When all the commanders of the armies and their men heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah as governor, they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah--Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan son of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah son of the Maacathite, as well as their men. When all the captains of the armies and their men heardThis phrase sets the stage for a significant moment in the history of Judah. The "captains of the armies" refers to the military leaders who survived the Babylonian conquest. The Hebrew word for "captains" is "שָׂרֵי" (sarim), which denotes leaders or princes, indicating their high status and influence. The mention of "their men" suggests a remnant of military strength and loyalty, even in the face of national defeat. This highlights the resilience and continued organizational structure among the Judeans despite their dire circumstances. that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah as governor
The appointment of Gedaliah by the "king of Babylon" signifies a shift in governance from a Davidic monarchy to a Babylonian-appointed leadership. Gedaliah, whose name means "Yahweh is great," was chosen likely due to his lineage and perceived loyalty. This appointment was a common practice by conquering empires to ensure control over subjugated territories. Historically, this reflects the Babylonian strategy of installing local leaders to maintain order and allegiance to Babylon. they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah
"Mizpah" was a significant location in Israel's history, often serving as a gathering place for the people of God. The Hebrew root "מִצְפָּה" (Mitzpah) means "watchtower" or "lookout," symbolizing vigilance and oversight. The gathering at Mizpah indicates a centralization of power and a potential rallying point for the Judeans under Gedaliah's leadership. This move suggests a glimmer of hope for stability and governance amidst the chaos of exile. Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan son of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah son of the Maacathite
The listing of these individuals by name and lineage underscores the importance of family heritage and tribal affiliations in ancient Israel. Each name carries significance: Ishmael son of Nethaniah
Ishmael's involvement later in the narrative as an assassin of Gedaliah highlights the internal strife and political intrigue that plagued Judah. Johanan son of Kareah
Johanan emerges as a leader who seeks to protect the remnant, reflecting the ongoing struggle for leadership and survival. Seraiah son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite
The mention of "Netophathite" ties Seraiah to a specific region, emphasizing the localized identities within the broader national context. Jaazaniah son of the Maacathite
The term "Maacathite" indicates a connection to the region of Maacah, suggesting diverse backgrounds among the leaders who gathered at Mizpah. they and their men
This phrase reiterates the presence of military forces accompanying these leaders, indicating that despite the Babylonian conquest, there remained a semblance of organized resistance or at least a structured community. The loyalty of "their men" to these captains suggests a continued commitment to their leaders and possibly to the hope of restoring their nation. Persons / Places / Events 1. GedaliahAppointed by the king of Babylon as governor over the remaining people in Judah. He was a son of Ahikam and grandson of Shaphan, known for his loyalty to Babylon and efforts to stabilize the region post-exile. 2. Ishmael son of NethaniahA member of the royal family and one of the captains of the armies. He later assassinated Gedaliah, leading to further chaos. 3. Johanan son of KareahAnother military leader who warned Gedaliah about Ishmael's intentions and later pursued Ishmael after Gedaliah's assassination. 4. Seraiah son of Tanhumeth the NetophathiteOne of the military leaders who came to Gedaliah at Mizpah. 5. Jaazaniah son of the MaacathiteAnother leader who joined Gedaliah at Mizpah. 6. MizpahThe location where Gedaliah set up his administration as governor. It became a center of governance after the fall of Jerusalem. Teaching Points Leadership in Times of CrisisGedaliah's appointment as governor highlights the importance of leadership during times of crisis. His role was to bring stability and order, a reminder of the need for godly leadership in challenging times. The Consequences of Ignoring WarningsGedaliah ignored Johanan's warning about Ishmael, leading to his assassination. This teaches the importance of heeding wise counsel and being vigilant against potential threats. Trust and BetrayalThe account of Gedaliah and Ishmael illustrates the themes of trust and betrayal. It serves as a reminder to be discerning in whom we place our trust and to seek God's wisdom in our relationships. God's Sovereignty Amidst ChaosDespite the political turmoil and human failures, God's sovereign plan continues. This encourages believers to trust in God's overarching plan, even when circumstances seem dire. Community and UnityThe gathering of the captains and their men at Mizpah under Gedaliah's leadership underscores the importance of unity and community, especially in times of rebuilding and recovery. Bible Study Questions 1. What qualities of leadership can we learn from Gedaliah's role as governor, and how can these be applied in our own lives today? 2. How does the account of Gedaliah and Ishmael illustrate the importance of discernment and vigilance in our relationships? 3. In what ways can we see God's sovereignty at work in the midst of the chaos described in 2 Kings 25:23, and how does this encourage us in our current circumstances? 4. How can the themes of trust and betrayal in this passage inform our understanding of human relationships and our reliance on God? 5. What steps can we take to foster unity and community in our own contexts, drawing from the example of the captains gathering at Mizpah? Connections to Other Scriptures Jeremiah 40-41These chapters provide a detailed account of Gedaliah's governance, his assassination by Ishmael, and the subsequent events. They highlight the political instability and the challenges faced by the remnant in Judah. 2 Chronicles 36:20-21These verses discuss the Babylonian exile and the land's rest during the captivity, providing context for the events in 2 Kings 25. Lamentations 1:1-3These verses express the sorrow and desolation of Jerusalem, reflecting the broader context of the exile and the remnant's struggles. People Ahikam, Babylonians, Careah, Elishama, Evilmerodach, Gedaliah, Ishmael, Jaazaniah, Jehoiachin, Johanan, Kareah, Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuzaradan, Nethaniah, Seraiah, Shaphan, Solomon, Tanhumeth, Zedekiah, ZephaniahPlaces Arabah, Babylon, Egypt, Hamath, Jericho, Jerusalem, Mizpah, RiblahTopics Appointed, Armed, Armies, Babylon, Captains, Careah, Forces, Gedaliah, Gedali'ah, Governor, Heads, Hearing, Ishmael, Ish'mael, Jaazaniah, Ja-azani'ah, Johanan, Joha'nan, Kareah, Kare'ah, Maacathite, Ma-ac'athite, Maachathite, Mizpah, Namely, Nethaniah, Nethani'ah, Netophathite, Netoph'athite, Officers, Open, Ruler, Seraiah, Serai'ah, Tanhumeth, Tanhu'methDictionary of Bible Themes 2 Kings 25:22-23 5327 governors 2 Kings 25:22-24 7245 Judah, kingdom of Library The End
'1. And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, he, and all his host, against Jerusalem, and pitched against it; and they built forts against it round about. 2. And the city was besieged unto the eleventh year of king Zedekiah. 3. And on the ninth day of the fourth month the famine prevailed in the city, and there was no bread for the people of the land. 4. And the city was broken up, and all the …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy ScriptureThe Last Agony
'In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and all his army against Jerusalem, and they besieged it. 2. And in the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, the ninth day of the month, the city was broken up. 3. And all the princes of the king of Babylon came in, and sat in the middle gate, even Nergal-sharezer, Samgar-nebo, Sarse-chim, Rab-saris, Nergal-sharezer, Rab-mag, with all the residue of the princes of the king of Babylon. …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture 'As Sodom'
'Zedekiah was one and twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. 2. And he did that which was evil in the eyes of the Lord, according to all that Jehoiakim had done. 3. For through the anger of the Lord it came to pass in Jerusalem and Judah, till he had cast them out from his presence, that Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon. 4. And it came to pass, in the ninth year of his reign, …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture The Country of Jericho, and the Situation of the City.
Here we will borrow Josephus' pencil, "Jericho is seated in a plain, yet a certain barren mountain hangs over it, narrow, indeed, but long; for it runs out northward to the country of Scythopolis,--and southward, to the country of Sodom, and the utmost coast of the Asphaltites." Of this mountain mention is made, Joshua 2:22, where the two spies, sent by Joshua, and received by Rahab, are said to "conceal themselves." "Opposite against this, lies a mountain on the other side Jordan, beginning from …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica How those who Use Food Intemperately and those who Use it Sparingly are to be Admonished.
(Admonition 20.) Differently to be admonished are the gluttonous and the abstinent. For superfluity of speech, levity of conduct, and lechery accompany the former; but the latter often the sin of impatience, and often that of pride. For were it not the case that immoderate loquacity carries away the gluttonous, that rich man who is said to have fared sumptuously every day would not burn more sorely than elsewhere in his tongue, saying, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he …
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great The Historical Books.
1. In the Pentateuch we have the establishment of the Theocracy, with the preparatory and accompanying history pertaining to it. The province of the historical books is to unfold its practiced working, and to show how, under the divine superintendence and guidance, it accomplished the end for which it was given. They contain, therefore, primarily, a history of God's dealings with the covenant people under the economy which he had imposed upon them. They look at the course of human events on the …
E. P. Barrows—Companion to the Bible Backsliding.
"I will heal their backsliding; I will love them freely: for Mine anger is turned away."--Hosea xiv. 4. There are two kinds of backsliders. Some have never been converted: they have gone through the form of joining a Christian community and claim to be backsliders; but they never have, if I may use the expression, "slid forward." They may talk of backsliding; but they have never really been born again. They need to be treated differently from real back-sliders--those who have been born of the incorruptible …
Dwight L. Moody—The Way to God and How to Find It The Iranian Conquest
Drawn by Boudier, from the engraving in Coste and Flandin. The vignette, drawn by Faucher-Gudin, from a statuette in terra-cotta, found in Southern Russia, represents a young Scythian. The Iranian religions--Cyrus in Lydia and at Babylon: Cambyses in Egypt --Darius and the organisation of the empire. The Median empire is the least known of all those which held sway for a time over the destinies of a portion of Western Asia. The reason of this is not to be ascribed to the shortness of its duration: …
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 9 Formation and History of the Hebrew Canon.
1. The Greek word canon (originally a straight rod or pole, measuring-rod, then rule) denotes that collection of books which the churches receive as given by inspiration of God, and therefore as constituting for them a divine rule of faith and practice. To the books included in it the term canonical is applied. The Canon of the Old Testament, considered in reference to its constituent parts, was formed gradually; formed under divine superintendence by a process of growth extending through …
E. P. Barrows—Companion to the Bible Kings
The book[1] of Kings is strikingly unlike any modern historical narrative. Its comparative brevity, its curious perspective, and-with some brilliant exceptions--its relative monotony, are obvious to the most cursory perusal, and to understand these things is, in large measure, to understand the book. It covers a period of no less than four centuries. Beginning with the death of David and the accession of Solomon (1 Kings i., ii.) it traverses his reign with considerable fulness (1 Kings iii.-xi.), …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links 2 Kings 25:23 NIV2 Kings 25:23 NLT2 Kings 25:23 ESV2 Kings 25:23 NASB2 Kings 25:23 KJV
2 Kings 25:23 Commentaries
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