名声，很愿意与他结交；但以实玛利把他们「领到城中」之后，就扑向他们，「杀了他们」（耶41:7）；毫无疑问，又把他们所带的供物夺去，归为己有；因为既不惮于这样的谋杀，也不会忌惮于亵渎圣物。圣经特意记下他如何处置这些人和其他被杀者的尸体：他把他们统统丢进一个大「坑」（耶41:7），就是从前犹大王亚萨在建造或加固米斯巴——作为防备「以色列王巴沙」的前方要塞——时所挖的坑（王上15:22），「因怕他」（耶41:9）。当记取：人以好意所挖的坑，不知何时会被用于恶用。他所杀的人太多，不能各给一坟，也不肯这样尊重他们，便把他们杂乱地丢在一个坑里。在这些最后被定要杀的人中，有十个人得免一死——不是因打动那些掌他们生杀之权者的怜悯，而是因打动他们的贪婪而获免的（耶41:8）。他们「对以实玛利说」——当他正像永不满足的水蛭一样，吸完了同伴的血要吸他们的血之时——「『不要杀我们，因为我们田里有隐藏的财物』」，乡间之财，地里的大量存货，许多本地出产之物，「『小麦、大麦、油、蜜』」，暗示他们愿向他指明，把他全部据为己有，只要他肯放过他们。「人肯舍去一切所有的保全性命」（伯2:4）。这饵奏效了。以实玛利救了他们，不是因爱怜悯，而是因爱钱财。这里是财物为物主保住，不是「成为他的祸患」（传5:13），叫他「赔上性命」（伯31:39），而是成为他的益处，保全了他的性命。所罗门观察说，有时「人的财物为他赎命」。但那些想这样在死亡奉命而来时贿赂它、并向它恳求说「不要杀我们，因为我们田里有财物」的人，必发现死亡不为所动，自己却被可悲地欺骗了。
四、他把百姓掳走。「众公主」（迦勒底人得了王的众子之后，不愿为她们费心）和「那地的穷人」——修理葡萄园的和耕种的——就是交托基大利照管的人，统统被掳往「亚扪人」之地（耶41:10）；以实玛利大概是打算把他们当作他这场野蛮胜利的战利品，献给那怂恿他作这事的那国之王。这悲惨的故事警戒我们：在这世上绝不可安逸。当我们以为最坏已过，更坏的可能还未来到；我们所以为「一切苦难之终」的那个苦难之终，可能不过是另一个更大苦难之始。这些俘虏以为：「死亡的苦难、被掳的苦难『已经过去』」——然而有人死于刀下，有人又被掳去。当我们自以为稳妥、开始安逸之时，毁灭可能从我们想不到的方向临到。许多船在海港里失事。在天堂这边，我们绝不能保证有平安。
Originale inglese
The Murder of Gedaliah (588 BC)
¹ Now it came to pass in the seventh month, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah the son of Elishama, of the seed royal, and the princes of the king, even ten men with him, came unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah; and there they did eat bread together in Mizpah.
² Then arose Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and the ten men that were with him, and smote Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan with the sword, and slew him, whom the king of Babylon had made governor over the land.
³ Ishmael also slew all the Jews that were with him, even with Gedaliah, at Mizpah, and the Chaldeans that were found there, and the men of war.
⁴ And it came to pass the second day after he had slain Gedaliah, and no man knew it,
⁵ That there came certain from Shechem, from Shiloh, and from Samaria, even fourscore men, having their beards shaven, and their clothes rent, and having cut themselves, with offerings and incense in their hand, to bring them to the house of the LORD.
⁶ And Ishmael the son of Nethaniah went forth from Mizpah to meet them, weeping all along as he went: and it came to pass, as he met them, he said unto them, Come to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam.
⁷ And it was so, when they came into the midst of the city, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah slew them, and cast them into the midst of the pit, he, and the men that were with him.
⁸ But ten men were found among them that said unto Ishmael, Slay us not: for we have treasures in the field, of wheat, and of barley, and of oil, and of honey. So he forbare, and slew them not among their brethren.
⁹ Now the pit wherein Ishmael had cast all the dead bodies of the men, whom he had slain because of Gedaliah, was it which Asa the king had made for fear of Baasha king of Israel: and Ishmael the son of Nethaniah filled it with them that were slain.
¹⁰ Then Ishmael carried away captive all the residue of the people that were in Mizpah, even the king's daughters, and all the people that remained in Mizpah, whom Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had committed to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam: and Ishmael the son of Nethaniah carried them away captive, and departed to go over to the Ammonites.
It is hard to say which is more astonishing, God's permitting or men's perpetrating such villanies as here we find committed. Such base, barbarous, bloody work is here done by men who by their birth should have been men of honour, by their religion just men, and this done upon those of their own nature, their own nation, their own religion, and now their brethren in affliction, when they were all brought under the power of the victorious Chaldeans, and smarting under the judgments of God, upon no provocation, nor with any prospect of advantage—all done, not only in cold blood, but with art and management. We have scarcely such an instance of perfidious cruelty in all the scripture; so that with John, when he saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints, we may well wonder with great admiration. But God permitted it for the completing of the ruin of an unhumbled people, and the filling up of the measure of their judgments, who had filled up the measure of their iniquities. Let it inspire us with an indignation at the wickedness of men and an awe of God's righteousness.
I. Ishmael and his party treacherously killed Gedaliah himself in the first place. Though the king of Babylon had made him a great man, had given him a commission to be governor of the land which he had conquered, though God had made him a good man and a great blessing to his country, and his agency for its welfare was as life from the dead, yet neither could secure him. Ishmael was of the seed royal (Jer 41:1) and therefore jealous of Gedaliah's growing greatness, and enraged that he should merit and accept a commission under the king of Babylon. He had ten men with him that were princes of the king too, guided by the same peevish resentments that he was; these had been with Gedaliah before, to put themselves under his protection (Jer 40:8), and now came again to make him a visit; and they did eat bread together in Mizpah. He entertained them generously, and entertained no jealousy of them, notwithstanding the information given him by Johanan. They pretended friendship to him, and gave him no warning to stand on his guard; he was in sincerity friendly to them, and did all he could to oblige them. But those that did eat bread with him lifted up the heel against him. They did not pick a quarrel with him, but watched an opportunity, when they had him alone, and assassinated him, Jer 41:2.
II. They likewise put all to the sword that they found in arms there, both Jews and Chaldeans, all that were employed under Gedaliah or were in any capacity to revenge his death, Jer 41:3. As if enough of the blood of Israelites had not been shed by the Chaldeans, their own princes here mingle it with the blood of the Chaldeans. The vine-dressers and the husbandmen were busy in the fields, and knew nothing of this bloody massacre; so artfully was it carried on and concealed.
III. Some good honest men, that were going all in tears to lament the desolations of Jerusalem, were drawn in by Ishmael, and murdered with the rest. Observe, 1. Whence they came (Jer 41:5)— from Shechem, Samaria, and Shiloh, places that had been famous, but were now reduced; they belonged to the ten tribes, but there were some in those countries that retained an affection for the worship of the God of Israel. 2. Whither they were going—to the house of the Lord, the temple at Jerusalem, which, no doubt, they had heard of the destruction of, and were going to pay their respects to its ashes, to see its ruins, that their eye might affect their heart with sorrow for them. They favour the dust thereof, Ps 102:14. They took offerings and incense in their hand, that if they should find any altar there, though it were but an altar of earth, and any priest ready to officiate, they might not be without something to offer; if not, yet they showed their good-will, as Abraham, when he came to the place of the altar, though the altar was gone. The people of God used to go rejoicing to the house of the Lord, but these went in the habit of mourners, with their clothes rent and their heads shaven; for the providence of God loudly called to weeping and mourning, because it was not with the faithful worshippers of God as in months past. 3. How they were decoyed into a fatal snare by Ishmael's malice. Hearing of their approach, he resolved to be the death of them too, so bloodthirsty was he. He seemed as if he hated every one that had the name of an Israelite or the face of an honest man. These pilgrims towards Jerusalem he had a spite to, for the sake of their errand. Ishmael went out to meet them with crocodiles' tears, pretending to bewail the desolations of Jerusalem as much as they; and, to try how they stood affected to Gedaliah and his government, he courted them into the town and found them to have a respect for him, which confirmed him in his resolution to murder them. He said, Come to Gedaliah, pretending he would have them come and live with him, when really he intended that they should come and die with him, Jer 41:6. They had heard such a character of Gedaliah that they were willing enough to be acquainted with him; but Ishmael, when he had them in the midst of the town, fell upon them and slew them (Jer 41:7), and no doubt took the offerings they had and converted them to his own use; for he that would not stick at such a murder would not stick at sacrilege. Notice is taken of his disposing of the dead bodies of these and the rest that he had slain; he tumbled them all into a great pit (Jer 41:7), the same pit that Asa king of Judah had digged long before, either in the city or adjoining to it, when he built or fortified Mizpah (1Ki 15:22), to be a frontier-garrison against Baasha king of Israel and for fear of him, Jer 41:9. Note, Those that dig pits with a good intention know not what bad use they may be put to, one time or other. He slew so many that he could not afford them each a grave, or would not do them so much honour, but threw them all promiscuously into one pit. Among these last that were doomed to the slaughter there were ten that obtained a pardon, by working, not on the compassion, but the covetousness, of those that had them at their mercy, Jer 41:8. They said to Ishmael, when he was about to suck their blood, like an insatiable horseleech, after that of the companions, Slay us not, for we have treasurers in the field, country treasures, large stocks upon the ground, abundance of such commodities as the country affords, wheat and barley, and oil and honey, intimating that they would discover it to him and put him in possession of it all, if he would spare them. Skin for skin, and all that a man has, will he give for his life. This bait prevailed. Ishmael saved them, not for the love of mercy, but for the love of money. Here were riches kept for the owners thereof, not to their hurt (Ec 5:13) and to cause them to lose their lives (Job 31:39), but to their good and the preserving of their lives. Solomon observes that sometimes the ransom of a man's life is his riches. But those who think thus to bribe death, when it comes with commission, and plead with it, saying, Slay us not, for we have treasures in the field, will find death inexorable and themselves wretchedly deceived.
IV. He carried off the people prisoners. The king's daughters (whom the Chaldeans cared not for troubling themselves with when they had the king's sons) and the poor of the land, the vine-dressers and husband-men, that were committed to Gedaliah's charge, were all led away prisoners towards the country of the Ammonites (Jer 41:10), Ishmael probably intending to make a present of them, as the trophies of his barbarous victory, to the king of that country, that set him on. This melancholy story is a warning to us never to be secure in this world. Worse may be yet to come when we think the worst is over; and that end of one trouble, which we fancy to be the end of all trouble, may prove to be the beginning of another, of a greater. These prisoners thought, Surely the bitterness of death, and of captivity, is past; and yet some died by the sword and others went into captivity. When we think ourselves safe, and begin to be easy, destruction may come that way that we little expect it. There is many a ship wrecked in the harbour. We can never be sure of peace on this side heaven.
11-18
Johanan Pursues Ishmael; Ishmael's Retreat (588 BC)
简体中文
约哈难追赶以实玛利；以实玛利的退避（公元前588年）
¹¹ 加利雅的儿子约哈难，和与他同在的一切军长，听见尼探雅的儿子以实玛利所行的一切恶， ¹² 他们就带着众人去与尼探雅的儿子以实玛利争战，在基遍的大水旁遇见他。 ¹³ 当与以实玛利同在的众人看见加利雅的儿子约哈难和与他同在的一切军长，他们都欢喜。 ¹⁴ 这样，以实玛利从米斯巴所掳去的一切众人，都转身归向加利雅的儿子约哈难。 ¹⁵ 但尼探雅的儿子以实玛利和八个人从约哈难面前逃脱，投奔亚扪人去了。 ¹⁶ 加利雅的儿子约哈难和与他同在的一切军长，便将尼探雅的儿子以实玛利从米斯巴——就是尼探雅的儿子以实玛利杀了亚希甘的儿子基大利之后——所掳去的一切剩余百姓，连勇士、妇女、孩童、太监，都从基便带回来； ¹⁷ 他们动身前往伯利恒附近的金罕寓所住下，意思要进入埃及去； ¹⁸ 因为他们惧怕迦勒底人，因为尼探雅的儿子以实玛利杀了巴比伦王所派治理那地的亚希甘之子基大利。
约哈难若在向基大利报告以实玛利叛逆阴谋之时，虽不能得许可杀以实玛利、借那途径防止这事，却仍留在基大利身边，那就好了；因为他和他的军长并他们的军兵本可作基大利的护卫，又使以实玛利畏惧，这样便无需流人血就可防止祸患：然而看来他们出外征战——也许不是好的征伐——所以正当他们当在本分岗位之时却不在。那些喜爱到处游荡的人，常在最需要之时不在本位。然而，他们终于『听见以实玛利所行的一切恶』（耶41:11），决意要后发制人——这几节经文就是其记述。1. 我们衷心盼望约哈难能为那些杀人者报仇，但他只能救回被掳的人。那些流了这么多血的人，他们的血不被流实在可惜；奇哉报应竟容他们存活；然而确实如此。约哈难尽他所能召集的军兵，『去与以实玛利争战』（耶41:12）——既闻他所犯的谋杀（虽然他暂时隐瞒，耶41:4，但谋杀终必败露），又闻他所去的方向；他追赶他，在基遍的『大水旁』追上他——这水我们在撒下2:13读到。约哈难既率这样的军兵出现，以实玛利的心就失败了；他那有罪良心扑面而来，他不敢在一个旗鼓相当的敌人面前站稳。最残忍的人往往也是最怯懦的人。那些可怜的俘虏看见『约哈难和与他同在的军长』时，『都欢喜』，看他们为自己的拯救者（耶41:13）；他们随即找到机会转向他们，投奔他们（耶41:14）——以实玛利见约哈难便不敢拦阻他们。注意，那些愿意得人帮助的人，必须自己帮助自己。这些俘虏没有等到征服者被击败，而是抓住头一个机会，一见朋友出现、敌人因此气馁，便立即逃脱。以实玛利放弃猎物以保全性命，仅『和八个人逃脱』（耶41:15）。看来他那十个同伙——即耶41:1所记的刺客团伙——中有两人或离弃他，或在交战中被杀；但他直奔亚扪人那里去，成了一个十足的叛教者，完全放弃了与以色列国民的一切关系——虽然他是王室之种，从此再无他的音讯。2. 我们衷心盼望约哈难既救回被掳的人，就与他们安静坐下，如基大利那样和平地治理他们；然而他不但不如此，反倒要领他们下埃及地去，正如以实玛利要领他们下亚扪人之地去一样；所以虽然他得着统辖他们之权的方式比以实玛利好、也算正直，他对权柄的使用却不见得更好。基大利性情温和安静，原是他们的大福；但约哈难性情暴烈躁动，被设立在他们之上，反成了他们的祸患，要在他们自以为得赎之后，仍成全他们的毁灭。神如此仍与他们相背而行。（1.）约哈难和军长们的决定非常草率；他们非要去『进入埃及』（耶41:17），为此暂时在『伯利恒附近的金罕寓所』扎营。这大概是当年大卫赐给巴西莱的儿子金罕的地业；虽然到了禧年便归回大卫家，却仍保留『金罕』之名。约哈难在此设大本营，朝着埃及方向进发——或是出于个人对该地的偏好，或是出于以色列人历来对埃及人在患难中帮助的倚赖。看来一些『勇士』逃脱了；他带着他们同行，又带着他从以实玛利手中救回的『妇女和孩童』——他们如此从一个器皿倒到另一个器皿，因为他们仍未改变。（2.）这一决定的理由非常薄弱。他们托辞『惧怕迦勒底人』——怕他们来对他们不知作什么，『因为以实玛利杀了基大利』（耶41:18）。我不认为他们真因此惧怕危险；因为虽然迦勒底人确实有充分理由追究他们总督之死，他们却不至于如此不近情理、如此不公义，竟向那些如此激烈反对杀人者的人报复。他们不过是借此作幌子，掩饰他们不信之祖先那种腐败的倾向——就是『回到埃及去』的倾向。那些以伪装的恐惧为借口、在罪中为自己开脱的人，必公义地失去他们真实恐惧中的安慰。
Originale inglese
Johanan Pursues Ishmael; Ishmael's Retreat (588 BC)
¹¹ But when Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were with him, heard of all the evil that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had done,
¹² Then they took all the men, and went to fight with Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and found him by the great waters that are in Gibeon.
¹³ Now it came to pass, that when all the people which were with Ishmael saw Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were with him, then they were glad.
¹⁴ So all the people that Ishmael had carried away captive from Mizpah cast about and returned, and went unto Johanan the son of Kareah.
¹⁵ But Ishmael the son of Nethaniah escaped from Johanan with eight men, and went to the Ammonites.
¹⁶ Then took Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were with him, all the remnant of the people whom he had recovered from Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, from Mizpah, after that he had slain Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, even mighty men of war, and the women, and the children, and the eunuchs, whom he had brought again from Gibeon:
¹⁷ And they departed, and dwelt in the habitation of Chimham, which is by Beth-lehem, to go to enter into Egypt,
¹⁸ Because of the Chaldeans: for they were afraid of them, because Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had slain Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, whom the king of Babylon made governor in the land.
It would have been well if Johanan, when he gave information to Gedaliah of Ishmael's treasonable design, though he could not obtain leave to kill Ishmael and to prevent it that way, yet had staid with Gedaliah; for he, and his captains, and their forces, might have been a life-guard to Gedaliah and a terror to Ishmael, and so have prevented the mischief without the effusion of blood: but, it seems they were out upon some expedition, perhaps no good one, and so were out of the way when they should have been upon the best service. Those that affect to ramble are many times out of their place when they are most needed. However, at length they hear of all the evil that Ishmael had done (Jer 41:11), and are resolved to try an after-game, which we have an account of in these verses. 1. We heartily wish Johanan could have taken revenge upon the murderers, but he prevailed only to rescue the captives. Those that had shed so much blood, it was a pity but their blood should have been shed; and it is strange that vengeance suffered them to live; yet it did. Johanan gathered what forces he could and went to fight with Ishmael (Jer 41:12), upon notice of the murders he had committed (for though he concealed it for a time, Jer 41:4, yet murder will out) and which way he was gone; he pursued him, and overtook him by the great pool of Gibeon, which we read of, 2Sa 2:13. And, upon his appearing with such a force, Ishmael's heart failed him, his guilty conscience flew in his face, and he durst not stand his ground against an enemy that was something like a match for him. The most cruel are often the most cowardly. The poor captives were glad when they saw Johanan and the captains that were with him, looking upon them as their deliverers (Jer 41:13), and they immediately found a way to wheel about and come over to them (Jer 41:14), Ishmael not offering to detain them when he saw Johanan. Note, Those that would be helped must help themselves. These captives staid not till their conquerors were beaten, but took the first opportunity to make their escape, as soon as they saw their friends appear and their enemies thereby disheartened. Ishmael quitted his pray to save his life, and escaped with eight men, Jer 41:15. It seems, two of his ten men, that were his banditti or assassins (spoken of Jer 41:1), either deserted him or were killed in the engagement; but he made the best of his way to the Ammonites, as a perfect renegado, that had quite abandoned all relation to the commonwealth of Israel, though he was of the seed royal, and we hear no more of him. 2. We heartily wish that Johanan, when he had rescued the captives, would have sat down quietly with them, and governed them peaceably, as Gedaliah did; but, instead of that, he is for leading them into the land of Egypt, as Ishmael would have led them into the land of the Ammonites; so that though he got the command over them in a better way than Ishmael did, and honestly enough, yet he did not use it much better. Gedaliah, who was of a meek and quiet spirit, was a great blessing to them; but Johanan, who was of a fierce and restless spirit, was set over them for their hurt, and to complete their ruin, even after they were, as they thought, redeemed. Thus did God still walk contrary to them. (1.) The resolution of Johanan and the captains was very rash; nothing would serve them but they would go to enter into Egypt (Jer 41:17), and, in order to that, they encamped for a time in the habitation of Chimham, by Bethlehem, David's city. Probably it was some land which David gave to Chimham, the son of Barzillai, which, though it returned to David's family at the year of the Jubilee, yet still bore the name of Chimham. Here Johanan made his headquarters, steering his course towards Egypt, either from a personal affection to that country or an ancient national confidence in the Egyptians for help in distress. Some of the mighty men of war, it seems had escaped; those he took with him, and the women and children, whom he had recovered from Ishmael, who were thus emptied from vessel to vessel, because they were yet unchanged. (2.) The reason for this resolution was very frivolous. They pretended that they were afraid of the Chaldeans, that they would come and do I know not what with them, because Ishmael had killed Gedaliah, Jer 41:18. I cannot think they really had any apprehensions of danger upon this account; for, though it is true that the Chaldeans had cause enough to resent the murder of their viceroy, yet they were not so unreasonable, or unjust, as to revenge it upon those who appeared so vigorously against the murderers. But they only make use of this as a sham to cover that corrupt inclination of their unbelieving ancestors, which was so strong in them, to return into Egypt. Those will justly lose their comfort in real fears that excuse themselves in sin with pretended fears.
本章所记乃是一个十分悲惨的故事，表明罪恶追赶罪人。前一章里乌云密布，至此便化为可怕的暴风骤雨。那少数逃脱被掳的犹太人，因自己仍留在故土，而同胞已不知被掳往何处，便心生骄傲；他们贪恋所收集的酒与夏天的果子，在基大利的庇护下安然无虑——忽然之间，连这些余民也沦为废墟。一、基大利被以实玛利残暴地杀害（耶 41:1-2）。二、与他同在的犹太人也都同样被杀（耶 41:3），尸体填满了坑（耶 41:9）。三、约有八十个敬虔人正前往耶路撒冷，被以实玛利诱入其中，也遭到杀害（耶 41:4-7）。其中只有十人逃脱（耶 41:8）。四、那些逃脱刀剑的人被以实玛利掳去，被带往亚扪人之地（耶 41:10）。五、借着约哈难的指挥与勇气，虽然被杀之人的死未得伸冤，被掳的人却被救回，他便成了他们的统帅（耶 41:11-16）。六、他的计谋是要带他们下埃及地（耶 41:17-18），下一章我们将听到更多相关内容。