◄ Jeremiah 40:15 ►
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?" Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Jeremiah 40:15? 2. Why did Johanan propose to kill Ishmael in Jeremiah 40:15? 3. How does Jeremiah 40:15 demonstrate God's protection over His people? 4. What lessons on leadership can we learn from Johanan's actions in Jeremiah 40:15? 5. How does Jeremiah 40:15 connect to God's justice throughout the Bible? 6. How can we apply Johanan's vigilance against threats to our spiritual lives today? 7. Why did Johanan want to kill Ishmael in Jeremiah 40:15? 8. How does Jeremiah 40:15 reflect on leadership and trust? 9. What historical context surrounds the events in Jeremiah 40:15? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Jeremiah 40? 11. Jeremiah 40 (especially verses 13-16) - Are there any external accounts to corroborate or challenge the internal conflicts hinted at, particularly with Ishmael's faction? 12. How does this account align with or contradict the parallel narrative in 2 Kings 25:22-26 regarding Gedaliah's murder? 13. Jeremiah 40:5-6 - How historically plausible is it that Jeremiah traveled freely to live with Gedaliah despite the chaos of the Babylonian occupation? 14. Why does the biblical text not describe any Babylonians intervening or retaliating, given their regional power at the time? (Jeremiah 41:4-10) Discussion Questions 1. What can we learn from Johanan's approach to Gedaliah about addressing potential threats within a community? 2. How does Gedaliah's response to Johanan's warning reflect on his leadership qualities, and what can we learn from this for our own leadership roles? 3. In what ways does the account of Gedaliah and Ishmael illustrate the importance of seeking and heeding wise counsel, and how can we apply this in our daily lives? 4. How does the concept of a "remnant" in Jeremiah 40:15 connect to other biblical themes of preservation and hope, and what does this mean for us today? 5. Reflect on a time when inaction led to negative consequences in your life. How might the lessons from Jeremiah 40:15 guide you in future decision-making? Jeremiah 40 Bible Study Questions 1. How does Jeremiah's release by Nebuzaradan confirm the fulfillment of his prophecies? 2. How does Jeremiah's decision to stay with Gedaliah reflect his trust in God's plan? 3. How does Gedaliah's leadership influence the scattered Judahites? 4. How do the people of Judah attempt to rebuild their lives in the aftermath of the fall of Jerusalem? 5. How might the news of Gedaliah's appointment have given hope to the people of Judah? 6. How does Johanan's warning reflect the power dynamics among the remnants of Judah? 7. What can Gedaliah's disbelief about Ishmael's plot tell us about his character? 8. How does the harvesting of summer fruits, wine, and oil symbolize hope and rejuvenation? 9. How does this chapter reflect the theme of trust in God's plans? 10. What lessons can we draw from the chapter regarding leadership and governance? 11. How does Jeremiah's choice between Babylon and Mizpah reflect the concept of freedom in the Bible? 12. How can one discern true warnings from false ones, as in the case of Gedaliah and Johanan? 13. How might the dynamics between Gedaliah, Ishmael, and Johanan apply to conflicts in contemporary society? 14. How can we apply Jeremiah's trust in God to our own life decisions? 15. How does this chapter demonstrate the role of prophecy in the Old Testament? 16. How can you, in your own life, cultivate unity and compassion as the Judahites did after their trials? 17. How can we discern when to heed warnings from others in our own lives, in light of Gedaliah's response to Johanan? 18. How does the interaction between Jeremiah and Nebuzaradan demonstrate respect and understanding between different cultures or religions? 19. How can we apply the lessons of rebuilding after calamity, as illustrated by the Judahites, in our communities today? 20. If you were Jeremiah, would you have made the same choice to stay with Gedaliah? Why or why not? Links Jeremiah 40:15 NIV Jeremiah 40:15 NLT Jeremiah 40:15 ESV Jeremiah 40:15 NASB Jeremiah 40:15 KJV Jeremiah 40:15 Commentaries Bible Hub