John Calvin Commentary Jeremiah 41:13-14

"Now it came to pass that, when all the people that were with Ishmael saw Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were with him, then they were glad. So all the people that Ishmael had carried away captive from Mizpah turned about and came back, and went unto Johanan the son of Kareah." — Jeremiah 41:13-14 (ASV)

The people readily joined John and his army, because John and other leaders of the forces came to them well-armed, and they were, as we have seen before, men trained for war. And Ishmael was no match for them when the people went over to John and his associates.

Thus we see that the ungodly man failed in his wicked purpose, because he thought to make himself very acceptable to the king of Ammon by bringing so many captives to live in his land, so that he could take possession of Judea. He had then made many plans for himself, but God frustrated them. But it was God’s will for him to remain alive, for he fled, as the next passage shows.