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英文原文
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)
基大利被殺（主前 588 年）
¹ 七月間，王的大臣、宗室以利沙瑪的孫子、尼探雅的兒子以實瑪利帶著十個人，來到米斯巴見亞希甘的兒子基大利；他們在米斯巴一同吃飯。
² 尼探雅的兒子以實瑪利和同他來的那十個人起來，拔刀擊殺沙番的孫子、亞希甘的兒子基大利，就是巴比倫王所立為全地省長的。
³ 以實瑪利又殺了在米斯巴、基大利那裏的一切猶大人，和所遇見的迦勒底兵丁。
⁴ 他殺了基大利後無人知道。
⁵ 第二天，有八十人從示劍和示羅，並撒瑪利亞來，鬍鬚剃去，衣服撕裂，身體劃破，手拿素祭和乳香，要奉到耶和華的殿。
⁶ 尼探雅的兒子以實瑪利出米斯巴迎接他們，隨走隨哭；遇見了他們，就對他們說：你們可以來見亞希甘的兒子基大利。
⁷ 他們到了城中，尼探雅的兒子以實瑪利和同著他的人就將他們殺了，拋在坑中。
⁸ 只是他們中間有十個人對以實瑪利說：不要殺我們，因為我們有許多小麥、大麥、油、蜜隱藏在田野間。於是以實瑪利住手，沒有將他們殺在他們弟兄中間。
⁹ 以實瑪利將所殺之人的屍首都拋在坑裏（這坑是亞撒王因怕以色列王巴沙所挖的）；尼探雅的兒子以實瑪利把那些被殺的人填滿了坑。
¹⁰ 以實瑪利將米斯巴剩下的人，就是眾公主，和仍住在米斯巴所有的百姓，原是護衛長尼布撒拉旦交給亞希甘的兒子基大利的，都擄去了；尼探雅的兒子以實瑪利擄了他們，要往亞捫人那裏去。
實在難說，是神允許此處所記如此惡行更令人驚訝，還是人竟犯下如此惡行更令人驚訝。這裏所行的，是如此卑劣、野蠻、血腥之事；而行的人本當因出生而為有尊榮的人，因宗教而為正直的人，他們竟行在自己同類、同國、同信仰、如今在患難中作弟兄的人身上——那時眾人都落在得勝的迦勒底人手下，正在神的刑罰之下受苦——既無人挑釁，也無任何利益指望——這一切不僅是冷血之舉，更是經過詭計籌謀。在全本聖經中，我們幾乎找不到如此背信殘酷的例子；因此當約翰看見那喝醉了聖徒的血的婦人時，我們也不禁大大地希奇。但神允許這事，是為要完成對一個不肯謙卑之民的毀滅，使他們的刑罰滿盈——他們已經使自己的罪孽滿盈。願這事激發我們對人之邪惡的義憤，並對神公義的敬畏。
一. 以實瑪利一黨背信棄義，首先殺了基大利本人。巴比倫王雖立他為大，授他權柄作他所征服之地的省長；神雖立他為善人，作本國的大祝福，他為國家福祉的效力如同死裏逃生；然而這一切都不能保全他。以實瑪利是宗室之後（Jer 41:1），因此嫉妒基大利日益興盛，惱怒他竟甘願接受巴比倫王的任命。他帶著十個同為王的大臣的人，和他一般受同樣乖戾的忿恨驅使；這些人從前曾到基大利那裏投奔他的保護（Jer 40:8），如今又來探望他；他們在米斯巴一同吃飯。基大利慷慨地款待他們，對他們毫無戒心，儘管約哈難已向他通報。他們假意與他為友，並不提醒他防備；他卻真心待他們友善，盡力厚待他們。但那些與他一同吃飯的人卻用腳踢他。他們不與他爭吵，卻伺機趁他獨處時將他暗殺（Jer 41:2）。
二. 他們又把在那裏所找到一切帶兵器的人盡都擊殺，無論猶大人還是迦勒底人——所有在基大利手下任事或有可能為他報仇的人（Jer 41:3）。迦勒底人所流的以色列人的血似乎還不夠多，如今他們自己的首領竟把以色列人的血與迦勒底人的血攙雜。修剪葡萄園的和耕種田地的正在田間忙碌，對這場血腥屠殺一無所知；這事進行得如此巧妙隱秘。
三. 有些誠實的好人，正流淚前去哀悼耶路撒冷的荒涼，卻被以實瑪利誘騙，與其餘的人一同被殺。請觀察：1. 他們從哪裏來（Jer 41:5）——從示劍、撒瑪利亞和示羅來，這些地方素來聞名，如今卻已衰微；它們屬於十個支派，但那些地區仍有人對以色列神的敬拜存著感情。2. 他們往哪裏去——到耶和華的殿，就是耶路撒冷的聖殿去；他們無疑已聽聞聖殿被毀，特地前去憑弔其灰燼，觀看其廢墟，好使他們的眼目觸動他們的心為之哀傷。他們憐憫它的塵土（詩 102:14）。他們手裏拿著素祭和乳香，若在那裏找到任何祭壇——縱然只是土壇——以及任何預備獻祭的祭司，就不至於無物可獻；即或不然，他們也表達了善意，正如亞伯拉罕來到祭壇的地方，雖然祭壇已不復存在。神的百姓素來歡歡喜喜地往耶和華的殿去，但這些人卻以哀悼者的裝束前來，衣服撕裂、剃了頭；因為神的護理大聲呼召哭泣哀號，因為對神忠心的敬拜者而言，光景已不復往日。3. 他們如何被以實瑪利的惡意誘入致命的網羅。以實瑪利聽見他們臨近，決意也要取他們的性命，他實在嗜血成性。他似乎恨惡每一個帶著以色列人名號或誠實人面孔的人。這些朝耶路撒冷去的朝聖者，他因他們此行的目的而懷恨。以實瑪利出去迎接他們，流著鱷魚的眼淚，假意與他們一同為耶路撒冷的荒涼哀傷；為試探他們對基大利及其治理的態度，他慫恿他們進城，發現他們對基大利頗為敬重，這就更堅定了他殺害他們的決心。他說：你們來見基大利，假意要他們來與他同住，實則要他們來與他同死（Jer 41:6）。他們聽過關於基大利的美名，情願與他結識；但以實瑪利一旦把他們帶到城中，就撲上去將他們殺了（Jer 41:7），毫無疑問也奪取了他們所帶的供物據為己有；因為既敢犯如此凶殺的人，也不會忌諱褻瀆聖物。此處特別記載他如何處置這些人以及其餘被殺之人的屍首；他把人全都丟進一個大坑裏（Jer 41:7），就是從前猶大王亞撒在建造或加固米斯巴時（王上 15:22）——為了防備以色列王巴沙並因怕他——在城中或城旁所挖的同一個坑（Jer 41:9）。注意，那些存好心挖坑的人，不知道將來某時會被人派何等壞的用場。他殺的人太多，無法為每人各備一墳，或不肯如此尊敬他們，就把人全數胡亂拋入一個坑中。在最後被判死刑的人中，有十個人因打動了那些掌握他們性命之人的貪心——而非同情心——而得了赦免（Jer 41:8）。他們對以實瑪利說——當他如永不饜足的水蛭，在吸了同伴的血之後又要吸他們的血時——不要殺我們，因為我們在田野間有寶物，鄉間的財寶，地上大量的存貨，豐盛的小麥、大麥、油和蜜，暗示他們願意向他透露，並將這一切交在他手中，只要他肯饒命。人以皮代皮，凡他所有的都會為性命捨棄。這餌奏了效。以實瑪利饒了他們，不是出於慈愛之心，而是出於貪財之心。此處的財富為其主人保留，不是成為他們的禍患（傳 5:13）並喪命（伯 31:39），而是成為他們的益處、保全了他們的性命。所羅門觀察到，有時人的財富就是他性命的贖價。但那些以為當死亡帶著使命而來時能用賄賂收買它、對它懇求說不要殺我們，因為我們在田野間有寶物的人，必發現死亡鐵面無情，自己則被可悲地欺騙了。
四. 他把百姓擄走。眾公主（迦勒底人得著了眾王子時不屑於費心帶走她們）和國中的窮人——修剪葡萄園的和耕種田地的——就是交在基大利照管之下的人，全被擄往亞捫人之地（Jer 41:10），以實瑪利大概打算把他們作為野蠻勝利的戰利品獻給那地的王——就是唆使他行這事的人。這淒慘的故事警告我們：在這世上永不可自恃安穩。當我們以為最壞的已過去時，更壞的可能還在前頭；我們以為是一切災難之終結的那個，可能不過是另一個更大災難的起頭。這些俘虜心想：死亡的苦楚和被擄的苦楚總算過去了；然而有些人死於刀下，其餘的人則被擄去。當我們自以為安全、開始安逸時，毀滅可能從我們意想不到的方向臨到。許多船在港口中失事。在到達天堂以先，我們永不能確保平安。
英文原文
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)
約哈難追趕以實瑪利；以實瑪利的退卻（主前588年）
¹¹ 尼探雅的兒子以實瑪利所行的一切惡事，加利亞的兒子約哈難和與他在一起的一切軍長聽見了，
¹² 他們就帶領眾人去攻打尼探雅的兒子以實瑪利，在基遍的大水旁遇見他。
¹³ 與以實瑪利同在的眾人看見加利亞的兒子約哈難和與他同在的一切軍長，就都歡喜。
¹⁴ 這樣，以實瑪利從米斯巴所擄去的一切百姓就轉身歸回，到加利亞的兒子約哈難那裡。
¹⁵ 但尼探雅的兒子以實瑪利帶著八個人從約哈難面前逃脫，投奔亞捫人去了。
¹⁶ 加利亞的兒子約哈難和與他同在的一切軍長，就將他所救回的一切餘民——就是尼探雅的兒子以實瑪利殺了亞希甘的兒子基大利之後，從米斯巴所擄去的，連勇士、婦女、孩童和太監，從基旁帶回來的——都帶了去，
¹⁷ 來到伯利恆附近的基莫罕的寓所住下，要進入埃及去，
¹⁸ 因為懼怕迦勒底人；他們懼怕，因為尼探雅的兒子以實瑪利殺了巴比倫王所派治理那地的亞希甘的兒子基大利。
約哈難若在向基大利通報以實瑪利叛逆陰謀之後，雖然沒有得到許可去殺以實瑪利、從那條路加以防範，卻肯留在基大利身邊，那就好了；因為他和他的軍長與軍隊本可作基大利的護衛，又使以實瑪利畏懼，這樣便可在不流一滴血的情況下防止禍患：可是看來他們正在外面執行某項征伐——或許不是甚麼好事——所以在最該效力的時候卻不在場。愛遊蕩的人往往在極需他們的時候不在其位。然而，他們終於「聽見以實瑪利所行的一切惡事」（耶41:11），決心作事後的補救，這些經文就是這事的記載。
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我們衷心盼望約哈難能報復那些兇手，但他不過救回了俘虜。那些流了這麼多血的人，他們的血被流本是該當的；希奇的是報應竟容他們存活；然而確是如此。約哈難盡力聚集人馬，「去攻打以實瑪利」（耶41:12），因聽見他所行的謀殺（這事他雖然一時隱瞞，耶41:4，但謀殺終必敗露），並知道他走的方向；他就追趕，在「基遍的大水旁」追上他——這水旁我們在撒下2:13讀到。約哈難帶著這樣的兵力一出現，以實瑪利的心就消化了，他那有罪的良心撲面而來，不敢迎戰一個多少可與他匹敵的敵人。最殘忍的人往往也是最怯懦的人。可憐的俘虜們「看見約哈難」「和與他同在的軍長」，就歡喜，把他們看作拯救者（耶41:13），立刻找到機會轉身歸向他們（耶41:14），以實瑪利見了約哈難也不敢阻攔。請注意，要得幫助的人當自救。這些俘虜不等征服者被打敗，一看見朋友出現、仇敵因而喪膽，便抓住第一個機會逃脫。以實瑪利為保命而放棄獵物，「帶著八個人逃脫」（耶41:15）。看來他那十個同夥中（耶41:1所記的匪徒或刺客）有兩個或離棄了他，或被殺了；他卻直奔亞捫人而去，像一個徹底的叛徒，完全拋棄了與以色列國的關係，雖然他是王族出身；此後再沒有聽見他的事。
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我們衷心盼望約哈難既救回了俘虜，就與他們一同安居，像基大利那樣和平治理；他卻不然，要領他們進埃及地去，正如以實瑪利要領他們進亞捫人之地去；所以他雖然以比以實瑪利更好、更正直的方式得著了他們的統治權，但運用得並不好多少。性情溫柔安靜的基大利是他們的大福；性情激烈躁動的約哈難卻被設立管轄他們，為的是害他們，要在他們自以為得贖之後使他們完全滅亡。神仍是這樣向他們「而行」。(1.) 約哈難和軍長們的決定十分草率；他們非要「進入埃及去」不可（耶41:17），為此他們在伯利恆——大衛之城——附近的「基莫罕的寓所」駐紮了一段時候。這大概是當日大衛賜給巴西萊的兒子基莫罕的地業，雖然在禧年歸回大衛家族，卻仍稱為「基莫罕」。約哈難在此設立大本營，朝著埃及的方向前行，或是出於個人對那地的偏好，或是出於以色列人素來倚靠埃及人在患難中相助的古老民族習性。一些「勇士」看來逃脫了；他把他們帶在身邊，又帶了「他從以實瑪利手裡救回的婦女和孩童」，這些人如此被從一個器皿倒在另一個器皿裡，因為他們仍未改變。(2.) 這決定的理由十分牽強。他們託辭「懼怕迦勒底人」，怕他們來不知要怎樣對待他們，「因為以實瑪利殺了基大利」（耶41:18）。我不信他們在這方面真有甚麼危險的預感；因為迦勒底人雖然有充分理由怨恨他們總督被殺，他們卻不至於這樣無理、不公，向那些如此激烈反對兇手的人報仇。他們不過以此為藉口，掩飾他們不信的列祖那強烈的「要回到埃及去」的敗壞傾向。那些以虛假的恐懼為藉口在罪中寬恕自己的人，必公義地失去真實恐懼中的安慰。
英文原文
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.
本章所記述的故事極其悲慘，顯明禍患必追趕罪人。前章所積聚的烏雲，在此爆發成一場可畏的風暴。那少數逃過被擄之災的猶太人，因自己仍在故土、而弟兄們已不知被帶往何方而沾沾自喜，又因所收聚的酒與夏果而自得其樂，在基大利的庇護下安然無虞；孰料忽然之間，連這些餘民也變成了廢墟。一、基大利被以實瑪利殘忍地殺害（耶 41:1,2）。二、與他同在的猶太人也同樣被殺（耶 41:3），並有一坑被填滿了他們的屍首（耶 41:9）。三、約有八十個正往耶路撒冷去的敬虔人被以實瑪利誘騙，也同樣遭害（耶 41:4-7）；其中只有十人脫逃（耶 41:8）。四、逃過刀劍的人被以實瑪利擄去，往亞捫人的地去（耶 41:10）。五、藉着約哈難的謀略與勇敢，雖然被殺之人的死未得報應，被擄的人卻被救回，他如今成了他們的首領（耶 41:11-16）。六、他的計畫是帶他們下到埃及地去（耶 41:17,18），這事我們在下一章還要聽到更多。