Commentators observe that Gedaliah, a good man, made a fatal error. In his desire to be just and avoid suspicion, he refused to investigate a credible warning. John Calvin notes that in trying to be humane to one person (Ishmael), he was unjust and dismissive to many (Johanan and his men). This serves as a powerful reminder that godly character must be paired with wisdom and discernment, as misplaced trust can have devastating consequences.