Definition: But when Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that [were] with him, heard of all the evil that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had done,
Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Jeremiah 41:11. It’s a really important part of understanding what happened in ancient Israel and how God reacted to it. Here's a simple explanation: The Basic Story: Jeremiah is writing about a time when the Israelites were being invaded by the Edomites (a group of people from Moab). During this invasion, Ishmael, the son of Nethaniah (who was a powerful king), had been involved in terrible acts – he had killed many Israelites and caused great harm. What Jeremiah is saying: Jeremiah says that when these leaders heard about all these evil deeds, God became very angry. He felt deeply disappointed and upset because of the wickedness and violence happening. Let's unpack it a bit: “But when…” : This immediately tells us this is a response to something that happened previously – the evil deeds. It’s not just a general statement about wrongdoing; it’s a reaction to specific actions. “Johanan the son of Kareah” : This refers to a specific leader among the commanders who were with Ishmael. “Kareah” means “the eldest,” so Johanan was the oldest of those leaders. “And all the captains of the forces that [were] with him…” : This emphasizes that it wasn’t just one person, but many people involved in these evil acts. It's a large group of commanders. “…heard of all the evil that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had done.” : This is the core of the verse. The leaders were aware of the terrible things Ishmael had been doing – killing Israelites and causing significant harm. What does it mean? Jeremiah’s words are a warning. It's saying that God sees these actions as a serious offense. He’s expressing his anger and disappointment because of the wickedness and violence perpetrated by these leaders. It's essentially a plea for judgment from God. In short: This verse is a dramatic statement about God’s reaction to evil – a powerful expression of divine displeasure and a call for justice. --- Do you want me to: Explain this verse in more detail? Give you some context about the time period it's from (the Babylonian exile)? Discuss what this verse might suggest about God’s perspective on human actions?