פירוש על ירמיהו 41:5

to bring to the house of the Lord When they left home, they were unaware of the destruction of the Temple, and en route, they heard of it, and rent their clothing and shaved their beards.

Men came. He wanted to publicize that Gedaliah smote the men. Namely, that [Gedaliah] commanded to kill them because they were mourning over the burning of the Holy Temple, as it said, that they were having their beards shaven and their clothes rent, and that they were bringing meal-offerings and frankincense to the house of the LORD. He wanted everyone who heard to think that Nebuchadnezzar had commanded Gedaliah to kill all those who mourned over the house of the LORD and all who went to sacrifice there.

and having cut themselves An expression [denoting] laceration.