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Jewish guard (Jeremiah 40:6-end; 41:3; 43:6). It even seems as if a kind of sanctuary had
been set up (Jeremiah 41:5). For a brief time it appeared as if not only peace but a
measure of prosperity were to be vouchsafed to the remnant of Judah. But once more all
such hopes were disappointed. The rule of Gedaliah lasted only two months.
Chief among them who had come to him was Ishmael, the son of Nathaniah, himself of
the seed royal. Partly in the hope of possessing himself of the government, to which his
descent might lead him to aspire, and partly at the instigation of Baalis, the king of the
Ammonites - who no doubt had purposes of his own in the matter - Ishmael put himself
at the head of a gang of conspirators (comp. 2 Kings 25:25; Jeremiah 40:8- 16). In vain
the generous Gedaliah was warned of his danger. Incapable of treachery himself, he
would not believe in that of others, nor sanction measures of needful self-defense.
Accordingly the plan of the conspirators was carried out. Gedaliah and all who were
around him were massacred, and their dead bodies cast into the pit which, long before,
Asa the king had made, for fear of Baasha, king of Israel (Jeremiah 41:1-9). Only ten
men escaped slaughter by promises of rich supplies to the conspirators.
But even so the measure was not full. After his bloody success at Mizpah, Ishmael had
carried away captive not only the women, but all the people, with the intention of passing
over to the Ammonites. But when tidings of the crimes perpetrated reached Johanan, the
son of Kareah, and the captains of the forces in the fields, who had formerly in vain
warned Gedaliah of his danger (Jeremiah 40:13-16), they mustered to avenge the wrong.
They pursued and overtook Ishmael at Gibeon. The captive Jews now made common
cause with their deliverers, and Ishmael escaped with only eight followers into Ammon.
But the faith of Johanan and his companions was not equal to the occasion. Afraid that
the Chaldeans would avenge on them the treachery and slaughter at Mizpah, they drew
off towards Egypt. With hypocritical pretense of a desire that Jehovah might through His
prophet show them whither to go and what to do, they approached the prophet. Jeremiah
was to inquire of the LORD - and they gave solemn promise implicitly to obey the voice
of Jehovah. Yet all the time they had resolved to retire into Egypt. And so Jeremiah told
them when he brought them the twofold message from his God, that they might dismiss
all fear of the Chaldeans if they remained in the land; but that if they sought safety in
Egypt, the sword of the conqueror, who would smite down their protector, should surely
overtake them.
The warning was in vain. The message of Jeremiah was represented as only the outcome
of his own and of Baruch's personal resentment; and the leaders of Judah carried the
feeble remnant to Tahpanhes in Egypt - there yet again to hear the voice of the aged
prophet, announcing the coming judgment on the country, where, in their unbelief and
hard-heartedness, they had sought shelter (comp. Jeremiah 42 and 43).
So the last remnant of Judah had gone from the land. The Davidic rule had passed away,
so far as merely earthly power was concerned. The Davidic kingdom to come would be
(^)