johanan Summary and Overview

whom Jehovah graciously bestows. (1.) One of the Gadite heroes who joined David in the desert of Judah (1 Chr. 12:12). (2.) The oldest of King Josiah's sons (1 Chr. 3:15). (3.) Son of Careah, one of the Jewish chiefs who rallied round Gedaliah, whom Nebuchadnezzar had made governor in Jerusalem (2 Kings 25:23; Jer. 40:8). He warned Gedaliah of the plans of Ishmael against him, a warning which was unheeded (Jer. 40:13, 16). He afterwards pursued the murderer of the governor, and rescued the captives (41:8, 13, 15, 16). He and his associates subsequently fled to Tahpanhes in Egypt (43:2, 4, 5), taking Jeremiah with them. "The flight of Gedaliah's community to Egypt extinguished the last remaining spark of life in the Jewish state. The work of the ten centuries since Joshua crossed the Jordan had been undone."

(gift or grace of God). 1. Son of Azariah and grandson of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, and father of Azariah, 3. #1Ch 6:9,10| Authorized Version. 2. Son of Elioenai, the son of Neariah, the son of Shemaiah, in the line of Zerubbabel's heirs. #1Ch 3:24| (B.C. after 406.) 3. The son of Kaereah, and one of the captains of the scattered remnants of the army of Judah, who escaped in the final attack upon Jerusalem by the Chaldeans. (B.C. 588.) After the murder of Gedaliah, Johanan was one of the foremost in the pursuit of his assassin, and rescued the captives he had carried off from Mizpah. #Jer 41:11-16| Fearing the vengeance of the Chaldeans, the captains, with Johanan at their head, notwithstanding the warnings of Jeremiah, retired into Egypt. 4. The first-born son of Josiah king of Judah. #1Ch 3:15| (B.C. 638-610.) 5. A valiant Benjamite who joined David at Ziklag. #1Ch 12:4| (B.C. 1055.) 6. A Gadite warrior who followed David. #1Ch 12:12| 7. The father of Azariah, an Ephraimite in the time of Ahaz. #2Ch 28:12| 8. The son of Hakkatan, and chief of the Bene-Azgad who returned with Ezra. #Ezr 8:12| 9. The son of Eliashib, one of the chief Levites. #Ezr 10:6; Ne 12:23| 10. The son of Tobiah the Ammonite. #Ne 6:18|

JOHA'NAN (to whom Jehovah is merciful). 1. One of the captains of the army of Judah who came with their men unto Gedaliah, whom Nebuchadnezzar had appointed governor, and declared themselves "servants of the Chaldees." 2 Kgs 25:23-26. Having heard of the intention of Ishmael to kill Gedaliah he told the governor, at the same time requesting permission to kill Ishmael, but Gedaliah did not believe the report, and accused Johanan of lying. After Gedaliah was assassinated Johanan again took the lead, regathered the fugitives, and, although warned by Jeremiah against going down to Egypt, carried off the prophet and other Jews into that land, where he died. Jer 40:7-10; Jer 41, Jer 42, and Jer 43. 1. One of Josiah's sons. 1 Chr 3:15. 2. One of David's posterity. 1 Chr 3:24. 3. Son of Azariah, of the high-priestly line. 1 Chr 6:9-10 5., 6. A Benjamite and a Gadite who came to David at Ziklag. 1 Chr 12:4, 1 Chr 12:12. 1. The father of an Ephraimite chief in the reign of Ahaz. 2 Chr 28:12. 2. One who returned with Ezra. Ezr 8:12. 3. One of the chief Levites, in whose chamber Ezra mourned for the transgressions of the captives. Ezr 10:6; Neh 12:23. 4. The son-in-law of Meshullam. Neh 6:18.

= J EHOHANAN = "Jehovah's gift" = John. 1 Chronicles 6:9,19. Highpriest in Rehoboam's reign, as his father see AZARIAH was in Solomon's reign. 1. This requires the transposition of the clause, "he it is that executed the priest's office in the temple that Solomon built in Jerusalem" from 1 Chronicles 6:10 to follow Johanan's father "Azariah"in 1 Chronicles 6:9. Keil objects to this, and there is probably some omission of names in the genealogy (compare 1 Kings 4:2). 2. Son of Kareah. Captain of a band, a remnant of the Jewish army, after Jerusalem's overthrow by the Chaldees. (See GEDALIAH , see ISHMAEL , see JEREMIAH ). Johanan consulted the prophet that Jehovah, Jeremiah's God, might show the Jewish remnant "the way wherein to walk, and the thing to do" (Jeremiah 42); imitating pious Hezekiah's request for Isaiah's intercession (Isaiah 37:4), "lift up thy prayer for the remnant that is left." Johanan had already determined to go to Egypt whether it were God's will or not, but he wished if possible to have God's sanction (Jeremiah 42:20; compare 1 Kings 22:13,14). Jeremiah reminds Johanan and his company that Jehovah is their God as well as his (wholehearted obedience is therefore their part: Exodus 19:5,6; 1 Corinthians 6:19,20); and that He will pray, and whatsoever Jehovah shall answer he will declare, "keeping nothing back" (Acts 20:20). They called God to witness they would obey whatever Jehovah might command. Ten days they were kept waiting, to give them time to deliberate, that the sincerity of their professions might be tested (Deuteronomy 8:2). True obedience accepts God's time, as well as God's will, at all costs (contrast 1 Samuel 13:8-14,15); the ardour of hasty professions soon cools down. While he was declaring God's will that they should stay where they were, Jeremiah saw indications, in their countenance and manner, of disinclination to fulfill what they had so solemnly engaged. Men want to have the reputation of piety, yet to retain their darling lusts. The very evils which they thought to escape by going they brought on themselves thereby, the sword and famine; they would have escaped them had they stayed, for God had promised it, and they might have been sure of His keeping His promise. Change of position brings no change of disposition, and evil follows sinners wherever they go (Ezekiel 11:8); none lose who venture on His promise. After the lesson just given in Jerusalem's overthrow, one would have thought the Jews would never more have doubted God's faithfulness to His threats aswell as to His promises. But Johanan and his party charged Jeremiah with false prophecy (though their city and temple in ruins attested his truth), as if he were instigated by Baruch so as to deliver them up to the Chaldees. Bad men when resolved on a bad act never want a pretext for it. All they gained by forcing Jeremiah and Baruch to accompany them to Egypt was that Jeremiah there under the Spirit foretold their doom and that of Pharaoh upon whom they trusted instead of God. 3. 1 Chronicles 12:1,4. 4. 1 Chronicles 3:15. 5. 1 Chronicles 3:24. 6. Eighth of the lion faced Gadite warriors who joined David during Jordan's overflow (when it is dangerous to cross) in the spring, the river being swollen by the melted snows of Lebanon; and put to flight all Saul's adherents among the valley dwellers eastward and westward (1 Chronicles 12:12). 7. 2 Chronicles 28:12. 8.Ezra 8:12. 9. Ezra 10:6; Nehemiah 12:23. 10. Nehemiah 8:18.