2. See how ill men judge of the value of earthly things. Amidst the calamities of Judah, the rich men were driven from their fine houses and large eftates, and the poor, who had nothing, were put into poffeffion of them. The rich, who had been cruel oppreffors, were carried captive; and the poor of the land, who had been oppreffed, were now poffeffed of large eftates, and lived in plenty. The poor perhaps had envied the rich, and the rich defpifed the poor; but the condition of the poor proved to be most eligible. Such furprizing revolutions are often feen in the course of providence, and therefore it becomes us to rejoice as tho' we rejoiced not, and to weep as tho' we wept not, fince nothing below is certain and ftable.

3. We fee that God can fecure his fervants amidft general defolations. When a man's ways pleafe the Lord, he can make even his enemies to be at peace with him. The prophet found better ufage among enemies and heathens, than among his own countrymen, the princes, nobles, and priefts of Ifrael. Thus the Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of their tribulation, and referves the unjust to be punished. So will it be in the future judgment: while the wicked are overwhelmed with speedy deftruction, God will take care of his fervants; and give his angels charge to look well to them: for the day cometh that fhall burn like an oven, and the proud shall be destroyed; but God's fervants fhall be his in the day when he maketh up his jewels.

4. God remembers and will reward the favour and kindness shown to any of his fervants, especially his minifters. Ebedmelech delivered Jeremiah; who was therefore fent to him with a comfortable affurance of protection in the day of evil. Because he had acted kindly to the prophet, and did it upon good principles; not from mere humanity, but from regard to God, knowing that he was doing right, and trufting in God to profper and defend him; therefore God would deal kindly by him, and put it into the hearts of the Chaldeans to protect him. God will still be pleased with the favour fhown to his minif ters and people; and they who fhow it, and trust in him, mercy fhall compass them about. God is not unrighteous to forget any work and labour of love that is done to his faints.

CHAP.

CHAP. XL, XLI.

Jeremiah being fet free by Nebuzar adan, goes to Gedaliah; the difperfed Jews come to him; and Johanan informs him of Ifhmael's confpiracy.

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HE word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, after that Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard had let him go from Ramath, when he had taken him being bound in chains among all that were carried away captive of Jerufalem and Judah, [which were] 2 carried away captive to Babylon. And the captain of the guard took Jeremiah, and faid unto him, The LORD thy God hath pronounced this evil upon this 3 place. Now the LORD hath brought [it,] and done according as he hath faid: because ye have finned against the LORD, and have not obeyed his voice, 4 therefore this thing is come upon you. And now, behold, I loose thee this day from the chains which [were] upon thine hand: if it feem good unto thee to come with me into Babylon, come; and I will look well unto thee; I will fet mine eye upon thee for good; promifing to be his friend, and to treat him in a respectful manner but if it feem ill unto thee to come with me into Babylon, forbear: behold, all the land [is] before thee: whither it seemeth good and convenient for 5 thee to go, thither go. Now while he was not yet gone back, while Jeremiah was hesitating, [he faid,] go back alfo to Gedaliah the fon of Ahikam the fon of Shaphan, a worthy, honourable character, a person of rank, whose grandfather and father were minifters of state to Jofiah, and whofe father faved thee, and whom the king of Babylon hath made governor over the cities of Judah, and dwell with him among the people: or go wherefoever it feemeth convenient unto thee to go. So the captain

of

This refers to the forty fecond chapter, where he warns the people left in the land; and the ftory before us is to illuftrate that prophecy. Jeremiah had been fet free, but was taken captive by fome of the Chaldeans who did not know him, and was carried to Ramah; but the captain of the guard fet him free again.

of the guard gave him victuals and a reward, and let 6 him go. Then went Jeremiah unto Gedaliah the fon of Ahikam to Mizpah; and dwelt with him among the people that were left in the land.

7

Now when all the captains of the forces which [were] in the fields, [even] they and their men who had fled, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah the fon of Ahikam governor in the land, and had committed unto him men, and women, and children, and of the poor of the land, of them that were not carried 8 away captive to Babylon; Then they came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, even Ifhmael the fon of Nethaniah, and Johanan and Jonathan the fons of Kareah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth, and the fons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniah the son of a Maachathite, 9 they and their men. And Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan sware unto them and to their men, affured them of his protection, faying, Fear not to ferve the Chaldeans: dwell in the land, and ferve the king 10 of Babylon, and it fhall be well with you. As for me, behold, I will dwell at Mizpah, to serve the Chaldeans, which will come unto us; that is, to fend the tribute and to receive orders: but ye, gather ye wine, and fummer fruits, and oil, and put [them] in your veffels, and dwell in your cities that ye have taken: while you remain tributary to the king of Babylon you may enjoy the fruits 11 of the land. Likewife 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 fet over them Gedaliah the son of Ahikam 12 the fon 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 fummer fruits very much.

13

Moreover Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that [were] in the fields, came 14 to Gedaliah to Mizpah, And faid unto him, Doft thou certainly know that Baalis the king of the Ammonites hath fent Ishmael the fon of Nethaniah to flay thee? VOL. V.

Oo

out

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out of a perfonal pique to thee, or hatred to the fews; hoping to bring more to his dominions, or make thofe that remained his vaffals. But Gedaliah the fon of Ahikam 15 believed them not. Then Johanan the son of Kareah fpake to Gedaliah in Mizpah fecretly, faying, Let me go, I pray thee, and I will flay Ifhmael the fon of Nethaniah, and no man fhall know [it:] wherefore fhould he lay thee, that all the Jews which are gathered unto thee fhould be fcattered, and the rem16 nant of Judah perifh? But Gedaliah the fon of Ahikam faid unto Johanan the fon of Kareah, Thou fhalt not do this thing: for thou fpeakeft falfely of Ishmael; he is an honest man, and I cannot believe the report.

CHAP. XLI. Now it came to pass in the feventh month, [that] Ishmael the fon of Nethaniah the fon of Elishama, of the feed royal, and the princes of the king, even ten men with him, came unto Gedaliah the fon of Ahikam to Mizpah, where he made a fplendid entertainment for them; and there they 2 did eat bread together in Mizpah. Then, valuing himfelf on his royal extraction, and envying Gedaliah, arose Ifhmael the fon of Nethaniah, and the ten men that were with him, and fmote Gedaliah the fon of Ahikam the son of Shaphan with the fword, and flew him, whom the king of Babylon had made governor 3 over the land. Ifhmael alfo flew all the Jews that were with him, [even] with Gedaliah, at Mizpah, that is, Gedaliah's guards, and the Chaldeans that were found there, [and] the men of war, all that opposed 4 him. And it came to pass the second day after he 5 had flain Gedaliah, and no man knew [it,] That there came certain from Shechem, from Shiloh, and from Samaria, [even] fourfcore men, having their beards fhaven, and their clothes rent, and having cut themselves, with offerings and incenfe in their hand, to bring [them] to the houfe of the LORD; that is, fome pious men of the ten tribes came in mourning habits to weep over the ruins of Jerusalem, and to offer incenfe, if 6 they could find an altar and a priest. And Ifhmael the

fon

fon of Nethaniah went forth from Mizpah to meet them, weeping all along as he went, as if he sympathised with them and it came to pafs, as he met them, he faid unto them, Come to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam; 7 wanting to fee how they stood affected to him. And it was [fo,] when they came into the midst of the city, that Ifhmael the fon of Nethaniah flew them, [and caft them] into the midft of the pit, he, and the men that 8 [were] with him. But ten men were found among them that faid unto lfhmael, Slay us not: for we have treasures in the field, of wheat, and of barley, and of oil, and of honey, which we will give thee; thinking to influence his covetousness, if not his compaffion. So he for9 bare, and flew them not among their brethren. Now the pit wherein Ishmael had caft all the dead bodies of the men, whom he had flain because of Gedaliah, [was] it which Afa the king had made for fear of Baafha king of Ifrael: [and] Ifhmael the fon of Netha10 niah filled it with [them that were] flain. Then Ifhmael carried away captive all the refidue 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 fon of Ahikam: and Ishmael the fon of Nethaniah carried them away captive, and departed to go over to the Ammonites; as had been concerted between him and the king of the Ammonites.

But when Johanan the fon of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that [were] with him, heard of all the evil that Ifhmael the fon of Nethaniah had 12 done, Then they took all the men, and went to fight with Ifhmael the fon of Nethaniah, and found him by 13 the great waters that [are] in Gibeon. Now it came to pass, [that] when all the people which [were] with Ifhmael faw Johanan the fon of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that [were] with him, then they 14 were glad; hoping to be recovered and taken back. So all the people that Ifhmael had carried away captive from Mizpah caft about and returned, and went unto 15 Johanan the son of Kareah. But Ishmael the fon of 002 Nethaniah

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