Jeremiah 40:11-16 Likewise when all the Jews that were in Moab, and among the Ammonites, and in Edom, and that were in all the countries, heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant of Judah, and that he had set over them Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan; 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. Moreover Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were in the fields, came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, And said unto him, Do thou certainly know that Baalis the king of the Ammonites had sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to slay thee? But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam believed them not. Then Johanan the son of Kareah spoke to Gedaliah in Mizpah secretly, saying, Let me go, I pray thee, and I will slay Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and no man shall know it: wherefore should he slay thee, that all the Jews which are gathered unto thee should be scattered, and the remnant in Judah perish? But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said unto Johanan the son of Kareah, Thou shall not do this thing: for thou speak falsely of Ishmael.
‘Likewise when all the Jews that were in Moab, and among the Ammonites, and in Edom… heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant of Judah.’ The Jews also that had fled to Moab, Ammon, and Edom, came back to Judah and helped make up the remnant which had the entire land to themselves. According to the prophecy given by God through Jeremiah, they would be blessed abundantly, delivered out of the hand of the king of Babylon, and made the nucleus around which the Jews would gather at the end of the captivity if they would remain in the land and be satisfied to serve Babylon for the 70 years Judah was to be under the Chaldeans before being permitted to return to the homeland (41:9-22).
‘Moreover Johanan… and all the captains of the forces… came to Gedaliah to Mizpah.’ The captains who came to Gedaliah, as in Jeremiah 40:7-9 (except Ishmael), came to him at Mizpah and warned him of the plot against his life, but he didn’t believe them. One even volunteered to kill Ishmael but was forbidden to do so, for the governor trusted him completely (40:13-16).
‘Baalis’ – he was the king of Ammon and was behind the plot to kill Gedaliah. What he hoped to gain by this is not stated. As an ally of Zedekiah, he may have had spite against the family of Ahikam for opposing the alliance of Zedekiah with Ammon (27:3). Ishmael’s motive may have been envy and spite at seeing a Jew who had always opposed the war with Babylon now vested with power in place of the royal family. Being of the family of David, perhaps he thought he himself should rule (41:1).
End times: Prophetic Scriptures 