What is the meaning of Jeremiah 41:8? But ten of the men among them • In the larger story (Jeremiah 41:1-7) Ishmael has ambushed and slain the Judeans Gedaliah had gathered at Mizpah. Out of the eighty pilgrims who arrive later, only ten are singled out. • A “tithe-like” remnant often appears when judgment falls—think of Genesis 18:32 (Abraham interceding for ten), Isaiah 6:13 (a tenth remains), and Romans 11:5 (a remnant chosen by grace). Here, too, God allows a remnant to survive. said to Ishmael • Ishmael son of Nethaniah (2 Kings 25:25) is a royal descendant of David, yet he rejects the Lord’s ways and allies with Ammon’s king. His name means “God hears,” but he refuses to hear God himself—echoing Psalm 81:11-12, where Israel “would not listen.” • The ten approach their armed enemy, illustrating Proverbs 15:1—“A gentle answer turns away wrath.” They take the initiative, rather than waiting to be struck down. "Do not kill us" • Their direct plea highlights the value God places on life (Genesis 9:6; Exodus 20:13). • It recalls David’s appeals to Saul for mercy in 1 Samuel 24:14 and 26:24; sometimes humble words are the only defense available. • The request also exposes Ishmael’s sin; he must consciously decide whether to add more blood to his hands (Proverbs 6:16-17). "for we have hidden treasure in the field—wheat, barley, oil, and honey!" • The list mirrors the produce promised in Deuteronomy 8:8 and celebrates the land’s bounty that Judah is about to lose because of disobedience (Jeremiah 17:4). • The men leverage Ishmael’s greed, much as the four lepers in 2 Kings 7:8 collected abandoned Syrian plunder. • Wheat and barley sustain, oil refreshes, honey sweetens—an echo of God’s full provision (Psalm 81:16). Ironically, Ishmael is willing to spare lives only when he sees material gain (1 Timothy 6:10). So he refrained from killing them with the others • Ishmael’s restraint is pragmatic, not compassionate, paralleling Judas keeping the money bag in John 12:6. • Yet even through a wicked motive, the Lord preserves life—Joseph’s words in Genesis 50:20 apply: “You intended evil… but God intended it for good.” • The spared ten will later report the massacre (Jeremiah 41:11-15), enabling Johanan to pursue Ishmael and rescue captives—a reminder that every survivor can serve God’s greater purpose (Esther 4:14). summary Jeremiah 41:8 shows a small remnant rescued in the midst of treachery. Ten men appeal for mercy, offer provisions, and are spared. Their survival underscores God’s pattern of preserving a remnant, exposes human greed, and sets the stage for further deliverance. The verse reassures us that the Lord can overrule even wicked intentions to protect life and advance His sovereign plan. |
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