Matthew Poole and continuators on Jeremiah 40:16

16 But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, said unto Johanan the son of Kareah, Thou shalt not do this thing, for thou speakest falsly of Ishmael .

Thus God dementates those whom he designeth to destroy. Gedaliah in this sheweth an excellent temper, not to be over credulous and suspicious, Charity thinks no ill, but not that Prudence which became a chief Magistrate. He ought to have been watchful against one, against whom he had received such an information, which we shall in the next chapter find he was not, but was slain by him.