John Trapp on Jeremiah 41:1

CHAP. XLI.

Ver. 1. NOw it came to paſſe in the ſeventh moneth] Within two or three moneths after the deſtruction of Jeruſalem. So ſoon did this wicked wretch, ſo ſpurred on by ambition (which ever rideth without reines) renew the miſerable fate of his forlorn Country. And the like did Barcocab and his ſeditions complices after the laſt devaſtation: thereby bringing upon themſelves again the Roman forces, who thereupon, under Adrian the Emperour, utterly took away both their place and their Nation.

That Iſhmael of the ſeed royal] And therefore affecting the Kingdom, or at leaſt the ruledom: and envying that Gedaliah (a new man, or muſhrom rather) ſhould be preferred before him.

And the Princes of the King] Who had been Princes, and Grandees, as the Hebrew hath it, in Zedekiak's dayes: with whom, likely, they fled and eſcaped, ſtealing away by night, though he could not, 2 King. 25.4.

Even ten men with him] Whom Iſhmael had promiſed, probably, to reſtore to their Principalities, when he ſhould be King or Viceroy at leaſt under Baalis King of Ammon, the great Engineer of all the enſuing miſchief wrought by Iſhmael and theſe ten Deſperado's together with their retinue.

Came unto Gedaliah] To whom before they had done homage: and now came, pretending to give him a friendly viſite.

Tuta frequenſque via eſt per amici fallere nomen: Tuta frequenſque licet ſit via, crimen habet.

And there they did eat bread] i. e. They feaſted. Much treachery and cruelty hath been exerciſed at feaſts. Abſolom ſlew Amnon at a feaſt: ſo did Zimri King Elah: ſo did Alexander, Philotas: ſo doth the great Turk, many of his Baſhaws; the black gown is caſt upon them as they ſit with him at ſupper, and then they are ſtrangled.