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 unto them, Come to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam.
Ver. 6. And Ishmael came forth of Mizpah to meet them.] This was another manner of meeting than that at Mizpah in Samuel's days. 1Sa 7:3-6 O tempora! O mores!
Weeping all along as he went.] Oh deep dissimulation and crocodile's tears! a That creature, having killed some living beast, lieth upon the dead body, washeth the head thereof with her warm tears, which she afterwards devoureth together with the body. Tears, saith the author of the Turkish History, b speaking of Andronicus, another Ishmael, by nature were ordained to express the heaviness of the heart, flowing from the eyes as showers of rain from the clouds. In good men the most certain signs of greatest grief and sure testimonies of inward torment; but in Andronicus you are not so. You proceed of joy, you promise not to the distressed pity or compassion, but death and destruction. How many men's eyes have you put out! How many have you drowned! How many have you devoured! Thus he; and much more to like purpose.
Come to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam.] This he saith fraudulently, like Sinon in the poet, that he might fish and find out how they stood affected to Gedaliah, whom he so deadly hated, that he slaughtered these poor folk for once owning him, or owing him any service.
a Vide pessimum ingenium: luget ut lugentes perdat. - Oecolamp.
b Turkish History, fol. 56.