Jeremiah 40:13-16

What warning does Gedaliah reject?

Berean Standard Bible

13 Meanwhile, Johanan son of Kareah and all the commanders of the armies in the field came to Gedaliah at Mizpah 14 and said to him, “Are you aware that Baalis king of the Ammonites has sent Ishmael son of Nethaniah to take your life?” But Gedaliah son of Ahikam did not believe them. 15 Then Johanan son of Kareah spoke privately to Gedaliah at Mizpah. “Let me go and kill Ishmael son of Nethaniah,” he said. “No one will know it. Why should he take your life and scatter all the people of Judah who have gathered to you, so that the remnant of Judah would perish?” 16 But Gedaliah son of Ahikam said to Johanan son of Kareah, “Do not do such a thing! What you are saying about Ishmael is a lie.”

What is the context?

Johanan and the commanders report that Baalis of Ammon has sent Ishmael to kill Gedaliah. Gedaliah does not believe the warning.

Johanan privately offers to kill Ishmael first and argues that Gedaliah’s murder would scatter the gathered remnant. Gedaliah forbids the act and calls the accusation false.

The next chapter will confirm Ishmael’s attack. That outcome shows the warning’s seriousness without turning the proposed secret killing into an explicit divine command.

The scene distinguishes assessment of danger from authority to carry out a preventive murder.

How is this passage commonly understood?

Wesley treats the meeting as disclosure of a conspiracy. The narrative’s direct speeches preserve both the warning and Gedaliah’s rejection rather than supplying an oracle approving Johanan’s proposed remedy.

What is our position?

We don't have a position on this passage yet. When our study reaches a conclusion the text supports, it will appear here.

Where can I study this further?

No deeper study linked yet.

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