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 slay thee, that all the Jews which are gathered unto thee should be scattered, and the remnant in Judah perish?

JEREMIAH 40:15KJV
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Jeremiah 40:15 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 40:15 mean?

Jeremiah 40:15 describes Johanan secretly asking Gedaliah for permission to kill Ishmael, warning that if Ishmael is not stopped, he will murder Gedaliah and cause the Jewish survivors in Judah to be scattered and destroyed. Johanan is trying to prevent further tragedy for the already diminished Jewish community after Jerusalem’s fall.

In this verse, Johanan (a leader among the remaining Jews) speaks privately with Gedaliah, who has been appointed governor by the Babylonians. Johanan has learned of a plot by Ishmael to assassinate Gedaliah and wants to take preemptive action. The verse highlights the tension and fear among the survivors, who are worried that losing their leader would mean the end of their fragile community.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 40:15

  • The word "secretly" (בַּסֵּתֶר, baseter) emphasizes that Johanan approaches Gedaliah in private, showing the seriousness and sensitivity of the situation.
  • The verb "slay" (נָכָה, nakah) is used for both the proposed killing of Ishmael and the potential murder of Gedaliah, underlining the threat of violence and its consequences for the community.
  • The term "remnant" (שְׁאֵרִית, she’erit) refers to the small group of Jews left in Judah, highlighting how vulnerable and precious this group is after the exile and destruction.

Why Jeremiah 40:15 matters

  • This verse clarifies that there was internal conflict and suspicion among the Jewish survivors, not just external threats from Babylon.
  • The emphasis on secrecy and the risk to the "remnant" shows how fragile the situation was for the Jews left in Judah.
  • Understanding this moment helps explain the events that follow in Jeremiah, where Gedaliah’s fate and the community’s survival hang in the balance.