The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Kings — Section 442

the sonB o/ Epliai the Netophathite," by was attacked and killed without difficulty. which it would seem that some words he.ve And the J'ewa and the Chaldees that were fallen out here. By "Netophathite " is to with him at ll(jzpah (comp. Jer. xii. 3, be understood "native of Notophe.h," now "Ishmael also slew all the Jews that were Anlubah, near Bethlehem (see Ezra. ii. 22 ; with him, even with Gedaliah, at Mizpah, Neh. vii. 26), And J'e.e.ze.nie.h the son of a and the Chaldeans that were found there, Maaohathite. Galled Jezaniah by J eremia.h, and the men of war"). It is evident from and said by him (xlii. 1) to he.ve been the this that Gedaliah had a Chaldean guard. son or e. carte.in Hoshe.ie.h. Hoshe.iah was Ver. 26.-And all the people, both small e. ne.tive or the Syrian kingdom, or district, and great, and the oaptaine of the armies known as Mae.che.h, or Muache.thi (Deut. (see above, ver. 23). The lea<ler of the iii. 14; 1 Chron. x.i.x. 6, 7), which adjoined movement was Johane.n, the son of Caree.h. Bashan towards the north. They and their Having first attacked Ishmael, and forced men. The persons mentioned, that is, with hlm to fly to the Ammonites (Jer. xii. 15), the soldiers under them, came to Grdaliah he almost immediately afterwards conceived at Mizpe.h, and placed themeel ves under him a fear of Nebuchadnezzar, who would, he as his subjects. thought, resent the murder of Gedaliah, and Ver. 24.-And Gedaliah aware to them, even avenge it upon those who had done and to their men. As rebels, their lives all they could to prevent it. He therefore were forfeit; but Gedaliah granted them gathered together the people, e.nd made a an amnesty, and for their gree.ter assurance prelimine.ry retreat to Chimham, near Beth- swore to' them that, so long as they reme.ined lehem (Jer. xii. 17), on the road to Egypt, peaceful subjects of the King of Babylon, whence he subsequently, against the earnest they should suffer no harm. Jeremiah adds remonstra.nces and prophetic warnings of (xl. 10) that he urged them to apply them- Jeremiah (xlii. 9-22), carried them on into selves diligently to agricultural pursuits. Egypt itself (J er. xliii. 1-7). The first settle- And so.id unto them, Fear not to be the ment was made at Tahpanhes, or Daphnm. servants of the Chaldees: dwell in the land, Arose, and came into Egypt : for they were and serve the King of :Babylon ; and it afro.id of the Chaldees (see Jer. xli. 18; xii ii. shall be well with you; 're.ther, and said 3). There does not apvear to have been any unto them, Fear not because of the servants of real reason for this fear. N ebnchadnezzar the <Jlialdean8, etc. "Do not be afmid," i.e., might have been trusted to distinguish "of the Chaldee.n officials and guards (Jer. between the act of an individual and con- xiii. 3) that are about my court. Be assured spiracy 011 the part of the nation. that they shall do you no hurt." Ver. 25.-And it oame to pass in the seventh month - two months only after Vera. 27-30.-Fate of Jelioiachin. The Gedaliah received his appointment as writer of Kings, whose geneml narrative, governor, which was in the fifth month- since the time of Hezekiah, has been gloomy that Ishmael the son of Nethani&h, the son and dispiriting, seems to have desired to of Elishama-" Nethaniah" is otherwise terminate his history in a more cheerful unknown; "Elisha.ma" may be the "scribe" strain. Ho therefore mentions, as his last or secretary of Jehoiakim mentioned in Jer. xxxvi. 12, 20-of the seed royal. So incident, the fate of Jehoiachin, who, after Josephus (' Ant. Jud.,' x. 9. § 2) and Jere- thirty-six years of a ornel and seemingly miah (xii. 1). Josephus adds that he was hopeless imprisonment, experienced a happy a wicked and most crafty man, who, during ohange of circumstances. The king who the siege of Jerusalem, ha.d made his escape succeeded Nebuchadnezzar, his son, Evil- from the place, and fled for shelter to Bae.lim (Be.alis, Jer. xl. 14), King of Merodaoh, in the first year of his sovereignty Ammon, with whom he remained till the had compassion upon tho miserable captive, siege was over. Came, and ten men with and releasing him from prison, changed his him-as his retinue-and smote Gedaliah, garments (ver. 29), and gave him a place at that he died. Gedaliah had been warned his table, among other dethroned monarchs, by Johe.nan and the other captains (Jer. xl. 13-15) of Ishmael's probable intentions, even exalting him abovo the rest (ver. 28), but had treated the accusation ns a calumny, and making him an allowance for his and rerused to believe that his life was in support (var. 30). This allevit,tion of their any danger. Whon Ishmael and his ten king's condition could not but be felt by the companions arrived, he still enspecled captive Jews as a happy omen-a portent of nothing, but receive1l them hospitably (Jer. xii. I), entertained them at a grand banquet, the time when their lot too would be alle- aooording to JoBOphue (' Ant. Jud.,' x. 9. viated, and the Almighty Disposer of events, § 4), and being overtaken with drunkenness, having punisherl them sufficiently for their 4,94 THE SECOND BOOK ◊F THE KINGS. [on. xxv. 1-30.