---
title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  Jeremiah 40"
description: "CHAPTER 40   :-. JEREMIAH IS
SET FREE
AT RAMAH, AND GOES
TO GEDALIAH, TO
WHOM THE REMNANT
OF JEWS REPAIR.
JOHANAN WARNS
GEDALIAH OF ISHMAEL"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/jeremiah/40"
---

CHAPTER 40

. JEREMIAH IS
SET FREE
AT RAMAH, AND GOES
TO GEDALIAH, TO
WHOM THE REMNANT
OF JEWS REPAIR.
JOHANAN WARNS
GEDALIAH OF ISHMAEL'S
CONSPIRACY IN VAIN.

**1. word that came**—the heading
of a new part of the book (the forty-first through forty-fourth
chapters), namely, the prophecies to the Jews in Judea and Egypt
after the *taking* of the city, blended with history. The
prophecy does not begin till , and the previous history is introductory to it.
**bound in chains**—Though
released from the court of the prison (see on ), in the confusion at the burning of the city he seems to
have been led away in chains with the other captives, and not till he
reached Ramah to have gained full liberty. Nebuzara-dan had his
quarters at Ramah, in Benjamin; and there he collected the captives
previous to their removal to Babylon (). He in releasing Jeremiah obeyed the king's commands (). Jeremiah's "chains" for a time were due to the
negligence of those to whom he had been committed; or else to
Nebuzara-dan's wish to upbraid the people with their perverse
ingratitude in imprisoning Jeremiah [CALVIN];
hence he addresses the people (*ye . . . you*) as much as
Jeremiah ([Jeremiah 40:2](../../../kjv/jeremiah/40/2); [Jeremiah 40:3](../../../kjv/jeremiah/40/3)).

**2.** The Babylonians were in some
measure aware, through Jeremiah's prophecies (), that they were the instruments of God's wrath on His
people.

**3. ye**—(See on ). His address is directed to the Jews as well as to
Jeremiah. God makes the very heathen testify for Him against them
([Deuteronomy 29:24](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/29/24); [Deuteronomy 29:25](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/29/25)).

**4. look well unto thee**—the
very words of Nebuchadnezzar's charge ().
**all the land is before thee .
. . seemeth good**— ([Genesis 20:15](../../../kjv/genesis/20/15),
*Margin*). Jeremiah alone had the option given him of staying
where he pleased, when all the rest were either carried off or forced
to remain there.

**5. while he was not yet gone
back**—parenthetical. When Jeremiah hesitated whether it would be
best for him to go, Nebuzara-dan proceeded to say, "Go, *then,*
to Gedaliah," (not as *English Version,* "Go back,
*also*"), if thou preferrest (as Nebuzara-dan inferred from
Jeremiah's hesitancy) to stop here rather than go with me.
**victuals**— ().
**reward**—rather, "a
present." This must have been a seasonable relief to the
prophet, who probably lost his all in the siege.

**6. Mizpah**—in Benjamin,
northwest of Jerusalem ([Jeremiah 41:5](../../../kjv/jeremiah/41/5);
[Jeremiah 41:6](../../../kjv/jeremiah/41/6); [Jeremiah 41:9](../../../kjv/jeremiah/41/9)).
Not the Mizpah in Gilead, beyond Jordan ([Jeremiah 41:9](../../../kjv/jeremiah/41/9)). Jeremiah showed his patriotism and piety in remaining in
his country amidst afflictions and notwithstanding the ingratitude of
the Jews, rather than go to enjoy honors and pleasures in a heathen
court ([Hebrews 11:24-26](../../../kjv/hebrews/11/24-26)).
This vindicates his purity of motive in his withdrawal ([Hebrews 11:24-58](../../../kjv/hebrews/11/24-58)).

**7. captains . . . in the fields**—The
leaders of the Jewish army had been "scattered" throughout
the country on the capture of Zedekiah (), in order to escape the notice of the Chaldeans.

**8. Netophathite**—from Netophah,
a town in Judah ([2 Samuel 23:28](../../../kjv/2-samuel/23/28)).
**Maachathite**—from
Maachathi, at the foot of Mount Hermon ([2 Samuel 23:28](../../../kjv/2-samuel/23/28)).

**9. Fear not**—They were afraid
that they should not obtain pardon from the Chaldeans for their acts.
He therefore assured them of safety by an oath.
**serve**—literally, "to
stand before" ([Jeremiah 40:10](../../../kjv/jeremiah/40/10);
[Jeremiah 52:12](../../../kjv/jeremiah/52/12)), that is, to be at
hand ready to execute the commands of the king of Babylon.

**10. Mizpah**—lying on the way
between Babylon and Judah, and so convenient for transacting business
between the two countries.
**As for me . . . but ye**—He
artfully, in order to conciliate them, represents the burden of the
service to the Chaldeans as falling on *him,* while *they*
may freely gather their wine, fruits, and oil. He does not now add
that these very fruits were to constitute the chief part of the
tribute to be paid to Babylon: which, though fruitful in corn, was
less productive of grapes, figs, and olives [HERODOTUS,
1.193]. The grant of "vineyards" to the "poor"
([Jeremiah 39:10](../../../kjv/jeremiah/39/10)) would give hope to
the discontended of enjoying the best fruits ([Jeremiah 39:10](../../../kjv/jeremiah/39/10)).

**11. Jews . . . in Moab**—who had
fled thither at the approach of the Chaldeans. God thus tempered the
severity of His vengeance that a remnant might be left.

**13. in the fields**—not in the
city, but scattered in the country ().

**14. Baalis**—named from the idol
Baal, as was often the case in heathen names.
**Ammonites**—So it was to
them that Ishmael went after murdering Gedaliah ().
**slay**—literally, "strike
thee in the soul," that is, a deadly stroke.
**Ishmael**—Being of the
royal seed of David ([Jeremiah 41:1](../../../kjv/jeremiah/41/1)),
he envied Gedaliah the presidency to which he thought himself
entitled; therefore he leagued himself with the ancient heathen enemy
of Judah.
**believed . . . not**—generous,
but unwise unsuspiciousness ([Jeremiah 41:1](../../../kjv/jeremiah/41/1)).

**16. thou speakest falsely**—a
mystery of providence that God should permit the righteous, in spite
of warning, thus to rush into the trap laid for them! suggests a solution.

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