Bible Strands
Jeremiah 40:14
and said to him, “Are you aware that Baalis king of the Ammonites has sent Ishmael son of Nethaniah to take your life?” But Gedaliah son of Ahikam did not believe them.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Johanan and the field commanders approach Gedaliah at Mizpah to warn him about a plot against his life. They ask whether he knows that Baalis king of the Ammonites has sent Ishmael son of Nethaniah to kill him, but Gedaliah refuses to believe their report.
The words — The Hebrew phrase הֲ/יָדֹ֤עַ תֵּדַע (ha./ya.Do.a' te.Da') literally renders "are you really knowing" or "do you know," emphasizing a demand for confirmation of a hidden threat. The name בַּעֲלִ֣יס (ba.'a.Lis) identifies Baalis, the political power behind the assassination order.
The thread — The warning about Ishmael’s betrayal directly precedes the events of Jeremiah 41:10, where Ishmael carries out the massacre at Mizpah. The Ammonite royal house mentioned here also appears in 2 Samuel 10:1 and Jeremiah 25:21 as a recurring geopolitical actor opposing Judah.
Why it lands — The text demands a clear assessment of political threats before they materialize. It asks the reader to recognize how institutional denial of explicit warnings accelerates the collapse of a community.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And said unto him, Dost thou certainly know that Baalis the king of the Ammonites hath sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to slay thee? But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam believed them not.
Cross-references
- Jeremiah 41:10 Then Ishmael took captive all the remnant of the people of Mizpah—the daughters of the king along with all the others who remained in Mizpah—over whom Nebuzaradan captain of the guard had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam. Ishmael son of Nethaniah took them captive and set off to cross over to the Ammonites.
- 2 Samuel 10:1 Some time later, the king of the Ammonites died and was succeeded by his son Hanun.
- Jeremiah 25:21 Edom, Moab, and the Ammonites;
- 1 Samuel 11:1 Then Nahash the Ammonite came up and laid siege to Jabesh-gilead. All the men of Jabesh said to him, “Make a treaty with us, and we will serve you.”
- Proverbs 26:23 Like glaze covering an earthen vessel are burning lips and a wicked heart.
- Isaiah 26:10 Though grace is shown to the wicked man, he does not learn righteousness. In the land of righteousness he acts unjustly and fails to see the majesty of the LORD.
- Jeremiah 40:8 they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah—Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth, the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniah son of the Maacathite—they and their men.
- Jeremiah 41:2 Then Ishmael son of Nethaniah and the ten men who were with him got up and struck down Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, with the sword, killing the one whom the king of Babylon had appointed to govern the land.
- Jeremiah 49:1 Concerning the Ammonites, this is what the LORD says: “Has Israel no sons? Is he without heir? Why then has Milcom taken possession of Gad? Why have his people settled in their cities?
- Ezekiel 25:2 “Son of man, set your face against the Ammonites and prophesy against them.