Topical Bible: Murder: Ishmael

◄ Murder: Ishmael ►

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Introduction

The account of Ishmael's involvement in murder is a significant narrative found in the Old Testament, specifically in the book of Jeremiah. Ishmael, the son of Nethaniah, is depicted as a member of the royal family and a captain in the army. His actions are set against the backdrop of the Babylonian conquest of Judah, a time of political upheaval and instability.

Biblical Account

The primary account of Ishmael's murderous actions is found in Jeremiah 40-41. After the fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians, Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam, was appointed governor over the remaining people in the land of Judah. Gedaliah's administration was marked by efforts to stabilize the region and encourage the remnant of Judah to live peacefully under Babylonian rule.

However, Ishmael, who harbored animosity towards Gedaliah, conspired against him. In Jeremiah 41:1-3 , it is recorded: "In the seventh month, Ishmael son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, who was of royal blood and had been one of the king’s officers, came with ten men to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah. While they were eating a meal together there, Ishmael son of Nethaniah and the ten men who were with him rose 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 over the land."

Ishmael's treachery did not end with the assassination of Gedaliah. He also killed all the Jews who were with Gedaliah at Mizpah, as well as the Babylonian soldiers present. This act of murder was not only a personal vendetta but also a political maneuver, as Ishmael sought to undermine Babylonian authority and possibly restore a semblance of Judean independence.

Motivations and Consequences

Ishmael's motivations for murder can be understood in the context of political ambition and nationalistic fervor. As a member of the royal family, Ishmael may have viewed Gedaliah's cooperation with the Babylonians as a betrayal of Judah's sovereignty. His actions, however, led to further chaos and fear among the people of Judah.

The consequences of Ishmael's actions were severe. His murder of Gedaliah incited fear and instability, prompting many of the remaining Jews to flee to Egypt for safety, as recorded in Jeremiah 41:16-18. This exodus further depleted the population of Judah and contributed to the desolation of the land.

Theological Implications

From a theological perspective, Ishmael's murder of Gedaliah can be seen as a violation of God's commandments and an act of rebellion against the divinely ordained order. The commandment "You shall not murder" (Exodus 20:13) underscores the sanctity of human life, which Ishmael blatantly disregarded. His actions serve as a reminder of the destructive nature of sin and the consequences of defying God's will.

Furthermore, Ishmael's account highlights the theme of divine justice. Despite his initial success, Ishmael's rebellion ultimately failed, and he was forced to flee from the forces of Johanan son of Kareah, who sought to avenge Gedaliah's death and restore order (Jeremiah 41:11-15). This outcome reflects the biblical principle that God will not allow evil to triumph indefinitely.

Conclusion

The account of Ishmael's murder of Gedaliah is a sobering narrative that illustrates the complexities of human sinfulness and the dire consequences of political ambition unchecked by moral restraint. It serves as a historical and theological lesson on the importance of obedience to God's commandments and the pursuit of peace and justice.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Jeremiah 41:7
And it was so, when they came into the middle of the city, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah slew them, and cast them into the middle of the pit, he, and the men that were with him.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Pentateuch.
... made by God with the earth through Noah, and the law of murder; the confusion of ...
renewal to Isaac and Jacob; and the exclusion, first of Ishmael and afterwards ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xix the pentateuch.htm

The Events which Took Place in Jerusalem During the Reign of Nero.
... arose toward the end of Felix's term, under the high priest Ishmael, who had ... were
in part a result of the conduct of Felix himself in the murder of Jonathan ...
/.../pamphilius/church history/chapter xx the events which took.htm

Man's Passions and God's Purpose
... Cain and Abel, Ishmael and Isaac, Esau and Jacob, and now the other ... The clumsy
contrivance for murder without criminality, which Reuben suggested, is an ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/mans passions and gods purpose.htm

Table of Contents
... 242 2. VISIONS OF ABRAHAM, HAGAR, AND ISHMAEL. 249 3. THEOKENO CATCHES UP TO THE
TRAIN OF MENSOR AND SAIR IN A DESERTED CITY. ... HEROD'S STATE OF MIND - A MURDER. ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/table of contents.htm

Free Grace
... Do we not read that it grieved Abraham's heart to send Ishmael away? Ah! ... He has
committed high treason, murder, rebellion, and every possible iniquity. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/free grace.htm

The Inroads of Mahometanism
... 90} course of warfare, which too often degenerated into simple robbery and murder. ...
had been revealed to Abraham and handed down through his son Ishmael, and of ...
/.../blunt/a key to the knowledge of church history/chapter viii the inroads of.htm

Palestine under Pagan Kings.
... in the twenty-first chapter, is recorded the marriage of Ishmael to an ... They could
avoid the unpleasant consciousness of probable murder, and make something out ...
/.../headley/half hours in bible lands volume 2/palestine under pagan kings.htm

'A Mirror for Magistrates'
... over you in all matters of the Lord; and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the ruler ... priest,
and the latter by 'the ruler of the house of Judah.' Murder cases and ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/a mirror for magistrates.htm

Scenes in the Lives of the Patriarchs.
... to train him for the Lord, and therefore when she saw young Ishmael mocking at ... hopes;
plotting at the same time, in his awakened enmity, the murder of Jacob. ...
/.../headley/half hours in bible lands volume 2/scenes in the lives of.htm

Index i. Of Subjects
... gifts, and testaments, 259. Innocents, murder of the, i.214-216. Ishmael, son of
Elisha, vision by, i.138. Israel, unity of, i.3; merits of, 84, 86; ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/index i of subjects.htm