EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)
(15)
With eight men.—He had come with ten (
Jeremiah 41:1), and it is a natural inference that two had perished in one or other of the conflicts of
Jeremiah 41:2;
Jeremiah 41:12.
41:11-18 The success of villany must be short, and none can prosper who harden their hearts against God. And those justly lose comfort in real fears, who excuse themselves in sin by pretended fears. The removal of a prudent and peaceable ruler, and the succession of another who is rash and ambitious, affects the welfare of many. Only those are happy and steady who fear the Lord and walk in his ways.
An open pool still exists at Gibeon, and a large subterranean reservoir fed by a copious natural spring. Gibeon is about two miles north of Mizpah.
14. cast about—came round.
When the people whom Ishmael had carried away prisoners saw Johanan coming with greater forces, they contrived and wheeled about and went to him, only Ishmael and eight men escaped and went to the land of Ammon.
But Ishmael the son of Nethaniah escaped from Johanan with eight men,.... Of the ten he brought with hin),
Jeremiah 41:1; two of them being slain in this skirmish, or taken by Johanan, or they fled another way:
and went to the Ammonites; who had put him upon, or however encouraged and assisted him in, his wicked attempts; though he returned to them not according to their wishes, nor with that honour and glory he thought to have done.
But Ishmael the son of Nethaniah escaped from Johanan with eight men, and went to the{h} Ammonites.(h) For Baalis the king of the Ammonites was the cause of this murder.
