Jeremiah 41:1

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Jeremiah 41:1 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Now it came to pass in the seventh month, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, of the seed royal and [one of] the chief officers of the king, and ten men with him, came unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah; and there they did eat bread together in Mizpah.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Now it came to pass in the seventh month, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, of the seed royal and [one of] the chief officers of the king, and ten men with him, came unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah; and there they did eat bread together in Mizpah.
Jeremiah 41:1 — American Standard Version

Context — Jeremiah 41

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
1Now it came to pass in the seventh month, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, of the seed royal and [one of] the chief officers of the king, and ten men with him, came unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah; and there they did eat bread together in Mizpah.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Now it came to pass in the seventh month, etc.] The month Tisri, which answers to part of our September, and part of October; according to the Jewishf747 chronicle, it was on the third day of this month, fifty two days after the destruction of the temple, that Gedaliah was slain; on which day a fast was kept by the Jews, after their return from captivity, on this occasion, called the fast of the seventh month, (<380705>Zechariah 7:5 8:19); though, according to Kimchi and Ben Melech, this event happened on the first day of the month, the beginning of the new year; but the fast was kept the day following, because the first day was a festival. Josephusf748 says it was thirty days after Johanan…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“ISHMAEL MURDERS GEDALIAH AND OTHERS, THEN FLEES TO THE AMMONITES. JOHANAN PURSUES HIM, RECOVERS THE CAPTIVES, AND PURPOSES TO FLEE TO EGYPT FOR FEAR OF THE CHALDEANS. (Jer. 41:1-18) seventh month--the second month after the burning of the city (Jer 52:12-13). and the princes--not the nominative. And the princes came, for the "princes" are not mentioned either in Jer 41:2 or in Kg2 25:25 : but, "Ishmael being of the seed royal and of the princes of the king" [MAURER]. But the ten men were the "princes of the king"; thus MAURER'S objection has no weight: so English Version. eat bread together--Ishmael murdered Gedaliah, by whom he was hospitably received, in violation of the sacred right of…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The seventh month - Gedaliah’s government lasted less than two months. Even - Rather, and. Ishmael was descended probably from Elishama the son of David 2 Samuel 5:16. Ten grandees each with his retinue would have aroused suspicion, but the smallness of Ishmael’s following put Gedaliah completely off his guard. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Now - Three months after the city was taken. Ishmael - The same Ishmael that came to Gedaliah, Jer 41:8-9, to whom he sware protection; only here we are told he was of the royal blood, which might both raise his spirits, as having a more legal pretence to the government, and rendered him a fitter instrument, for Baalis the king or queen of the Ammonites to make use of. The princes - Some of the princes, who had escaped the army of the king of Babylon. Jeremiah 41:3”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“41:1-2 in midautumn: These events took place three months after the fall of Jerusalem. • While they were eating together: With this attack, Ishmael viciously violated Gedaliah’s hospitality.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“the seventh month: This was the month Tisri answering to the new moon of September, the seventh of the sacred, but the first of the civil year; on the third day of which the Jews keep a fast, in commemoration of the death of Gedaliah, to which the prophet Zechariah refers, Zac 8:19; Jer 39:2, Jer 52:6. Kg2 25:3, Kg2 25:8, Kg2 25:25. Zac 7:5; Zac 8:19. Ishmael: Jer 40:6, Jer 40:8 Elishama: Jer 36:12, Jer 36:20 of the: Pro 13:10, Pro 27:4; Jam 4:1-3 seed: Kg2 11:1; Ch2 22:10; Eze 17:13 they did: Jer 40:14-16; Sa2 3:27, Sa2 20:9, Sa2 20:10; Psa 41:9, Psa 109:5; Pro 26:23-26; Dan 11:26, Dan 11:27; Luk 22:47, Luk 22:48; Joh 13:18 Jeremiah 41:2”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“Murder of Gedaliah and his followers, as well as other Jews, by Ishmael. - Jer 41:1-3. The warning of Johanan had been only too well founded. In the seventh month - only two months, therefore, after the destruction of Jerusalem and the appointment of Gedaliah as governor - Ishmael came with the men to Mizpah, and was hospitably received by Gedaliah and invited to his table. Ishmael is here more exactly described as to his family descent, for the purpose of throwing a stronger light upon the exceeding cruelty of the murders afterwards ascribed to him. He was the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama - perhaps the secretary of state mentioned Jer 36:12, or more likely the son of David who bore…”
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Sources and verification