Thomas Aquinas Commentary Jeremiah 41:1-3

"Now it came to pass in the seventh month, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, of the seed royal and [one of] the chief officers of the king, and ten men with him, came unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah; and there they did eat bread together in Mizpah. Then arose Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and the ten men that were with him, and smote Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan with the sword, and slew him, whom the king of Babylon had made governor over the land. Ishmael also slew all the Jews that were with him, [to wit], with Gedaliah, at Mizpah, and the Chaldeans that were found there, the men of war." — Jeremiah 41:1-3 (ASV)

1. Here, the disturbance of the assembled people by the wickedness of Ishmael is described. This section has three parts:

   • First, the deceitful slaughter of certain men is mentioned.
   • Second, the burial of their bodies: now the pit into which Ishmael had cast all the bodies of the men... is that which king Asa had made (Jeremiah 41:9).
   • Third, the violent capture of the others: and Ishmael led captive (Jeremiah 41:10).

   Concerning the first point, the deceitful slaughter, there are two further points:

   • First, the slaughter of the leader and his household is mentioned.
   • Second, the slaughter of all his followers: and on the second day (Jeremiah 41:4).

   Concerning the slaughter of the leader, there are three points:

   • First, the author speaks of the ruse of feigned peace. Ishmael was of royal blood, and because of this, he was moved by envy against the one he saw appointed over the Jews, since he himself had been passed over by the king. There is a friend who is a companion at table, but he will not remain in the day of trouble .
   • Second, he speaks of the murder of the leader. They arose from the table, the ten men, and struck, while the others suspected nothing of the kind. Abner has not died as cowards usually die (2 Samuel 3:33).
   • Third, he speaks of the slaughter of his household: Ishmael struck also all the Jews who were with Gedaliah. Of one spark comes a great fire, and of one deceitful man much blood .