Matthew Poole and continuators on Jeremiah 41:9

9 Now the pit wherein Ishmael had cast all the dead bodies of the men (whom he had slain because of Gedaliah ) was it which Asa the king had made for fear of Baasha king of Israel, and Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, filled it with them that were slain .

The word which we translate because of [non-Latin text not transcribed] signifieth in the hand of Gedaliah, which hath given Criticks a scope to vary in their notion of it, and to translate it, in the power of. By occasion of, &c. But the learned Author of our English Annotations, saith the sense of the place is plain enough, chap. 38.10. we have the same term twice, where we have translated it, with thee, so here it doubtless signifies those who were with Gedaliah under his power or charge.

What pit this was is not so well agreed, that i[illegible: 1 letter] upon what occasion made, the Text telleth us it was digged by Asa King of Iudah, and that it was made for fear of Baasha the King of Israel, but whether it was to receive water, or to hinder Baasha's coming near some weak part of the City we are not told, and it is but vain to guess. We read 1 Kings 15.22. of Asa's fortifying Mizpah with the stones of Ramah, but of this pit we read nothing.

Marginal references: Or, near G[illegible: 1 letter] daliah.; Heb. by the hand or by the side of Gedali[illegible: 2 letters] ▪