Jeremiah 41:1 - Now in the seventh month, Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, of the royal offspring and one of the chief officers of the king, and ten men with him, came to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah; and there they ate bread together in Mizpah.
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What does "Jeremiah 41:1" mean?
This verse sets the stage for a tragic and treacherous event in the aftermath of the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem. Let's break it down:
"Now in the seventh month": This specifies the time. The seventh month in the Hebrew calendar (Tishrei, roughly corresponding to September/October) was a time of mourning and remembrance after the fall of Jerusalem.
"Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama": This introduces the main antagonist. The verse provides his genealogy to emphasize his high status.
"of the royal offspring and one of the chief officers of the king": This highlights Ishmael's importance. He was not just a random person but someone with a legitimate claim to the throne (royal offspring) and a high-ranking official. This makes his betrayal all the more shocking.
"and ten men with him, came to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah": Ishmael arrives in Mizpah with a small group of men. Mizpah was a city north of Jerusalem that had become the seat of Gedaliah's government. Gedaliah was appointed governor of Judah by the Babylonians.
"and there they ate bread together in Mizpah": This is a crucial detail. Eating bread together, especially in that time, signified a bond of friendship, trust, and hospitality. It was an act of peace and implied a covenant of safety and loyalty.
In summary, this verse describes Ishmael, a royal descendant and high-ranking official, arriving at Gedaliah's headquarters in Mizpah with ten men. They share a meal, symbolizing peace and trust. This sets up the reader for a shocking betrayal in the following verses, where Ishmael murders Gedaliah, violating the established trust and plunging the remaining inhabitants of Judah into further chaos. The phrase "ate bread together" is particularly poignant, highlighting the perfidy of Ishmael's actions.
Jeremiah 41:1 - Now in the seventh month, Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, of the royal offspring and one of the chief officers of the king, and ten men with him, came to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah; and there they ate bread together in Mizpah.
What does "Jeremiah 41:1" mean?
This verse sets the stage for a tragic and treacherous event in the aftermath of the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem. Let's break it down:
"Now in the seventh month": This specifies the time. The seventh month in the Hebrew calendar (Tishrei, roughly corresponding to September/October) was a time of mourning and remembrance after the fall of Jerusalem.
"Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama": This introduces the main antagonist. The verse provides his genealogy to emphasize his high status.
"of the royal offspring and one of the chief officers of the king": This highlights Ishmael's importance. He was not just a random person but someone with a legitimate claim to the throne (royal offspring) and a high-ranking official. This makes his betrayal all the more shocking.
"and ten men with him, came to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah": Ishmael arrives in Mizpah with a small group of men. Mizpah was a city north of Jerusalem that had become the seat of Gedaliah's government. Gedaliah was appointed governor of Judah by the Babylonians.
"and there they ate bread together in Mizpah": This is a crucial detail. Eating bread together, especially in that time, signified a bond of friendship, trust, and hospitality. It was an act of peace and implied a covenant of safety and loyalty.
In summary, this verse describes Ishmael, a royal descendant and high-ranking official, arriving at Gedaliah's headquarters in Mizpah with ten men. They share a meal, symbolizing peace and trust. This sets up the reader for a shocking betrayal in the following verses, where Ishmael murders Gedaliah, violating the established trust and plunging the remaining inhabitants of Judah into further chaos. The phrase "ate bread together" is particularly poignant, highlighting the perfidy of Ishmael's actions.