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Jeremiah 41:9

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Jeremiah 41:9 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Now the pit wherein Ishmael cast all the dead bodies of the men whom he had slain, by the side of Gedaliah (the same was that which Asa the king had made for fear of Baasha king of Israel,) Ishmael the son of Nethaniah filled it with them that were slain.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Now the pit wherein Ishmael cast all the dead bodies of the men whom he had slain, by the side of Gedaliah (the same was that which Asa the king had made for fear of Baasha king of Israel,) Ishmael the son of Nethaniah filled it with them that were slain.
Jeremiah 41:9 — American Standard Version

Context — Jeremiah 41

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
6And 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.
7And 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.
8But ten men were found among them that said unto Ishmael, Slay us not; for we have stores hidden in the field, of wheat, and of barley, and of oil, and of honey. So he forbare, and slew them not among their brethren.
9Now the pit wherein Ishmael cast all the dead bodies of the men whom he had slain, by the side of Gedaliah (the same was that which Asa the king had made for fear of Baasha king of Israel,) Ishmael the son of Nethaniah filled it with them that were slain.
10Then 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; Ishmael the son of Nethaniah carried them away captive, and departed to go over to the children of Ammon.
11But 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,
12then 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.
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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 the pit wherein Ishmael had cast all the dead bodies, etc.] Not only of those seventy men of Samaria, etc. but of the men whom he had slain because of Gedaliah; because of their attachment to him: or, “by the hand of Gedaliah”f755; not by him, as an instrument; unless, as Jarchi observes, because he rejected the advice of Johanan, and provided not for his safety, and his people, it was as if they were slain by himf756; rather the sense is, that they were slain by the side of him, or in the, place where he was, or along with himf757; see a like phrase in (<243810>Jeremiah 38:10); now both the one and the other were cast into one pit: and this [was] that which Asa the king had made for…”
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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
“because of Gedaliah--rather, "near Gedaliah," namely, those intercepted by Ishmael on their way from Samaria to Jerusalem and killed at Mizpah, where Gedaliah had lived. So Ch2 17:15, "next"; Neh 3:2, Margin, literally, as here, "at his hand." "In the reign of Gedaliah" [CALVIN]. However, English Version gives a good sense: Ishmael's reason for killing them was because of his supposing them to be connected with Gedaliah.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Because of Gedaliah - By the side “of Gedaliah.” Ishmael now cast beside Gedaliah’s body those of the pilgrims. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“41:9 dug by King Asa when he fortified Mizpah: See 2 Chr 16:1-6. That passage does not refer to cisterns, but the need for water and grain storage would have required such structures, and several cisterns have been found in the ruins of the city.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“the pit: This was probably a large reservoir for receiving rain water, which Asa had caused to be made in the midst of the city, in case of a siege. because of Gedaliah: or, near Gedaliah, Heb. by the hand, or the side of Gedaliah. was it. Jos 10:16-18; Jdg 6:2; Sa1 13:6, Sa1 14:11, Sa1 14:22, Sa1 24:3; Sa2 17:9; Heb 11:38 for fear: Kg1 15:17-22; Ch2 16:1-10 Jeremiah 41:10”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification