Jeremiah 41:1-9 ▼

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.