In the seventh month Ishmael son of Nethaniah, of the seed royal, smites Gedaliah at Mizpah, and the pit of Asa is filled with the slain; eighty pilgrims with cut beards and rent garments are deceived; Johanan recovers the captives by the great waters that are in Gibeon.
Tap any Hebrew word to reveal its root, value, and meanings.
Now it came to pass in the seventh month, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, of the seed royal, and one of the chief officers of the king, and ten men with him, came to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah; and there they did eat bread together in Mizpah.
verse value 6047
Insights
Verse structure: 22 words, 109 letters. The shortest word is "went·in" (בָּ֣א, 2 letters) and the longest is "son·of·Elishama" (בֶן־אֱלִישָׁמָ֣ע, 8 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "son·of·Elishama" (בֶן־אֱלִישָׁמָ֣ע), "seed" (מִזֶּ֣רַע), "the·kingdom" (הַ֠מְּלוּכָ֠ה). The root בין appears 3 times in this verse. 19 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "to·Gedaliah" (root איל, 293x in Jeremiah); "the·kingdom" (root מלך, 253x in Jeremiah); "and·it·was" (root היה, 250x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'to·Mizpah', dividing the verse into phrases of 17 and 5 words.
Rashi
And [one of] the king's nobles. The king's officers became jealous of him because he had taken upon himself greatness.
Radak
"And it came to pass in the seventh month." Just as the phrase "tomorrow is the new month" [appears in Scripture]. And on Rosh Hashanah, Gedaliah son of Ahikam was killed, and they established the fast for the day after Rosh Hashanah, because Rosh Hashanah is a festival.
“From the seed of royalty.” The kingship of the House of David, and he was jealous of Gedaliah, whom the king of Babylon had appointed as governor over the land. And our Sages of blessed memory interpreted that this Ishmael was the son of converts, for Jerahmeel took a wife whose name was Atarah, as it is written in Chronicles. And they said that this Atarah was a gentile woman and a daughter of kings, and Jerahmeel took her to adorn himself with her, because she was a daughter of kings; therefore he named her Atarah. And they said: Do not trust a convert until twenty-four generations. And from Atarah to this Ishmael there were twenty-four generations, as is written there. And behold, he killed Gedaliah.
"And the king's officers." Some of the officers of King Zedekiah, for they did not all go with him.
Metzudat David
“Ishmael came.” From the land of the children of Ammon:
"And the king's nobles." The mem of "mizzera" ["of the seed"] serves in two ways: as if it said "with the king's nobles" — meaning that he was also among the king's officers; and as if it said that because he was of royal descent, [he was] a great officer before the king. For this reason he became jealous of Gedaliah, because he had taken the high position.
Metzudat Zion
"And the nobles of." The matter of authority, as in [the verse] "and all the nobles of the king of Babylon" (above, 39).
Bread. Every meal is called by the name of the bread.
Malbim
“Ismael came, etc.” — from the royal lineage. This is one reason: because he killed Gedaliah, since he was of royal descent, he thought that the governorship was due to him (second reason). “And they struck Gedaliah, etc., whom the king of Babylon had appointed over the land” — therefore he killed him, for he had been sent by the king of the Ammonites, who hated the king of Babylon and desired that the Land of Israel be under his rule. “And they struck him, and he died” — they struck him, and Ismael completed his death with his own hands.
Then arose Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and the ten men that were with him, and smote Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan with the sword, and slew him, whom the king of Babylon had made governor over the land.
verse value 6871
Insights
Verse structure: 17 words, 90 letters. The shortest word is "with·him" (אִתּ֗וֹ, 3 letters) and the longest is "Gedaliah" (אֶת־גְּדַלְיָ֨הוּ, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 407: with·him, him. 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "and·arose" (וַיָּ֩קׇם֩), "and·ten" (וַעֲשֶׂ֥רֶת), "and·they·smote" (וַ֠יַּכּ֠וּ). The root בין appears 3 times in this verse. 12 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "who·were" (root אשר, 459x in Jeremiah); "king·of·Babylon" (root מלך, 253x in Jeremiah); "in·the·land" (root ארץ, 245x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'him', dividing the verse into phrases of 14 and 3 words.
Radak
"Whom he appointed." The explanation is that he [Ishmael] was jealous of him [Gedaliah], because the king of Babylon had appointed him over the land.
Metzudat David
And they struck. All of them struck him, and only Ishmael killed him.
"asher hifkid." Just as [the phrase] "al asher hifkid" means: the cause was because he entrusted him in the land, and [someone] became jealous of him.
Ishmael also slew all the Jews that were with him, even with Gedaliah, at Mizpah, and the Chaldeans that were found there, even the men of war.
verse value 5327
Insights
Verse structure: 14 words, 74 letters. The shortest word is "and" (וְאֵ֣ת, 3 letters) and the longest is "all·Jew" (כׇּל־הַיְּהוּדִ֗ים, 9 letters). Words sharing gematria 407: and, with·him. 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "were·found·there" (נִמְצְאוּ־שָׁ֑ם). The root אשר appears 2 times in this verse. 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "who·were" (root אשר, 459x in Jeremiah); "all·Jew" (root כל, 167x in Jeremiah); "man" (root איש, 153x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'were·found·there', dividing the verse into phrases of 9 and 5 words.
Metzudat David
"the men of war." For the rest of the people he took captive, as it is stated in the matter:
Malbim
“And all the Jews who were with him”—this refers to the Jews who were there for the sake of Gedaliah, namely his warriors. And therefore it says “with Gedaliah,” for he did not kill the Jews who dwelt there; rather, he killed all the Chaldeans who were found there. The verse then explains, “He struck those who were warriors,” and since all the Chaldeans were warriors, it therefore states “who were found there.” From among the Jews, he killed only the warriors, and the rest of the people he spared.
And it came to pass the second day after he had slain Gedaliah, and no man knew it,
verse value 1830
Insights
Verse structure: 8 words, 34 letters. The shortest word is "not" (לֹ֥א, 2 letters) and the longest is "Gedaliah" (אֶת־גְּדַלְיָ֑הוּ, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 31: and·it·was, not. 8 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "not" (root לא, 307x in Jeremiah); "and·it·was" (root היה, 250x in Jeremiah); "and·man" (root איש, 153x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Gedaliah', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 3 words. Full calculation: וַיְהִ֛י [and·it·was] (31) + בַּיּ֥וֹם [in·the·day] (58) + הַשֵּׁנִ֖י [second] (365) + לְהָמִ֣ית [to·put·to·death] (485) + אֶת־גְּדַלְיָ֑הוּ [Gedaliah] (459) + וְאִ֖ישׁ [and·man] (317) + לֹ֥א [not] (31) + יָדָֽע [knew] (84) = 1830.
Metzudat David
"And it came to pass on the second day." [This] connects to the verse that follows it.
"And no man knew." The matter was not yet known.
Malbim
"And it came to pass on the second day": Ishmael concealed the death of Gedaliah, and this is what is meant by "and no man knew." His intention was to find a pretext so that he could claim that he had killed him through legal judgment and due process. This was the scheme by which he killed the eighty men, as will be explained.
that there came certain men from Shechem, from Shiloh, and from Samaria, even fourscore men, having their beards shaven and their clothes rent, and having cut themselves, with meal-offerings and frankincense in their hand to bring them to the house of Hashem.
verse value 4545
Insights
Verse structure: 18 words, 86 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָֽה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "man" (אִ֔ישׁ, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·cutting·themselves" (וּמִתְגֹּֽדְדִ֑ים, 8 letters). 8 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "from·Shechem" (מִשְּׁכֶ֞ם), "from·Shiloh" (מִשִּׁל֤וֹ), "and·from·Samaria" (וּמִשֹּֽׁמְרוֹן֙). The root בוא appears 2 times in this verse. 16 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 725x in Jeremiah); "and·they·came" (root בוא, 211x in Jeremiah); "man" (root איש, 153x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'and·cutting·themselves', dividing the verse into phrases of 12 and 6 words.
Rashi
"To bring to the House of the Lord." When they departed from their homes, they were unaware of the destruction of the Temple; on the way, they heard the news, tore their garments, and shaved their beards.
"and they were gashed." This is the language of scratching:
Radak
Those who shave their beards and those who tear their garments: [this applies] on account of the destruction of the Temple.
"And gashed themselves." That they made scratches in their flesh for mourning.
"To bring [offerings] to the House of the Lord." For when they departed from their place, they did not know of the destruction of the Temple. And when they heard the news on the way, they shaved their beards, tore their garments, and gashed themselves. And it is a matter of wonder: from the fifth month, in which the Temple was destroyed, until the seventh month, how did they not hear in Shiloh, in Shechem, and in Samaria that Jerusalem had been captured, the Temple destroyed, and Israel exiled from it? And one must explain that they heard of the conquest of Jerusalem and the exile of Israel from it, but they thought that since Nebuzaradan had left the poor of the land, he also left the Temple [standing], so that it was not completely demolished and burned, whether in its entirety or in part, so that those remaining in the land could offer their sacrifices. And since they heard on the way that the House of the Lord had been burned, they tore their garments. And they also heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah over the land, and they were coming to him.
Metzudat David
"Shaved of the beard, etc." – This is a sign of grief and mourning for the destruction of Jerusalem and the Holy Temple, and for the exile of Judah.
"To bring the House of the Lord." It is possible that even after the Destruction they offered upon the altar, as our Sages of blessed memory stated: "I have heard that they offer even though there is no Temple" (Megillah 10a).
Metzudat Zion
Those who shave. From the language of “shaving the hair”:
"and they gashed themselves." This refers to the matter of gashing the flesh; similarly, "and they gashed themselves according to their custom" (1 Kings 18:28).
Malbim
"And men came" — He [Ishmael] desired to spread a report that Gedaliah had struck the men, meaning that he had commanded them to be killed because they were mourning the burning of the Temple, as it is stated that they were "shaven of their beards and rent their garments," and because they were bringing an offering and incense to the House of the Lord. He wished for every hearer to think that Nebuchadnezzar had commanded Gedaliah to kill all who mourned for the House of the Lord and all who went to offer incense there.
And Ishmael the son of Nethaniah went forth from Mizpah to meet them, weeping all along as he went; and it came to pass, as he met them, he said to them: ‘Come to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam.’
verse value 3876
Insights
Verse structure: 16 words, 79 letters. Notable word values: "to·them" (אֲלֵיהֶ֔ם) = 86, equal to Elohim. The shortest word is "going" (הֹלֵ֥ךְ, 3 letters) and the longest is "to·Gedaliah" (אֶל־גְּדַלְיָ֥הוּ, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 55: going, surely. 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "to·meet·them" (לִקְרָאתָם֙), "and·weeping" (וּבֹכֶ֑ה), "when·he·met" (כִּפְגֹ֣שׁ). The root בין appears 2 times in this verse. 14 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·said" (root אמר, 476x in Jeremiah); "to·Gedaliah" (root איל, 293x in Jeremiah); "and·it·was" (root היה, 250x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'and·weeping', dividing the verse into phrases of 8 and 8 words.
Radak
"He goes and weeps." This means that he would pretend to be weeping.
Metzudat David
"He goes his way and weeps": He pretends to weep over the loss of his homeland, in order to deceive them.
"Come." He diverted them from going to Jerusalem, for in Mizpah he had a suitable place to kill them.
Metzudat Zion
As he met [them]. The matter of meeting/encounter:
Malbim
(6–7) "And Ishmael went out to meet them" — he went weeping, making himself appear as if he were weeping and lamenting over this decree that Gedaliah had issued to kill those who were going to the House of the Lord. And he said to them, "Come to Gedaliah," so that they would think that they were being killed by Gedaliah's decree. And when they came within the city, he slaughtered them and threw them into the pit. And all of this he did by Gedaliah's decree.
And it was so, when they came into the midst of the city, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah slew them, and cast them into the midst of the pit, he, and the men that were with him.
verse value 4235
Insights
Verse structure: 12 words, 62 letters. The shortest word is "he" (ה֖וּא, 3 letters) and the longest is "son·of·Nethaniah" (בֶּן־נְתַנְיָה֙, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 457: to·midst, to·midst. 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "when·they·came" (כְּבוֹאָ֖ם), "and·he·slew·them" (וַיִּשְׁחָטֵ֞ם), "and·the·men" (וְהָאֲנָשִׁ֥ים). The root איל appears 2 times in this verse. 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that·with·him" (root אשר, 459x in Jeremiah); "to·midst" (root איל, 293x in Jeremiah); "and·it·was" (root היה, 250x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'the·city', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 8 words. Full calculation: וַיְהִ֕י [and·it·was] (31) + כְּבוֹאָ֖ם [when·they·came] (69) + אֶל־תּ֣וֹךְ [to·midst] (457) + הָעִ֑יר [the·city] (285) + וַיִּשְׁחָטֵ֞ם [and·he·slew·them] (373) + יִשְׁמָעֵ֤אל [Ishmael] (451) + בֶּן־נְתַנְיָה֙ [son·of·Nethaniah] (567) + אֶל־תּ֣וֹךְ [to·midst] (457) + הַבּ֔וֹר [pit] (213) + ה֖וּא [he] (12) + וְהָאֲנָשִׁ֥ים [and·the·men] (412) + אֲשֶׁר־אִתּֽוֹ [that·with·him] (908) = 4235.
Metzudat David
"And he slaughtered them." It is possible that his intention was that the matter not be revealed through them too quickly after the assassination of Gedaliah, so that they would not pursue him.
"Into the pit." That is, the one that was already there.
"He and the men." He slaughtered them together with his men.
But ten men were found among them that said to Ishmael: ‘Slay us not; for we have stores hidden in the field, of wheat, and of barley, and of oil, and of honey.’ So he forbore, and slew them not among their brethren.
verse value 6292
Insights
Verse structure: 18 words, 95 letters. Verse gematria: 6292 is divisible by 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "and·not" (וְלֹ֥א, 3 letters) and the longest is "to·Ishmael" (אֶל־יִשְׁמָעֵאל֙, 8 letters). 8 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "were·found·among·them" (נִמְצְאוּ־בָ֗ם), "do·not·kill·us" (אַל־תְּמִתֵ֔נוּ), "for·we·have" (כִּֽי־יֶשׁ־לָ֤נוּ). The root איל appears 2 times in this verse. 16 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·they·said" (root אמר, 476x in Jeremiah); "and·not" (root לא, 307x in Jeremiah); "to·Ishmael" (root איל, 293x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'honey', dividing the verse into phrases of 13 and 5 words.
Metzudat David
They were found among them. "Among those coming from Shechem, etc.":
For we have, etc. And we will say to you: You take it.
"And he ceased." He ceased from them, and did not kill them.
Metzudat Zion
Matmonim. Treasures, so called because it is customary to hide them in a hiding place.
Malbim
And ten men were found among them. In their calculation, they thought that Gedaliah had commanded them to be struck down because of their going to the House of the Lord. They said, “Do not kill us, for we have hidden treasures in the field, and we will give a bribe to Gedaliah if he spares our lives.” Therefore, he did not kill them, so that people would think that all of this was done by Gedaliah’s command. His intention was either to instill fear in the survivors, so that they would think that Nebuchadnezzar had appointed Gedaliah to murder the innocent among those mourning the destruction; or it was so that everyone would rejoice and approve of him for having killed Gedaliah, who had shed blood without due process. This is what the verse states: “And the pit into which Ishmael had thrown the bodies of the men whom he had struck down by the hand of Gedaliah”—meaning that he truly struck them down by Gedaliah’s hand and by his command. The phrase “by Gedaliah’s hand” refers to the fact that he claimed that Gedaliah had commanded them to be killed. This [the pit] is the one that King Asa had made on account of Baasha. This teaches us what sin brings about. For it has already been explained (1 Kings 15:17) that Baasha built Ramah in order to prevent anyone from going out or coming in to Asa, king of Judah. That is to say, to thereby prevent the Israelites from going up for the pilgrim festivals. Their primary route for the pilgrimage was through Mizpah, as it is stated (Hosea 5:1): “For you have been a snare at Mizpah.” There too, Asa’s armies stood to guard those going up for the pilgrimage and to fight against Baasha’s forces. He dug the pit to supply water for his armies. Thus, this pit, which was made to assist those going to the House of the Lord, now, because of the sins of the generation, the corpses of those going to the House of the Lord were thrown into it.
Now the pit wherein Ishmael cast all the dead bodies of the men whom he had slain by the side of Gedaliah was that which Asa the king had made for fear of Baasa king of Israel; the same Ishmael the son of Nethaniah filled with them that were slain.
verse value 7480
Insights
Verse structure: 24 words, 107 letters. The shortest word is "there" (שָׁ֤ם, 2 letters) and the longest is "in·hand·of·Gedaliah" (בְּיַד־גְּדַלְיָ֔הוּ, 9 letters). Words sharing gematria 501: that, that, that. 7 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "and·the·pit" (וְהַבּ֗וֹר), "has·cast·down" (הִשְׁלִ֨יךְ), "all·corpses·of" (כׇּל־פִּגְרֵ֣י). The root אשר appears 3 times in this verse. 19 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that" (root אשר, 459x in Jeremiah); "king" (root מלך, 253x in Jeremiah); "man" (root איש, 153x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'king·Israel', dividing the verse into phrases of 19 and 5 words.
Rashi
"Whom he struck down in the affair of Gedaliah." Since he ought to have heeded the counsel of Johanan ben Kareah and did not heed it, it was accounted against him as though they had been killed by his hand.
Radak
"Whom he struck by the hand of Gedaliah." Because of Gedaliah, for he was the cause of their being killed, for on his account he came to Mizpah to strike him, and once he had killed Gedaliah, he also killed those who were with him and those who came to him. And similarly, "is the hand of Joab with you" means: his cause, if he brought about the matter. And one could explain "by the hand of Gedaliah" as meaning "in place of Gedaliah," i.e., in the place where he was, in Mizpah. And similarly, "and you shall have a place [יד]" [Deut. 23:13] and "each man by his place [ידו]" [Num. 2:17] — the meaning [of יד in each] is "a place." And our Sages of blessed memory said: Did Gedaliah kill them? Was it not Ishmael who killed them? Rather, since he ought to have heeded the counsel of Johanan and did not heed it, Scripture attributes it to him as though they were killed by his hand.
That which King Asa did because of Baasha. This cistern is not mentioned except in this place, and Jonathan's Targum translates: "That which King Asa did when Baasha besieged him."
Metzudat David
In the hand of Gedaliah. In the place of Gedaliah in Mizpah:
"He" – this is the well that he made, etc.
"Because of Baasha." So that he would not be able to come there when he fought against him.
"That one." This cistern:
Metzudat Zion
"By the hand of Gedaliah." [Meaning] in place of, i.e. on account of, Gedaliah — like the term "Absalom's Monument" [yad Avshalom] (2 Samuel 18:18).
Then Ishmael carried away captive all the residue of the people that were in Mizpah, even the king’s daughters, and all the people that remained in Mizpah, whom Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had committed to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam; Ishmael the son of Nethaniah carried them away captive, and departed to go over to the children of Ammon.
verse value 9277
Insights
Verse structure: 24 words, 133 letters. The shortest word is "the·people" (הָעָ֜ם, 3 letters) and the longest is "all·rest" (אֶת־כׇּל־שְׁאֵרִ֨ית, 9 letters). Words sharing gematria 501: that, that. 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "all·rest" (אֶת־כׇּל־שְׁאֵרִ֨ית), "daughters·of" (אֶת־בְּנ֤וֹת), "and·all·the·people" (וְאֶת־כׇּל־הָעָם֙). The root שבה appears 2 times in this verse. 16 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that" (root אשר, 459x in Jeremiah); "to·sons·of" (root איל, 293x in Jeremiah); "king" (root מלך, 253x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'son·of·Ahikam', dividing the verse into phrases of 17 and 7 words.
Radak
“Daughters of the king.” For Ishmael did not strike only the men of war who were in Mizpah, but the people who were not men of war, and the women and children, Ishmael captured them. And the daughters of the king who remained with Gedaliah, he also captured them. And Nebuzaradan did not exile them with the exile, but he left them with the common people. And we do not know whether the daughters of the king were those of Zedekiah, or those of Jehoiachin, or those of Jehoiakim.
"To pass [over] the children of Ammon." Like "to the children of Ammon." And likewise, "and show it to the priest" is like "to the priest." And "to whom have you uttered words" is like "to whom."
Metzudat David
"And he took captive." He took captive the people who came of their own accord to Mizpah, as stated above, and the people whom Nebuzaradan had left, whom he had placed with Gedaliah.
"And he took them captive." Since the matter had become prolonged, he returned and repeated, "And he took them captive."
"And he went to pass over." He went with them to pass over to the children of Ammon, to dwell there.
Metzudat Zion
"And he took captive." From the language of captivity:
He entrusted. From the language of a deposit and a placing:
"And he took them captive." From the language of captivity.
Malbim
"And he took captive all the remnant of the people who were in Mizpah" — from those who had returned to the Land of Israel (as stated above, 2 Kings 25:11); and all the people remaining, from those who had been in the Land of Israel already, over whom Nebuzaradan had appointed [Gedaliah].
But when Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were with him, heard of all the evil that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had done,
verse value 5112
Insights
Verse structure: 13 words, 60 letters. Verse gematria: 5112 is divisible by 18, the value of chai ('life'). The shortest word is "that" (אֲשֶׁ֣ר, 3 letters) and the longest is "son·of·Nethaniah" (בֶּן־נְתַנְיָֽה, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 501: that, that. The root בין appears 2 times in this verse. 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that" (root אשר, 459x in Jeremiah); "and·he·heard" (root שמע, 184x in Jeremiah); "all·the·evil" (root כל, 167x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'with·him', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 6 words.
Metzudat David
"And he heard." In the place where he was, for he was not then in Mizpah.
then they took all the men, and went to fight with Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and found him by the great waters that are in Gibeon.
verse value 3867
Insights
Verse structure: 12 words, 67 letters. The shortest word is "him" (אֹת֔וֹ, 3 letters) and the longest is "all·the·men" (אֶת־כׇּל־הָ֣אֲנָשִׁ֔ים, 10 letters). 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "all·the·men" (אֶת־כׇּל־הָ֣אֲנָשִׁ֔ים), "with·Ishmael" (עִם־יִשְׁמָעֵ֣אל), "and·they·found" (וַיִּמְצְא֣וּ). 12 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that" (root אשר, 459x in Jeremiah); "all·the·men" (root איש, 153x in Jeremiah); "son·of·Nethaniah" (root בין, 146x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'son·of·Nethaniah', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 6 words. Full calculation: וַיִּקְחוּ֙ [and·took] (130) + אֶת־כׇּל־הָ֣אֲנָשִׁ֔ים [all·the·men] (857) + וַיֵּ֣לְכ֔וּ [and·went] (72) + לְהִלָּחֵ֖ם [to·fight] (113) + עִם־יִשְׁמָעֵ֣אל [with·Ishmael] (561) + בֶּן־נְתַנְיָ֑ה [son·of·Nethaniah] (567) + וַיִּמְצְא֣וּ [and·they·found] (153) + אֹת֔וֹ [him] (407) + אֶל־מַ֥יִם [sheaf] (121) + רַבִּ֖ים [many] (252) + אֲשֶׁ֥ר [that] (501) + בְּגִבְעֽוֹן [in·Gibeon] (133) = 3867.
Rashi
"To the great waters." [This refers to] the pool of many waters [Aramaic: 'birkat mayin saggi'in' — i.e., the pool of Gibeon].
Radak
"To the many waters that are in Gibeon." Like "upon." And likewise, "upon the mountains he does not eat" [Ezek. 18:6] is like "upon." And Jonathan's Targum translates: "upon the pool of the many waters that is in Gibeon."
Metzudat David
"All the men. Who were with them:"
“Unto many waters.” Refers to the pool of abundant waters.
Now it came to pass, that when all the people that were with Ishmael saw Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were with him, then they were glad.
verse value 5409
Insights
Verse structure: 13 words, 63 letters. The shortest word is "that" (אֲשֶׁ֣ר, 3 letters) and the longest is "Ishmael" (אֶת־יִשְׁמָעֵ֔אל, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 501: that, that. 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "when·seeing" (כִּרְא֤וֹת), "Johanan" (אֶת־יֽוֹחָנָן֙), "and·they·rejoiced" (וַיִּשְׂמָֽחוּ). The root אשר appears 2 times in this verse. 9 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that" (root אשר, 459x in Jeremiah); "and·it·was" (root היה, 250x in Jeremiah); "all·the·people" (root כל, 167x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'with·him', dividing the verse into phrases of 12 and 1 words. Full calculation: וַיְהִ֗י [and·it·was] (31) + כִּרְא֤וֹת [when·seeing] (627) + כׇּל־הָעָם֙ [all·the·people] (165) + אֲשֶׁ֣ר [that] (501) + אֶת־יִשְׁמָעֵ֔אל [Ishmael] (852) + אֶת־יֽוֹחָנָן֙ [Johanan] (525) + בֶּן־קָרֵ֔חַ [son·of·Kareah] (360) + וְאֵ֛ת [and] (407) + כׇּל־שָׂרֵ֥י [all·the·princes·of] (560) + הַחֲיָלִ֖ים [strength] (103) + אֲשֶׁ֣ר [that] (501) + אִתּ֑וֹ [with·him] (407) + וַיִּשְׂמָֽחוּ [and·they·rejoiced] (370) = 5409.
But Ishmael the son of Nethaniah escaped from Johanan with eight men, and went to the children of Ammon. .
verse value 2580
Insights
Verse structure: 10 words, 50 letters. Verse gematria: 2580 is divisible by 86, the value of Elohim. The shortest word is "has·escaped" (נִמְלַט֙, 4 letters) and the longest is "and·Ishmael" (וְיִשְׁמָעֵ֣אל, 7 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "has·escaped" (נִמְלַט֙), "with·eight" (בִּשְׁמֹנָ֣ה). 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "to·sons·of" (root איל, 293x in Jeremiah); "man" (root איש, 153x in Jeremiah); "son·of·Nethaniah" (root בין, 146x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Johanan', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 3 words. Full calculation: וְיִשְׁמָעֵ֣אל [and·Ishmael] (457) + בֶּן־נְתַנְיָ֗ה [son·of·Nethaniah] (567) + נִמְלַט֙ [has·escaped] (129) + בִּשְׁמֹנָ֣ה [with·eight] (397) + אֲנָשִׁ֔ים [man] (401) + מִפְּנֵ֖י [from·face·of] (180) + יוֹחָנָ֑ן [Johanan] (124) + וַיֵּ֖לֶךְ [and·went] (66) + אֶל־בְּנֵ֥י [to·sons·of] (93) + עַמּֽוֹן [Ammon] (166) = 2580.
Metzudat David
He escaped. He fled and saved his life along with eight men:
Metzudat Zion
He escaped. The matter of release and salvation:
Regarding the word "bishmonah" (with eight). The letter bet stands in place of [the word] "im" ("with"). And so too [with the word] "rak" (only), [as in the verse]: "Has [the Lord] indeed spoken only with Moses?" (Numbers 12:2).
Then took Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were with him, all the remnant of the people whom he had recovered from Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, from Mizpah, after that he had slain Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the men, even the men of war, and the women, and the children, and the officers, whom he had brought back from Gibeon;
verse value 9762
Insights
Verse structure: 28 words, 136 letters. The shortest word is "the·people" (הָעָם֙, 3 letters) and the longest is "all·rest" (כׇּל־שְׁאֵרִ֤ית, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 501: that, that. 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "Gedaliah" (אֶת־גְּדַלְיָ֖ה), "men" (גְּבָרִ֞ים), "and·chamberlains" (וְסָ֣רִסִ֔ים). The root בין appears 3 times in this verse. 21 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that·with·him" (root אשר, 459x in Jeremiah); "all·rest" (root כל, 167x in Jeremiah); "man" (root איש, 153x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'son·of·Ahikam', dividing the verse into phrases of 19 and 9 words.
Radak
And eunuchs. Jonathan [ben Uzziel] translates: "And the nobles."
Metzudat David
"From Mizpah." [Referring to those] whom Ishmael had taken captive from Mizpah, after he had slain Gedaliah.
"Men, etc." – This phrase refers back to the beginning of the verse, "And Johanan took, etc.," whom he had brought back from Gibeon, while pursuing Ishmael.
Metzudat Zion
Men. Men:
And eunuchs. A type of dominion:
Malbim
“Who brought back from Ishmael”—for when Ishmael departed, many people remained in the vicinity of Mizpah, and their intention was to go as well to the land of the children of Ammon after Ishmael. Johanan turned them back from the way. “And the men of war whom he brought back from Gibeon”—these were those whom Ishmael had taken with him, and Johanan found them at Gibeon.
and they departed, and dwelt in Geruth Chimham, which is by Beth-lehem, to go to enter into Egypt,
verse value 3234
Insights
Verse structure: 11 words, 49 letters. The shortest word is "house·of" (בֵּ֣ית, 3 letters) and the longest is "that·was·beside" (אֲשֶׁר־אֵ֖צֶל, 6 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "in·lodging·place·of" (בְּגֵר֣וּת), "like·them" ((כמוהם)), "Chimham" (כִּמְהָ֔ם). The root הלך appears 2 times in this verse. 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that·was·beside" (root אשר, 459x in Jeremiah); "to·come" (root בוא, 211x in Jeremiah); "and·dwelt" (root ישב, 147x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'bread', dividing the verse into phrases of 8 and 3 words. Full calculation: וַיֵּלְכ֗וּ [and·they·went] (72) + וַיֵּֽשְׁבוּ֙ [and·dwelt] (324) + בְּגֵר֣וּת [in·lodging·place·of] (611) + (כמוהם) [like·them] (111) + כִּמְהָ֔ם [Chimham] (105) + אֲשֶׁר־אֵ֖צֶל [that·was·beside] (622) + בֵּ֣ית [house·of] (412) + לָ֑חֶם [bread] (78) + לָלֶ֖כֶת [to·go] (480) + לָב֥וֹא [to·come] (39) + מִצְרָֽיִם [Egypt] (380) = 3234.
Rashi
"Geruth Chimham." [Named] Geruth because David gave it to Chimham, son of Barzillai the Gileadite, when he returned from the war against Absalom, as it is stated in the Book of Samuel (2 Samuel 19:39): "Let Chimham cross over with me, etc."
Radak
"Geruth Chimham." In the place where Chimham son of Barzilai dwelt. Perhaps he built it and came to dwell there; therefore it was called by his name. And Jonathan's Targum translates: "the dwelling place that David gave to Chimham son of Barzilai the Gileadite."
Metzudat David
"In Geruth Chimham." [Meaning] the place where Chimham son of Barzillai the Gileadite dwelt — mentioned in II Samuel, who returned with David after Absalom was slain.
"To go. On the path that one walks to come to Egypt:"
Metzudat Zion
"Bagerut" [dwelling]. From the words 'sojourning' and 'dwelling place':
because of the Chaldeans; for they were afraid of them, because Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had slain Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, whom the king of Babylon made governor over the land.
verse value 3896
Insights
Verse structure: 13 words, 73 letters. The shortest word is "for" (כִּ֥י, 2 letters) and the longest is "Gedaliah" (אֶת־גְּדַלְיָ֙הוּ֙, 8 letters). 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "for·he·slew" (כִּֽי־הִכָּ֞ה). The root פנים appears 2 times in this verse. 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that·he·appointed" (root אשר, 459x in Jeremiah); "for" (root כי, 318x in Jeremiah); "king·of·Babylon" (root מלך, 253x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'from·their·face', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 8 words. Full calculation: מִפְּנֵי֙ [from·face·of] (180) + הַכַּשְׂדִּ֔ים [the·Chaldeans] (379) + כִּ֥י [for] (30) + יָֽרְא֖וּ [they·feared] (217) + מִפְּנֵיהֶ֑ם [from·their·face] (225) + כִּֽי־הִכָּ֞ה [for·he·slew] (60) + יִשְׁמָעֵ֣אל [Ishmael] (451) + בֶּן־נְתַנְיָ֗ה [son·of·Nethaniah] (567) + אֶת־גְּדַלְיָ֙הוּ֙ [Gedaliah] (459) + בֶּן־אֲחִיקָ֔ם [son·of·Ahikam] (211) + אֲשֶׁר־הִפְקִ֥יד [that·he·appointed] (700) + מֶלֶךְ־בָּבֶ֖ל [king·of·Babylon] (124) + בָּאָֽרֶץ [in·the·land] (293) = 3896.
Metzudat David
“Because of the Chaldeans.” They wished to go there because of the Chaldeans.
"For he struck, etc." And they were concerned lest the Chaldeans misconstrue the act, claiming that it was done with the consent of all, and that the killing of the king’s official would be regarded as rebellion.
Rashi
Radak
Metzudat David
Metzudat Zion
Malbim