Jeremiah 41:8
But there were ten men among them who said to Ishmael, “Do not put us to death, for we have stores of wheat, barley, oil, and honey hidden in the fields.” So he refrained and did not put them to death with their companions.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Ishmael's brutal massacre wasn't just blind rage; it was driven by greed. He spared these ten men not out of mercy, but because their hidden stores of food were valuable "treasures" to him, especially in his likely escape. This shows how even horrific violence can be motivated by the desire for earthly gain.
Ishmael, a descendant of David, has just assassinated Gedaliah, the governor appointed by the Babylonians, along with many Judeans and Chaldean soldiers. These ten men, caught in the ensuing massacre, quickly offer Ishmael their hidden stores of food, appealing to his greed rather than his mercy. Ishmael, driven by avarice, spares them so they can retrieve these provisions, which he likely intends to use for his own escape back to the Ammonites.
In a moment of brutal slaughter, ten men are spared. What was their secret weapon against Ishmael's murderous rage?
Ishmael and his men are in a state of utter lawlessness, carrying out a violent act. Amidst this horror, ten men appeal to Ishmael not for mercy based on shared humanity, but on the promise of material wealth.
Hidden Stores
They reveal they have "treasures" – hidden stores of wheat, barley, oil, and honey – concealed in the fields. This wasn't just a casual stash; it was a common practice in the East during times of turmoil to hide valuable crops in underground pits or cisterns. These were sealed to protect the goods from pests and discovery.
A Bribe for Life
Their plea is essentially a bribe. They offer their hidden wealth, not as payment for past wrongs, but as a down payment for their lives. This economic incentive, this promise of tangible gain, proves more powerful than Ishmael's immediate bloodlust.
Ishmael's hands are stained with blood, yet he stops short of a complete massacre. What unexpected motive brings his cruelty to a halt?
The text makes it clear that Ishmael's decision to spare these ten men wasn't driven by a sudden pang of conscience or a change of heart. Instead, his cruelty was curbed by his greed.
Greed Over Bloodlust
Commentators consistently point out that Ishmael's 'avarice' or 'covetousness' overcame his 'cruelty.' He saw the value in the hidden provisions – essential supplies for his escape or his future plans. The potential loss of these 'treasures' became a greater concern than the immediate act of slaughter.
A Monster with a Weakness
This reveals a complex, albeit grim, picture of Ishmael. He is capable of immense barbarity, like a 'lion' or a 'wolf,' yet he is also driven by basic needs and the desire for gain, like a 'hungry man.' His savagery had a price, and when that price was offered in the form of valuable goods, his violence was momentarily restrained.
This event unfolds in a moment of extreme lawlessness and desperation following the destruction of Jerusalem. Ishmael's brutality is tempered only by his greed for the hidden food supplies, revealing how even in devastation, basic needs and avarice can dictate actions.
587 BC
Fall of Jerusalem
The Babylonians conquer Jerusalem after a lengthy siege, destroying the Temple and much of the city. Many Judeans are exiled, but a significant number remain.
c. 586 BC
Gedaliah Appointed Governor
Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, appoints Gedaliah, a Judean nobleman, as governor over the remaining population in Mizpah.
c. 586 BC
Ishmael's Assassination Plot
Ishmael, of the royal line, conspires with Baalis, king of the Ammonites, to assassinate Gedaliah and seize power.
c. 586 BC
Assassination of Gedaliah
Ishmael and his men murder Gedaliah and other Judeans and Babylonians in Mizpah, initiating a period of chaos.
c. 586 BC
This proverb highlights how wealth can be a ransom for a life, directly paralleling how the hidden stores of food became the bargaining chip for survival in Jeremiah's account.
Luke 12:16-21This parable of the rich fool shows the misplaced trust in material possessions, similar to how these men's 'treasures' were their immediate hope, yet contrasted with the ultimate value of life itself.
Genesis 37:28This passage shows Ishmaelites involved in trading, foreshadowing a similar Ishmael figure motivated by material gain, though in this case, it's the desire to seize existing 'treasures' rather than trade.
Matthew 6:19-20Jesus contrasts earthly treasures with heavenly ones; in Jeremiah, the 'treasures' saved their lives temporarily, illustrating the fleeting nature of earthly wealth when compared to eternal value.
barnesJeremiah 41:8: "But ten men were found among them that said unto Ishmael, Slay us not: for we have treasures in the field, of wheat, and of barley, and of oil, and of honey. So he forbare, and slew them not among their brethren."
Treasures - Hidden stores; which would be of great value to Ishmael in his retreat back to Baalis.
calvinJeremiah 41:8: "But ten men were found among them that said unto Ishmael, Slay us not: for we have treasures in the field, of wheat, and of barley, and of oil, and of honey. So he forbare, and slew them not among their brethren."
But ten men were found among them that said unto Ishmael, Slay us not: for we have treasures in the field, of wheat, and of barley, and of oil, and of honey. So he forbare, and slew them not among their brethren.
Decem autem homines inventi sunt in ipsis qui dix…
Ishmael's brutal massacre wasn't just blind rage; it was driven by greed. He spared these ten men not out of mercy, but because their hidden stores of food were valuable "treasures" to him, especially in his likely escape. This shows how even horrific violence can be motivated by the desire for earthly gain.
Ishmael, a descendant of David, has just assassinated Gedaliah, the governor appointed by the Babylonians, along with many Judeans and Chaldean soldiers. These ten men, caught in the ensuing massacre, quickly offer Ishmael their hidden stores of food, appealing to his greed rather than his mercy. Ishmael, driven by avarice, spares them so they can retrieve these provisions, which he likely intends to use for his own escape back to the Ammonites.
Ishmael, a descendant of David, has just assassinated Gedaliah, the governor appointed by the Babylonians, along with many Judeans and Chaldean soldiers. These ten men, caught in the ensuing massacre, quickly offer Ishmael their hidden stores of food, appealing to his greed rather than his mercy. Ishmael, driven by avarice, spares them so they can retrieve these provisions, which he likely intends to use for his own escape back to the Ammonites.
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Ishmael's Massacre at Mizpah
Ishmael slaughters a group of Judean worshippers who had come to Mizpah to offer sacrifices, then takes captive other residents.
c. 586 BC
Escape to Egypt
Fearing Babylonian reprisal, a group of Judeans, including the prophet Jeremiah, are led by Johanan into exile in Egypt.
"But there were ten men among them who said to Ishmael, “Do not put us to death, for we have stores of wheat, barley, oil, and honey hidden in the fields.” So he refrained and did not put them to death with their companions." — Ishmael's brutal massacre wasn't just blind rage; it was driven by greed. He spared these ten men not out of mercy, but because their hidden stores of food were valuable "treasures" to him, especiall…
