Jeremiah 40:15

13 Meanwhile, Johanan son of Kareah and all the commanders of the armies in the field came to Gedaliah at Mizpah

14 and said to him, “Are you aware that Baalis king of the Ammonites has sent Ishmael son of Nethaniah to take your life?” But Gedaliah son of Ahikam did not believe them.

Then Johanan son of Kareah spoke privately to Gedaliah at Mizpah. “Let me go and kill Ishmael son of Nethaniah,” he said. “No one will know it. Why should he take your life and scatter all the people of Judah who have gathered to you, so that the remnant of Judah would perish?”

16 But Gedaliah son of Ahikam said to Johanan son of Kareah, “Do not do such a thing! What you are saying about Ishmael is a lie.”

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
Then Johanan son of Kareah spoke privately to Gedaliah at Mizpah. “Let me go and kill Ishmael son of Nethaniah,” he said. “No one will know it. Why should he take your life and scatter all the people of Judah who have gathered to you, so that the remnant of Judah would perish?”
KJV
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?
WEB
Then Johanan the son of Kareah spoke to Gedaliah in Mizpah secretly, saying, “Please let me go, and I will kill Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and no man will know it. Why should he take your life, that all the Jews who are gathered to you should be scattered, and the remnant of Judah perish?”
ASV
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 take thy life, that all the Jews that are gathered unto thee should be scattered, and the remnant of Judah perish?
DARBY
And Johanan the son of Kareah spoke to Gedaliah in Mizpah secretly, saying, Let me go, I pray thee, and I will smite Ishmael the son of Nethaniah and no man shall know it: why should he take thy life, and all they of Judah who are gathered unto thee be scattered, and the remnant of Judah perish?
BLB
And Johanan son of Kareah spoke to Gedaliah in secret in Mizpah, saying: “Let me go, please, and I will strike Ishmael son of Nethaniah, and not a man will know.” Why should he strike you, so that all Judah who are gathered to you should be scattered and the remnant of Judah should perish?
ÅB
Og Johanan, Kareahs sønn, sa i lønndom til Gedalja i Mispa: La meg gå avsted og slå Ismael, Netanjas sønn, ihjel, uten at noen får vite det! Hvorfor skal han slå deg ihjel, og hele Juda, som har samlet seg om deg, bli spredt, og den rest som er blitt tilbake av Juda, gå til grunne?
OTB
Da talte Johanan, sønn av Kareah, privat til Gedalja i Mispa og sa: “La meg gå og drepe Ismael, sønn av Netanja, og ingen vil vite det. Hvorfor skulle han ta ditt liv, og forårsake at alle jødene som er samlet rundt deg blir spredt og resten av Juda går til grunne?”
B1930
Og Johanan, Kareahs sønn, sa i lønndom til Gedalja i Mispa: La mig gå avsted og slå Ismael, Netanjas sønn, ihjel, uten at nogen får vite det! Hvorfor skal han slå dig ihjel, og hele Juda, som har samlet sig om dig, bli spredt, og den rest som er blitt tilbake av Juda, gå til grunne?

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 1 Samuel 26:8

    Abishai said to David, “Today God has delivered your enemy into your hand. Now, therefore, please let me thrust the spear through him into the ground with one stroke. I will not need to strike him twice!”

    Read in context
  • 2 Samuel 21:17

    But Abishai son of Zeruiah came to his aid, struck the Philistine, and killed him. Then David’s men swore to him, “You must never again go out with us to battle, so that the lamp of Israel may not be extinguished.”

    Read in context
  • Ezekiel 33:24–29

    “Son of man, those living in the ruins in the land of Israel are saying, ‘Abraham was only one man, yet he possessed the land. But we are many; surely the land has been given to us as a possession.’

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 12:3–4

    But You know me, O LORD; You see me and test my heart toward You. Drag away the wicked like sheep to the slaughter and set them apart for the day of carnage.

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 42:2

    Jeremiah the prophet and said, “May our petition come before you; pray to the LORD your God on behalf of this entire remnant. For few of us remain of the many, as you can see with your own eyes.

    Read in context
  • John 11:50

    You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.”

    Read in context
  • 1 Samuel 24:4

    So David’s men said to him, “This is the day about which the LORD said to you, ‘Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, that you may do with him as you wish.’” Then David crept up secretly and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.

    Read in context
  • 2 Samuel 18:3

    But the people pleaded, “You must not go out! For if we have to flee, they will pay no attention to us. Even if half of us die, they will not care; but you are worth ten thousand of us. It is better for now if you support us from the city.”

    Read in context