Daily Devotions
Jeremiah
"You shall not do this thing"
Text: Jeremiah 40:16
THE OFFER OF JOHANAN
Johanan was not surprised that Gedaliah did not believe him. He went on to offer to kill Ishmael, whom he suspected was an assassin.
“Then Johanan the son of Kareah spoke secretly to Gedaliah in Mizpah, saying,
‘Let me go, please, and I will kill Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and no one will know it. Why should he murder you, so that all the Jews who are gathered to you would be scattered, and the remnant in Judah perish?’
But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said to Johanan the son of Kareah,
‘You shall not do this thing, for you speak falsely concerning Ishmael.'”
Jeremiah 40:15-16
1. “Then Johanan the son of Kareah spoke secretly to Gedaliah in Mizpah, saying,
‘Let me go, please, and I will kill Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and no one will know it'”
a) Johanan offered to kill Ishmael covertly.
b) He would do this secretly so that no one would even know what had happened.
2. “Why should he murder you, so that all the Jews who are gathered to you
would be scattered, and the remnant in Judah perish?”
a) Johanan offered his reasons:
i) This was to prevent Gedaliah from being murdered.
ii) If the governor was killed, all who had gathered at Mizpah would be scattered.
iii) The remnant would then perish without good leadership.
b) Would Gedaliah be persuaded?
i) To check this out?
ii) To take precautions?
iii) To listen to the advice and offer of Johanan?
iv) Johanan was not certain how Gedaliah would respond.
3. “But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said to Johanan the son of Kareah,
‘You shall not do this thing, for you speak falsely concerning Ishmael'”
a) Gedaliah responded negatively.
b) He did not believe in Johanan and the captains.
c) He felt that he had spoken falsely against Ishmael.
d) He was not to take any action against the supposed assassin, Ishmael.