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Jeremiah
Chapter Forty
Jeremiah 40
Chapter Contents
Jeremiah is directed to go to Gedaliah. (1-6) A
conspiracy against Gedaliah. (7-16)
Commentary on Jeremiah 40:1-6
(Read Jeremiah 40:1-6)
The captain of the guard seems to glory that he had been
God's instrument to fulfil
what Jeremiah had been God's messenger to foretell.
Many can see God's justice and truth with regard to others
who are heedless
and blind as to themselves and their own sins. But
sooner or later
all men
shall be made sensible that their sin is the cause of all their miseries. Jeremiah
has leave to dispose of himself; but is advised to go to Gedaliah
governor of
the land under the king of Babylon. It is doubtful whether Jeremiah acted right
in this decision. But those who desire the salvation of sinners
and the good
of the church
are apt to expect better times from slight appearances
and they
will prefer the hope of being useful
to the most secure situations without it.
Commentary on Jeremiah 40:7-16
(Read Jeremiah 40:7-16)
Jeremiah had never in his prophecies spoken of any good
days for the Jews
to come immediately after the captivity; yet Providence
seemed to encourage such an expectation. But how soon is this hopeful prospect
blighted! When God begins a judgment
he will complete it. While pride
ambition
or revenge
bears rule in the heart
men will form new projects
and
be restless in mischief
which commonly ends in their own ruin. Who would have
thought
that after the destruction of Jerusalem
rebellion would so soon have
sprung up? There can be no thorough change but what grace makes. And if the
miserable
who are kept in everlasting chains for the judgment of the great
day
were again permitted to come on earth
the sin and evil of their nature
would be unchanged. Lord
give us new hearts
and that new mind in which the
new birth consists
since thou hast said we cannot without it see thy heavenly
kingdom.
── Matthew Henry《Concise Commentary on Jeremiah》
Jeremiah 40
Verse 1
[1] The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD
after that
Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had let him go from Ramah
when he had
taken him being bound in chains among all that were carried away captive of
Jerusalem and Judah
which were carried away captive unto Babylon.
Ramah — Ramah was a city in the tribe of Benjamin near Gibeon.
Babylon — Jeremiah was by mistake and expressly contrary to the
king's orders carried amongst the other prisoners; probably the captain of the
guard at that place called over his prisoners
and among them found the prophet
contrary to his expectation.
Verse 5
[5] Now while he was not yet gone back
he said
Go back
also to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan
whom the king of Babylon
hath made governor over the cities of Judah
and dwell with him among the
people: or go wheresoever it seemeth convenient unto thee to go. So the captain
of the guard gave him victuals and a reward
and let him go.
Now — Jeremiah before he was gone out of the presence of
Nebuzar-adan
declaring that he was more inclined to stay in his own country
Nebuzar-adan bid him
Go back.
Verse 8
[8] Then they came to Gedaliah to Mizpah
even Ishmael the
son of Nethaniah
and Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah
and Seraiah the
son of Tanhumeth
and the sons of Ephai the Netophathite
and Jezaniah the son
of a Maachathite
they and their men.
Ishmael — It is likely these were commanders of parties
which
either were within the city 'till it was taken
and then escaped
or where
somewhere in the country
and not so much regarded by the Chaldeans
who were
more intent upon the conquest of the city
than pursuing these little parties.
Verse 10
[10] As for me
behold
I will dwell at Mizpah to serve the
Chaldeans
which will come unto us: but ye
gather ye wine
and summer fruits
and oil
and put them in your vessels
and dwell in your cities that ye have
taken.
I will dwell — I have choice made of Mizpah
a
city upon the frontiers
to make my residence
it being a convenient place for
me to receive orders from the king of Babylon.
But ye — Gather such fruits as the country affords
as you use
to do in the times of peace.
Verse 12
[12] Even all the Jews returned out of all places whither
they were driven
and came to the land of Judah
to Gedaliah
unto Mizpah
and
gathered wine and summer fruits very much.
Returned — Probably upon the king of Babylon's first invading
Judah
many fled
and more as he went on his conquests
over-running the
country; and it is likely at the taking of the city
many escaped
and fled
into several countries
as they had opportunity
or judged this or that country
would be safest; some fled to Moab
some to Ammon some to Edom
some one way
and some another: but when they heard that the king of Babylon had set a
governor of their own religion and country over them
they came back to him;
and there being few people left in the land
which was wonderfully fruitful
they gathered plenty of grapes
and other summer fruits.
Verse 13
[13] Moreover Johanan the son of Kareah
and all the captains
of the forces that were in the fields
came to Gedaliah to Mizpah
Moreover — They had been with him before
but now they come to
discover a conspiracy against his life.
── John Wesley《Explanatory Notes on Jeremiah》
40 Chapter 40
Verses 1-16
Verse 1
Being bound in chains.
Jeremiah in chains
There is sadness In a shackle and bitterness In bonds. Many men
part with life rather than liberty. Speaking humanly
Paul’s lot In chains
would have been intolerably irksome; but his soul was free! They could not
chain his spirit. It is melancholy to watch the attitude of a caged eagle; its
eye is dull
its plumage droops. The chain is round the spirit of the creature
of the skies. Not so with the Christian soul. “It is not the shackle on the
wrist that constitutes the slave
” said Robertson of Brighton
“but the loss of
self-respect.” In Christian service we learn to reverence self. Our only bonds
are the bonds of love. Our manhood is exalted
our service is liberty. (Christian
Commonwealth.)
Verse 3
And have not obeyed His voice.
Unheeding warnings lead to ruin
If I were in a boat on the river in the rapids
it would not be
necessary to insure my destruction that I should enter into violent controversy
with those who would urge me from the shore to take heed and come to land. All
I should have to do would be to shut my ears to their entreaty
and leave
myself alone; the current would do the rest. Neglect of the Gospel is thus just
as perilous as the open rejection of it. Indeed half the evils of our daily
life in temporal things are caused by neglect
and countless are the souls who
put off the seeking of the kingdom of God
and the righteousness thereof. (W.
Bates.)
──《The Biblical Illustrator》