JEREMIAH LESSON 44


     In the last lesson, Johanan had warned Gedaliah that Ishmael was
plotting to kill him. Gedaliah trusted Ishmael, and would not let
Johanan kill Ishmael.

     Now, we will begin this lesson in Jeremiah 41:1 Now it came to
pass in the seventh month, [that] Ishmael the son of Nethaniah the son
of Elishama, of the seed royal, and the princes of the king, even ten
men with him, came unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah; and
there they did eat bread together in Mizpah.

     The seventh month on the Jewish calendar is similar to our
October. The number 10 symbolizes world government.  This, then, is
the world coming against this man who lived above the worldly
temptation. This eating of the bread together was more than filling
their stomachs. This was a time to carry out their evil deed.

     Jeremiah 41:2 "Then arose Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and the
ten men that were with him, and smote Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the
son of Shaphan with the sword, and slew him, whom the king of Babylon
had made governor over the land."

     Gedaliah was a peaceful man. He had not wanted the death of
Ishmael, but Ishmael was not so honorable. It appears, they rushed in
on him unawares, and slew Gedaliah with the sword. This was an act of
violence against Gedaliah, but was also an act of rebellion against
Babylon.

     Jeremiah 41:3 "Ishmael also slew all the Jews that were with him,
[even] with Gedaliah, at Mizpah, and the Chaldeans that were found
there, [and] the men of war."

     All of these people were relaxing in the palace, and never
dreamed that Ishmael had such terrible plans. They were caught unaware
and unprepared. This should tell us something, as well. We must be
ready at all times to combat the enemy. We must be more alert at
recognizing who the enemy is. We must listen to warnings. The
Chaldeans, mentioned here, are the people Nebuchadnezzar left to guard
Gedaliah.

     Jeremiah 41:4 "And it came to pass the second day after he had
slain Gedaliah, and no man knew [it],"

     You can easily see from the two days, that no one knew about the
murder, since they had done this quietly. This was a surprise attack.
They were thought to be friends, so they could have easily gotten to
Gedaliah.

     Jeremiah 41:5 "That there came certain from Shechem, from Shiloh,
and from Samaria, [even] fourscore men, having their beards shaven,
and their clothes rent, and having cut themselves, with offerings and
incense in their hand, to bring [them] to the house of the LORD."

     These were descendents from the 10 tribes of Israel. They were on
their way to worship. It appears, they were seriously trying to please
God. They were in a state of mourning and repentance. It was a custom
to shave the beard and cut yourself in extreme mourning. The temple in
Jerusalem was destroyed. They were going to a place that had been set
aside for worship.

     Jeremiah 41:6 "And 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."

     This, Ishmael, was a liar. He was not interested in the temple,
or in these men. He had no desire to worship God, only to trick these
men. There are people today in the church that are like Ishmael here.
They are going to church, but not to worship God. Just because someone
sits on the pew with you in church, does not make them a Christian. We
are warned to try the spirits, and see whether they be of God, or not.

     Jeremiah 41:7 "And 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."

     The enemy is out to kill, and destroy any way he can. Just as
Ishmael killed these people, who were truly seeking God, the enemy
{Satan} will destroy you, if you are not aware of him. This, Ishmael,
was as evil as Satan himself.

     Jeremiah 41:8 "But ten men were found among them that said unto
Ishmael, Slay us not: for we have treasures in the field, of wheat,
and of barley, and of oil, and of honey. So he forbare, and slew them
not among their brethren."

     These ten men had hidden their treasures to keep from being
robbed. Life is more precious than things. These ten offered their
goods in return for their lives. Someone who was a vicious murderer
would, also, be greedy. This is the case, here. The greed of Ishmael
was greater than his desire to murder the ten. There is no record
that Ishmael ever collected this bribe.

     Jeremiah 41:9 "Now the pit wherein Ishmael had cast all the dead
bodies of the men, whom he had slain because of Gedaliah, [was] it
which Asa the king had made for fear of Baasha king of Israel: [and]
Ishmael the son of Nethaniah filled it with [them that were] slain."

     This pit had, probably, been a giant cistern, to catch water to
keep water in the city, when they were under attack. Asa was the exact
opposite of Ishmael. Asa had tried to restore true worship of God to
his land. Baasha did not want his people going to Asa to worship.
I Kings 15:17 "And Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah, and
built Ramah, that he might not suffer any to go out or come in to Asa
king of Judah." Ishmael had a very evil use for the cistern. He threw
all the dead bodies in the cistern.

     Jeremiah 41:10 "Then 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 Nebuzar-adan the captain
of the guard had committed to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam: and Ishmael
the son of Nethaniah carried them away captive, and departed to go
over to the Ammonites."

     This evil man spoiled the kingdom, and fled with the daughters of
the king. This is like Satan himself, who comes and steals the people
away. We must resist the devil, and he will flee from us. He may get
away with his hideous crime here on the earth, but there is coming a
day when he, too, will stand before the Judge of all the earth. He
cannot hide his evil acts from God. Ezekiel 7:8 "Now will I shortly
pour out my fury upon thee, and accomplish mine anger upon thee: and I
will judge thee according to thy ways, and will recompense thee for
all thine abominations."

     Jeremiah 41:11  "But 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,"

     We remember, that Johanan had tried to warn Gedaliah. Johanan
has, now, heard the terrible thing Ishmael had done.

     Jeremiah 41:12 "Then 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."

     Johanan was not afraid of Ishmael. He took his men and chased him
down. Ishmael had not made it to Ammon. He had stopped by the side of
a big lake.

     Jeremiah 41:13 "Now it came to pass, [that] when all the people
which [were] with Ishmael saw Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the
captains of the forces that [were] with him, then they were glad."

     These people were afraid of Ishmael and that was the only reason
they had come with him. The people were pleased, because they wanted
to go home. These simple people did not trust Ishmael.

     Jeremiah 41:14 "So all the people that Ishmael had carried away
captive from Mizpah cast about and returned, and went unto Johanan the
son of Kareah."

     It appears, that all the people ran back to Johanan at once.

     Jeremiah 41:15 "But Ishmael the son of Nethaniah escaped from
Johanan with eight men, and went to the Ammonites."

     In all of the confusion of the people running back to Johanan,
Ishmael escapes with 8 men. The Ammonites were descended from Lot's
youngest daughter. She had an incestuous affair with her father, and
these are her descendents. They were not friendly with Israel. The
Israelites did not attack them, but they would take sides against
Israel quite often. Ishmael knew these Ammonites would not turn him
over to Johanan.

     Jeremiah 41:16 "Then took Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the
captains of the forces that [were] with him, all the remnant of the
people whom he had recovered from Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, from
Mizpah, after [that] he had slain Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, [even]
mighty men of war, and the women, and the children, and the eunuchs,
whom he had brought again from Gibeon:"

     At least Johanan recovered the people Ishmael had captured, and
took them home. This is like snatching these people out of the grasp
of Satan himself.

     Jeremiah 41:17 "And they departed, and dwelt in the habitation of
Chimham, which is by Beth-lehem, to go to enter into Egypt,"

     Bethlehem is just 5 miles out of Jerusalem. Chimham is an area
that had been given to the man Chimham by king David. It appears,
there was an inn for strangers to stop and rest there.

     Jeremiah 41:18 "Because of the Chaldeans: for they were afraid of
them, because Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had slain Gedaliah the son
of Ahikam, whom the king of Babylon made governor in the land."

     It appears, they were afraid that Nebuchadnezzar would hold them
responsible for the terrible thing that Ishmael had done. They were
afraid of guilt by association.

























                         Jeremiah 44 Questions


1.  Who had warned Gedaliah of the plot to kill him?
2.  Why did Gedaliah not listen?
3.  When did Ishmael come to see Gedaliah?
4.  Who did he bring with him?
5.  Gedaliah was a ________ man.
6.  This act of violence against Gedaliah was, also, an act of
    rebellion against whom?
7.  Who did Ishmael kill at the same time?
8.  Why were they so easily killed?
9.  What are some of the things we, Christians, can learn from this?
10. How long was it, before anyone knew he had killed Gedaliah?
11. What were Shechem and Samaria part of?
12. These men from Shechem and the other cities were headed where?
13. What revealed that they were mourning?
14. Why were they not going to the temple in Jerusalem?
15. What deceiving thing did Ishmael do?
16. How did the author compare some in the church today to Ishmael?
17. What happened to the men who had come to worship?
18. How many were not killed?
19. What saved them?
20. Vicious murderers are, also, _________.
21. Where did Ishmael put the dead bodies?
22. What had this been used for?
23. What type of man was Asa?
24. Quote 1 Kings chapter 15 verse 17.
25. What happened to the people, that had been entrusted to Gedaliah?
26. Who is Ishamael like?
27. Quote Ezekiel chapter 7 verse 8.
28. What did Johanan do, when he heard the evil that Ishmael had done?
29. Where did he catch Ishmael.
30. What did the people Ishmael had captured do, when they saw
    Johanan?
31. Who escaped from Johanan?
32. Who were the Ammonites descended from?
33. Where did Johanan and the people go to dwell?