Jeremiah 41:1-16 ▼

1 In 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.

2 Then 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.

3 Ishmael (God hears) also killed all the Jews who were with Gedaliah (YHWH is great) at Mizpah (watchtower), as well as the Chaldean (Babylonian) soldiers who were there.

4 On the second day after the murder of Gedaliah (YHWH is great), when no one yet knew about it,

5 eighty 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}.

6 And 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).”

7 And 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.

8 But 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.

9 Now 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.

10 Then 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).

11 When 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,

12 they 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).

13 When 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,

14 and 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).

15 But 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).

16 Then 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) he had brought back from Gibeon (hill city).