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.
Ver. 2. Then arose Ishmael.] Taking the opportunity when Gedaliah and his guests were mero graves, saith Josephus, merry with wine, and so less able to resist.
And the ten men that were with.] They and their followers being pugnaces et audaces, barbarous and brutish persons, skilful to destroy. Eze 21:31
And smote Gedaliah the son of Ahikam.] See on Jeremiah 41:1 .
And slew him whom the king of Babylon had made governor.] Yea, for that very cause, per invidiam et libidinem regnandi. So true is that of the tragedian, a
“ Simul ista mundi conditor posuit Deus,
Odium atque regnum. ”
a Sen. in Thebaide.