Jeremiah 41:7-18 ▼

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).

17 And they went and stayed in Geruth Chimham, near Bethlehem (house of bread), in order to proceed into Egypt (land of bondage)

18 to escape the Chaldeans (the Babylonians). 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.