Jeremiah 41:1 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

JEREMIAH CHAPTER 41 Ishmael, under a color of friendship, killeth Gedaliah and others, both Jews and Chaldeans, Jeremiah 41:1-9. He purposeth to carry the residue captive to the Ammonites, but they are rescued from him by Johanan, who intendeth to flee into Egypt, Jeremiah 41:10-18. In the seventh month; that is, three months after the city was taken, Jeremiah 39:2. Ishmael the son of Nethaniah the son of Elishama, of the seed royal; the same Ishmael that came to Gedaliah, Jeremiah 40:8,9, to whom he sware protection; only here we are told that he was of the royal blood, which might both raise his spirits, as having a more legal pretence to the government, and rendered him a fitter instrument for Baalis, the king or queen of the Ammonites, to make use of. And the princes of the king, even ten men with him; some of the princes, who had escaped the army of the king of Babylon; they and their retinue came in pretended compliment to Gedaliah, who treated them kindly, they dined or supped with him.