John Gill Commentary Jeremiah 40:8

"then they came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, [to wit], Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth, and the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniah the son of the Maacathite, they and their men." — Jeremiah 40:8 (ASV)

Then they came to Gedaliah to Mizpah Having heard that the Chaldean army was gone, and so were in no fear of that; and also that Gedaliah was made deputy governor, one of their own nation, a pious, prudent, good man, a man of ingenuity, mildness, and integrity; under whose government they might expect to live comfortably; and which was much preferable to captivity in a foreign country, though tributary to Babylon:

even Ishmael the son of Nethaniah who was of the seed royal, (Jeremiah 41:1);

and Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah two brothers, but who they were, or their father, is not known, no mention being made of them but in this story:

and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth who he was is also uncertain:

and the sons of Ephai the Netophathite so called from Netophah, a city of the tribe of Judah near Bethlehem, and are mentioned together, (Ezra 2:22) (Nehemiah 7:26); the Netophathites inhabited several villages, (1 Chronicles 9:16) ; mention is made in the Misnic ^F20 writings of artichokes and olives this place was famous for:

and Jezaniah the son of a Maachathite a family so called from Maacah, Caleb's concubine, (1 Chronicles 2:48) ;

they and their men these generals, and the forces under their command.

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FOOTNOTES:

• F20: Shebiit, c. 9. sect. 5. & Pea, c. 7. sect. 1.