But it came to pass in the seventh month, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, of the seed royal, came, and ten men with him, and smote Gedaliah, that he died, and the Jews and the Chaldees that were with him at Mizpah.
Ver. 25. Of the seed royal.] He therefore disdained that Gedaliah, a meaner man, was made governor. Self-love and envy teach men to turn the glass to see themselves bigger and others lesser than they are.
And smote Gedaliah.] Treacherously at a feast. Jer 41:2
And slew him.] Hereof Gedaliah had warning, but would not take it. Jer 40:13-14 The like is reported of Julius Caesar, of the duke of Guise in France, and others.
And the Jews and the Chaldees, &c.] All these he massacred; being thereunto incited by Baalis king of the Ammonites, with whom this bloody villain had kept himself out of the storm during the siege of Jerusalem. Jer 40:14