7 Yet it turned out that as soon as they came inside the city , Ishmael the son of Nethaniah and the men that were with him slaughtered them and cast them into the cistern . 8 But ten men who were found among them said to Ishmael , "Do not put us to death ; for we have stores of wheat , barley , oil and honey hidden in the field ." So he refrained and did not put them to death along with their companions . 9 Now as for the cistern where e Ishmael had cast all the corpses of the men whom he had struck down because of Gedaliah , it was the one that King Asa had made on account e of Baasha , king of Israel ; Ishmael the son of Nethaniah filled it with the slain .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Jeremiah 41:7-9
Commentary on Jeremiah 41:1-10
(Read Jeremiah 41:1-10)
Those who hate the worshippers of God, often put on the appearance of piety, that they may the easier hurt them. As death often meets men where they least expect it, we should continually search whether we are in such a state and frame of mind, as we would wish to be found in when called to appear before our Judge. Sometimes the ransom of a man's life is his riches. But those who think to bribe death, saying, Slay us not, for we have treasures in the field, will find themselves wretchedly deceived. This melancholy history warns us, never to be secure in this world. We never can be sure of peace on this side heaven.