John Calvin Commentary Jeremiah 40:15-16

"Then Johanan the son of Kareah spake to Gedaliah in Mizpah secretly, saying, Let me go, I pray thee, and I will slay Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and no man shall know it: wherefore should he take thy life, that all the Jews that are gathered unto thee should be scattered, and the remnant of Judah perish? But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said unto Johanan the son of Kareah, Thou shalt not do this thing; for thou speakest falsely of Ishmael." — Jeremiah 40:15-16 (ASV)

Here we see that the holy man was blinded, so that he not only disregarded the counsel given to him but also rejected the help offered to him. It is also a praiseworthy thing that he was unwilling for Ishmael to be rashly killed, the cause not being known; but he should have carefully inquired, and, the matter being found out, he might have defended himself and put to death a wicked man and a public pest.

He was armed with the sword; and he might have justly punished Ishmael, if he had only been attentive to the matter, that is, if he had taken the trouble to ascertain the fact. Since he had been endowed with authority, for Nebuchadnezzar had set him over the land, he was to be blamed for this: that he abstained from taking vengeance (for he was not a private man), but he did not believe that there was such great treachery in Ishmael, whom he thought to be an honest and upright man, and friendly to him.

Nevertheless, there is a middle course between simplicity on the one hand, and cruelty on the other. Had he immediately become incensed against Ishmael, it would have been blameworthy cruelty; for we should not be carried away headlong to condemn innocent men; for if we indiscriminately receive all sorts of calumnies, no one can remain innocent.

But as I have said, Gedaliah might have acted so as not to wrong Ishmael by believing every idle report, and yet he might have taken care of himself. He might have done this, had he inquired, and, having known the case, determined accordingly; but he willfully closed his eyes and thus committed a great mistake.

But from this we see that while in other things he was not without judgment and foresight, in this instance he was, as it were, destitute of a sound mind; for it was God’s purpose to open a way for his judgment, so that he might destroy the remnant of the people.

And at the same time we see how difficult it is not to do wrong when we desire to be just, tolerant, and unsuspicious. We are, in short, taught how difficult it is, and how rare is the virtue of exercising moderation. Ishmael might have been immediately convicted of perfidy and wickedness; this was what Gedaliah was unwilling to do. And why? Because he was unwilling to suspect anything wrong in a man whom he thought to be sincere and faithful.

However, at the same time he did wrong to John, the son of Kareah, and to the other leaders of the forces. They came to him, not one or two men, but the chiefs who had been set over the soldiers by King Zedekiah. These came to him, so that their charge was probable. What did Gedaliah say? Thou speakest falsely, he said. He reproachfully repelled John, the son of Kareah, who still was well disposed towards him and wished to save him from his danger.

From this we clearly see that the best of men never act in such a manner, but that under the appearance of equity and humanity they often fall into sloth and neglect; and that when they wish to be humane towards one, they act unkindly and reproachfully towards many. So it is always necessary to flee to God, that he may rule us by the spirit of discretion. Now follows the murder of Gedaliah.