Chapter 40 – FAMILIA MUNDIAL
1 [1] This word: actually, no further word of the Lord is recorded until ⇒ 42:7-9. This is a title affixed to the following chapters after they were attached to an earlier form of the book ending with Jer 39.
2 [6] Mizpah: some five miles northwest of Jerusalem, where Israel chose its first king (⇒ 1 Sam 10:17-24). Presumably Jerusalem had been damaged too much by the Chaldean conquest to remain a seat of government.
3 [8] Jezaniah: the seal ring of a high official of this name was discovered in 1932 at the site usually identified with Mizpah, Tell en-Nasbe.
4 [14] The Ammonites: they resented the survival of their ancient enemy, Judah. Ishmael: their willing tool, who doubtless aspired to rule over Judah himself, as he was of the house of David; cf ⇒ Jeremiah 41:1.