The Murder of Gedaliah
(2 Kings 25:25–26)

1In the seventh month, Ishmael (God hears) son of Nethaniah (given of YHWH), the son of Elishama (my God has heard), who was a member of the royal family and one of the king’s chief officers, came with ten men to Gedaliah (YHWH is great) son of Ahikam (my brother has arisen) at Mizpah (watchtower), and they ate a meal together there. 2Then Ishmael (God hears) son of Nethaniah (given of YHWH) and the ten men who were with him got up and struck down Gedaliah (YHWH is great) son of Ahikam (my brother has arisen), the son of Shaphan, with the sword, killing the one whom the king of Babylon (confusion by mixing) had appointed to govern the land. 3Ishmael (God hears) also killed all the Jews who were with Gedaliah (YHWH is great) at Mizpah (watchtower), as well as the Chaldean (Babylonian)a soldiers who were there.

4On the second day after the murder of Gedaliah (YHWH is great), when no one yet knew about it, 5eighty men who had shaved off their beards, torn their garments, and cut themselves came from Shechem (shoulder), Shiloh (place of rest), and Samaria (watch mountain), carrying grain offerings and frankincense for the house of the LORD {YHWH}. 6And Ishmael (God hears) son of Nethaniah (given of YHWH) went out from Mizpah (watchtower) to meet them, weeping as he went.

When Ishmael encountered the men, he said, “Come to Gedaliah (YHWH is great) son of Ahikam (my brother has arisen).” 7And when they came into the city, Ishmael (God hears) son of Nethaniah (given of YHWH) and the men with him slaughtered them and threw them into a cistern.

8But ten of the men among them said to Ishmael (God hears), “Do not kill us, for we have hidden treasure in the field—wheat, barley, oil, and honey!” So he refrained from killing them with the others.

9Now the cistern into which Ishmael (God hears) had thrown all the bodies of the men he had struck down along with Gedaliah (YHWH is great) was a large one that King Asa (healer) had made for fear of Baasha (wicked) king of Israel (he wrestles with God). Ishmael son of Nethaniah (given of YHWH) filled it with the slain.

10Then Ishmael (God hears) took captive all the remnant of the people of Mizpah (watchtower)—the daughters of the king along with all the others who remained in Mizpah—over whom Nebuzaradan (Nebo has given seed) captain of the guard had appointed Gedaliah (YHWH is great) son of Ahikam (my brother has arisen). Ishmael son of Nethaniah (given of YHWH) took them captive and set off to cross over to the Ammonites (tribal).

Johanan Rescues the Captives

11When Johanan (YHWH has graced) son of Kareah (bald) and all the commanders of the armies with him heard of all the crimes that Ishmael (God hears) son of Nethaniah (given of YHWH) had committed, 12they took all their men and went to fight Ishmael (God hears) son of Nethaniah (given of YHWH). And they found him near the great pool in Gibeon (hill city).

13When all the people with Ishmael (God hears) saw Johanan (YHWH has graced) son of Kareah (bald) and all the commanders of the army with him, they rejoiced, 14and all the people whom Ishmael (God hears) had taken captive at Mizpah (watchtower) turned and went over to Johanan (YHWH has graced) son of Kareah (bald). 15But Ishmael (God hears) son of Nethaniah (given of YHWH) and eight of his men escaped from Johanan (YHWH has graced) and went to the Ammonites (tribal).

16Then Johanan (YHWH has graced) son of Kareah (bald) and all the commanders of the armies with him took the whole remnant of the people from Mizpah (watchtower) whom he had recovered from Ishmael (God hears) son of Nethaniah (given of YHWH) after Ishmael had killed Gedaliah (YHWH is great) son of Ahikam (my brother has arisen): the soldiers, women, children, and court officials (eunuchs)b he had brought back from Gibeon (hill city). 17And they went and stayed in Geruth Chimham, near Bethlehem (house of bread), in order to proceed into Egypt (land of bondage) 18to escape the Chaldeans (the Babylonians).c For they were afraid of the Chaldeans because Ishmael (God hears) son of Nethaniah (given of YHWH) had struck down Gedaliah (YHWH is great) son of Ahikam (my brother has arisen), whom the king of Babylon (confusion by mixing) had appointed over the land.