After a short detour in the book of Habakkuk, we return to the book of Jeremiah for some more goodies from a major prophet.
“While they were eating together there, Ishmael son of Nethaniah and the ten men who were with him got up and struck down Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, with the sword, killing the one whom the king of Babylon had appointed as governor over the land. Ishmael also killed all the men of Judah who were with Gedaliah at Mizpah, as well as the Babylonian soldiers who were there.” – Jeremiah 41:1-3
If you expected peace in this chapter, you were wrong!
“The day after Gedaliah’s assassination, before anyone knew about it, eighty men who had shaved off their beards, torn their clothes and cut themselves came from Shechem, Shiloh and Samaria, bringing grain offerings and incense with them to the house of the Lord.” – Jeremiah 41:4-5
Why does everyone in the Bible tear their clothes? Does not seem a cost-effective move.
“Now the cistern where he threw all the bodies of the men he had killed along with Gedaliah was the one King Asa had made as part of his defense against Baasha king of Israel. Ishmael son of Nethaniah filled it with the dead.” – Jeremiah 41:9
Pleasant.
“They were afraid of them because Ishmael son of Nethaniah had killed Gedaliah son of Ahikam, whom the king of Babylon had appointed as governor over the land.” – Jeremiah 41:18
Fear and death. That is all the Bible has to offer.
Another chapter in the Bible filled with death and destruction. Where is God? Nowhere.
Coming Soon: Jeremiah – Chapter 42: Untitled