Berean Study Bible The Murder of GedaliahTishri fell in September–October and included the Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, and the Feast of Tabernacles. While Israel’s calendar called the people to repentance, atonement, and rejoicing before the Lord, violence and conspiracy were growing among the remnant in Judah. 2Ki 25:25 In the seventh month, however, Ishmael son of Nethaniah,… Ishmael son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, Ishmael came from an established Judean family. Elishama may be connected with the royal administration mentioned in Jeremiah 36:12, indicating that Ishmael’s family had standing in Jerusalem before its fall. Jer 40:8 they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah—Ishmael son of Nethaniah… who was a member of the royal family Ishmael belonged to the royal line of Judah, likely connected to David’s house. His ancestry gave him social influence and may have fed his opposition to Gedaliah, who governed by Babylonian appointment rather than royal descent. 2Ki 11:1 When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son… and one of the king’s chief officers, Ishmael had held authority under Judah’s former monarchy and possessed the experience and connections needed to organize armed men. His position made his betrayal especially destructive, since he used former royal influence against the fragile community left in the land. 2Ki 25:19 Of those still in the city, he took a court official… came with ten men to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah, Gedaliah governed the remaining population from Mizpah after Jerusalem’s destruction. Ishmael arrived with a small but purposeful band, concealing the murderous plot already reported to Gedaliah by Johanan. 2Ki 25:23 When all the commanders of the armies and their men… and they ate a meal together there. Gedaliah received Ishmael in peace and extended the trust symbolized by shared table fellowship. Ishmael answered hospitality with murder, echoing the grief of Psalm 41:9 and foreshadowing the betrayal of Jesus by Judas after sharing a meal with Him. Psa 41:9 Even my close friend whom I trusted, the one who shared… Then Ishmael son of Nethaniah and the ten men who were with him Ishmael acted with a small but organized band, revealing that Gedaliah’s murder was a deliberate conspiracy rather than a sudden outburst. As a descendant of the royal line, Ishmael may have resented Gedaliah’s Babylonian appointment and sought influence amid Judah’s collapse. His plot fulfilled the warning Johanan had given Gedaliah, though Gedaliah had refused to believe it (Jeremiah 40:13–16). 2Ki 25:25 In the seventh month, however, Ishmael son of Nethaniah,… got up and struck down Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, Gedaliah belonged to a family that had served Judah faithfully during Josiah’s reforms. His father Ahikam had protected Jeremiah from execution, and his grandfather Shaphan had been associated with the rediscovery of the Book of the Law (Jeremiah 26:24; 2 Kings 22:8–14). Gedaliah had encouraged the surviving people to remain in the land, serve Babylon peaceably, and rebuild their lives under God’s discipline. Ishmael’s murder therefore removed a stabilizing leader from a wounded nation. 2Ki 15:10 Then Shallum son of Jabesh conspired against Zechariah,… with the sword, The sword brought bloodshed into the very place where Gedaliah had offered hospitality and security. Ishmael violated both the trust of a shared meal and the sanctity of innocent life. The violence showed how rebellion against God’s chastening hand led not to freedom, but to further destruction among the remnant. 1Sa 17:51 David ran and stood over him. He grabbed the Philistine’s sword… killing the one whom the king of Babylon had appointed to govern the land. Gedaliah’s appointment represented Babylon’s authority over Judah after Jerusalem’s fall. By murdering him, Ishmael defied Babylon and endangered everyone left in the land. The assassination soon led to additional killings, fear of Babylonian retaliation, and the flight of many Jews toward Egypt despite Jeremiah’s warning, extending the tragedy brought by Judah’s persistent disobedience. 2Ki 25:22 Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon appointed Gedaliah… Ishmael also killed all the Jews who were with Gedaliah at Mizpah, Ishmael’s slaughter extended beyond Gedaliah to the Judeans gathered under his protection. Gedaliah had encouraged the remnant to submit to Babylon and cultivate the land in peace, in keeping with Jeremiah’s message that Babylonian rule was God’s discipline for Judah’s sin. By murdering these fellow Jews, Ishmael destroyed the small community through which restoration and stability might have begun. His royal lineage did not excuse his violence; instead, it displayed the continuing corruption and rivalry that had helped bring Judah to ruin. Jer 40:7-10 When all the commanders and men of the armies in the field…… as well as the Chaldean soldiers who were there. The Babylonian soldiers represented the authority that had conquered Judah and entrusted Gedaliah with governing the remaining population. Ishmael’s attack was therefore both murder and open rebellion against Babylon. Rather than freeing Judah, his act exposed the remnant to greater danger and fear of Babylonian retaliation. The survivors’ later flight toward Egypt showed how quickly distrust of God’s word and rejection of His discipline led the people away from the security He had provided. 2Ki 25:25 In the seventh month, however, Ishmael son of Nethaniah,… On the second day after the murder of Gedaliah, Gedaliah’s assassination had removed Babylon’s appointed governor over Judah’s remaining population and shattered the fragile order established after Jerusalem’s fall. Ishmael’s violence was not an isolated personal crime but a treacherous act against the remnant entrusted to Gedaliah’s care. The brief interval reveals how quickly hidden rebellion can endanger an entire community. 2Ki 25:25 In the seventh month, however, Ishmael son of Nethaniah,… when no one yet knew about it, The people arriving at Mizpah were unaware that Gedaliah and the men with him had been slain. Their ignorance left them vulnerable to Ishmael’s deception and prepared the way for further bloodshed. Secret sin may appear contained for a time, but its consequences soon spread, bringing grief to those who have no part in the original betrayal. Jdg 3:20-21 Then Ehud approached him while he was sitting… eighty men who had shaved off their beards, torn their garments, and cut themselves The men bore visible marks of mourning over Judah’s devastation and the destruction of the temple. Shaving the beard and tearing garments expressed profound grief, while cutting the body violated God’s prohibition against pagan mourning practices (Leviticus 19:28; Deuteronomy 14:1). Their sorrow was genuine, yet it reflected a people whose worship and customs had long been mixed with influences from the nations. Lev 21:5 Priests must not make bald spots on their heads,… came from Shechem, Shiloh, and Samaria, These men came from the former Northern Kingdom, from places closely associated with Israel’s covenant history. Shechem had been a place of covenant renewal, and Shiloh had housed the tabernacle in Israel’s early days. Though Samaria had become the capital of a kingdom marked by idolatry, remnants from those regions still recognized the LORD and grieved over the ruin of His sanctuary. Jos 24:1 Then Joshua assembled all the tribes of Israel at Shechem.… carrying grain offerings and frankincense for the house of the LORD. The grain offerings and frankincense showed their intention to seek the LORD in worship despite the temple’s destruction. They likely intended to bring their gifts to the site of the ruined sanctuary, where worship may have continued in some form. Their journey testified that God had not been forgotten by all Israel, but it also placed them in the path of Ishmael’s treachery, revealing the depth of Judah’s continuing judgment. Lev 2:1-2 “When anyone brings a grain offering to the LORD,… And Ishmael son of Nethaniah went out from Mizpah to meet them, Ishmael, a descendant of David’s royal line, left Mizpah after murdering Gedaliah, the governor appointed over Judah’s remnant. He went out to intercept eighty mourners from Shechem, Shiloh, and Samaria before they reached the town. Mizpah had become Judah’s administrative center after Jerusalem’s fall, but Ishmael’s violence turned it into a place of treachery and bloodshed. 2Sa 20:8-10 And while they were at the great stone in Gibeon,… weeping as he went. Ishmael joined the men’s outward signs of grief, presenting himself as one who shared their sorrow over Jerusalem and the ruined temple. His mourning concealed murderous intent. The scene exposes the horror of deceit employed against those who came in humility to seek the Lord amid national judgment. 2Sa 14:2 So Joab sent to Tekoa to bring a wise woman from there.… When Ishmael encountered the men, The travelers bore offerings of grain and incense, apparently intending to bring them to the site of the destroyed house of the Lord. Though the temple lay in ruins, their journey testified that some in the former northern kingdom still remembered Israel’s God and grieved the loss of His sanctuary. Their vulnerability made Ishmael’s betrayal especially wicked. 2Sa 3:27 When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab pulled him aside… he said, “Come to Gedaliah son of Ahikam.” Ishmael invoked Gedaliah’s name to draw the mourners into Mizpah, though Gedaliah had already been murdered by his hand. Gedaliah had offered the remnant stability under Babylonian rule, but Ishmael’s ambition and alliance with Baalis king of Ammon brought further ruin upon Judah. The invitation illustrates how falsehood can imitate concern and piety while leading the unsuspecting toward destruction. Jer 40:5-6 But before Jeremiah turned to go, Nebuzaradan added,… And when they came into the city, The eighty mourners from Shechem, Shiloh, and Samaria entered Mizpah trusting Gedaliah’s administration and unaware of Ishmael’s design. Mizpah had become the Babylonian-appointed center of government for the remnant left in Judah after Jerusalem’s destruction. Gen 34:25 Three days later, while they were still in pain… Ishmael son of Nethaniah Ishmael, a member of the royal line, used his position and influence not to preserve the remnant but to pursue a violent conspiracy. His hostility toward Gedaliah served the interests of Baalis, king of Ammon, and further shattered the fragile order remaining in the land. Jer 40:8 they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah—Ishmael son of Nethaniah… and the men with him Ishmael’s followers participated willingly in the crime, showing that his rebellion had gathered support among men prepared to reject both Gedaliah’s leadership and Babylon’s authority. Their shared violence made them accomplices in an assault on fellow Israelites who had come in mourning before the Lord. 2Ki 25:25 In the seventh month, however, Ishmael son of Nethaniah,… slaughtered them The massacre violated the obligations of hospitality and the sanctity of those who came bearing offerings for the house of the Lord. The men had grieved over Jerusalem’s ruin, yet they became victims of Judah’s continuing internal corruption and bloodshed. 1Sa 22:18-19 So the king ordered Doeg, “You turn and strike down… and threw them into a cistern. The cistern became a grave for innocent men, concealing Ishmael’s crime but not escaping God’s judgment. Jeremiah identifies it as the large pit made by King Asa during his conflict with Baasha of Israel, linking Ishmael’s treachery to Judah’s long history of division, fear, and unfaithfulness. Gen 37:24 and they took him and threw him into the pit.… But ten of the men among them said to Ishmael, Ishmael had slaughtered seventy of the eighty men who came from Shechem, Shiloh, and Samaria bearing offerings and incense for the house of the Lord. These ten survivors faced the same violent ruler but sought mercy by offering information that appealed to his greed. 1Ki 20:31-32 Then the servants of Ben-hadad said to him, … “Do not kill us, for we have hidden treasure in the field—wheat, barley, oil, and honey!” During the devastation following Jerusalem’s fall, grain, oil, and honey were precious stores of life, often concealed from raiders and armies. Their plea reveals both the desperation created by national judgment and Ishmael’s corrupt priorities. He had shed innocent blood without restraint, yet material gain could stay his hand. Mat 13:44 The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field.… So he refrained from killing them with the others. Ishmael spared them not from compassion or reverence for God, but because he expected profit. Their survival stands as a grim reminder that wickedness is often ruled by self-interest. In Judah’s collapse, even provisions meant to sustain life became bargaining tools in the hands of violent men. 1Sa 24:10-11 Behold, this day you have seen with your own eyes… Now the cistern into which Ishmael had thrown all the bodies of the men he had struck down along with Gedaliah The cistern at Mizpah became a mass grave after Ishmael murdered Gedaliah and the men who were with him. Gedaliah’s death removed the Babylonian-appointed governor who had encouraged Judah’s scattered survivors to remain in the land and live peaceably under Babylonian rule. Ishmael’s treachery shattered the fragile stability of the remnant and set in motion further fear, flight, and disobedience. 2Ki 25:25 In the seventh month, however, Ishmael son of Nethaniah,… was a large one that King Asa had made for fear of Baasha king of Israel. King Asa had prepared this large reservoir during Judah’s conflict with Baasha of Israel, likely as part of Mizpah’s defenses after Baasha threatened Judah from Ramah (1 Kings 15:16–22; 2 Chronicles 16:1–6). A structure intended to preserve life during siege was defiled by murder within Judah’s own community. The contrast exposes how deeply sin had corrupted the nation: external enemies had once threatened the city, but internal rebellion brought bloodshed to its very center. 2Ch 16:1 In the thirty-sixth year of Asa’s reign,… Ishmael son of Nethaniah filled it with the slain. Ishmael, a man of royal lineage, acted in rebellion against the order God had permitted under Babylonian rule. His disposal of the bodies treated human life with contempt and brought defilement upon the place. The slaughter revealed the continuing consequences of Judah’s refusal to submit to God’s discipline, while the remnant’s later flight to Egypt showed that fear and self-will still governed many hearts. Ezk 39:11-12 And on that day I will give Gog a burial place… Then Ishmael took captive all the remnant of the people of Mizpah— After murdering Gedaliah and the Babylonian soldiers under his care, Ishmael seized the defenseless survivors. Mizpah had become Judah’s administrative center after Jerusalem’s fall, and its remaining inhabitants represented a fragile beginning for life in the devastated land. Ishmael’s violence turned a place of refuge into a scene of renewed loss. 2Ki 25:25-26 In the seventh month, however, Ishmael son of Nethaniah,… the daughters of the king along with all the others who remained in Mizpah— The royal daughters were among those entrusted to Gedaliah’s protection, preserving a visible connection to Judah’s fallen monarchy. Ishmael did not distinguish between royal survivors and ordinary people; his ambitions placed the whole remnant in danger. Their captivity demonstrated how deeply Judah’s internal treachery compounded the judgment already brought by Babylon. Jer 43:6 the men, the women, the children, the king’s daughters… over whom Nebuzaradan captain of the guard had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam. Nebuzaradan had appointed Gedaliah to govern the people left in Judah, seeking order under Babylonian rule. Gedaliah’s father, Ahikam, had once protected Jeremiah from death, linking this household with faithful service to God’s prophet. Ishmael’s attack therefore rejected both the established authority of Babylon and the peaceful course Jeremiah had urged the people to follow. 2Ki 25:22-23 Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon appointed Gedaliah… Ishmael son of Nethaniah took them captive Ishmael, himself of royal lineage, acted as though violence and intrigue could restore his position. Instead of shepherding his own people in their weakness, he treated them as possessions to advance his plans. His conduct revealed the destructive fruit of pride, revenge, and refusal to submit to God’s discipline. 2Ki 25:11 Then Nebuzaradan carried into exile the people… and set off to cross over to the Ammonites. Ishmael intended to carry the captives eastward into Ammonite territory, apparently seeking protection from Baalis, king of the Ammonites, who had encouraged his plot against Gedaliah. Turning to Judah’s traditional enemy exposed the depth of his betrayal. God nevertheless preserved the captives through Johanan’s intervention, showing that His purposes for the remnant would not be extinguished by human treachery. Jer 40:14-15 and said to him, “Are you aware…
Johanan Rescues the CaptivesJohanan emerged as a leading commander among the Judean survivors after Jerusalem’s fall. His actions show concern for the safety of the remnant and a willingness to resist treachery that endangered the people God had preserved in the land. Jer 40:8 they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah—Ishmael son of Nethaniah… and all the commanders of the armies with him The scattered military leaders united around Johanan after Gedaliah’s murder. Their cooperation provided one of the few remaining sources of protection and order for the vulnerable people left in Judah. Jer 42:1 Then all the commanders of the forces, along with Johanan… heard of all the crimes Ishmael had murdered Gedaliah, the men with him at Mizpah, and Babylonian soldiers, then seized captives from the community. His violence threatened not only individual lives but also the fragile peace that had allowed a remnant to remain in Judah. 2Sa 13:21 When King David heard all this, he was furious. that Ishmael son of Nethaniah had committed, Ishmael, a member of the royal line, acted in treachery rather than godly leadership. His attempt to gain power brought suffering upon his own people, while Johanan’s response sought to rescue those Ishmael had carried away. 2Ki 25:25 In the seventh month, however, Ishmael son of Nethaniah,… they took all their men Johanan and the military commanders acted together to pursue the murderer of Gedaliah and rescue the people Ishmael had carried away. Their united response showed that Ishmael’s violence threatened the whole remnant of Judah, not merely one leader or settlement. 1Sa 30:9-10 So David and his six hundred men went to the Brook of Besor,… and went to fight Ishmael son of Nethaniah. Ishmael had slain Gedaliah, the Babylonian-appointed governor, and had massacred innocent visitors at Mizpah. Though descended from the royal line, he used violence and betrayal rather than righteous leadership. Johanan’s pursuit sought to stop further bloodshed and restore protection for the surviving people of Judah. 2Sa 2:24-25 But Joab and Abishai pursued Abner. By sunset, they had gone… And they found him near the great pool in Gibeon. Gibeon stood northwest of Jerusalem in Benjamin’s territory and was associated with earlier conflict between rival forces in the days of David. The encounter near its great pool brought Ishmael’s flight to a decisive turning point, as the captives recognized Johanan and the commanders coming to deliver them. 2Sa 2:13-14 So Joab son of Zeruiah and the servants of David marched out… When all the people with Ishmael This phrase refers to the group of people who were with Ishmael, son of Nethaniah, a member of the royal family and one of the officers of the king. Ishmael had recently assassinated Gedaliah, the governor appointed by the Babylonians, and taken captives from Mizpah. The people with Ishmael were likely a mix of his followers and those he had taken captive, including soldiers, women, children, and court officials. This event occurs during a tumultuous period following the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC, when Judah was under Babylonian control. Isa 49:24-25 Can the plunder be snatched from the mighty,… saw Johanan son of Kareah Johanan, son of Kareah, was a military leader who opposed Ishmael’s actions. He had warned Gedaliah about Ishmael’s intentions but was not heeded. After the assassination, Johanan pursued Ishmael to rescue the captives. Johanan represents a remnant of the Judean leadership trying to stabilize the region after the Babylonian conquest. His actions are seen as an attempt to restore order and protect the people from further harm. Gen 33:4 Esau, however, ran to him and embraced him… and all the commanders of the army with him, Johanan’s pursuit was supported by other Judean military officers. Their united action provided the captives with a genuine means of escape and showed that Ishmael’s betrayal had not destroyed every source of leadership among the people. 2Ki 11:13-14 When Athaliah heard the noise from the guards… they rejoiced, The people’s rejoicing upon seeing Johanan and his commanders suggests relief and hope for deliverance from Ishmael’s oppressive control. This reaction highlights the desperation and fear experienced by the captives under Ishmael. The joy also signifies a turning point, as Johanan’s intervention offers a chance for stability and safety. This moment can be seen as a foreshadowing of God’s deliverance and protection for His people, a theme prevalent throughout the Bible. Psa 126:3 The LORD has done great things for us; we are filled… and all the people whom Ishmael had taken captive at Mizpah Ishmael’s murder of Gedaliah had endangered the remnant of Judah gathered under Babylonian protection. The captives included those connected with Gedaliah’s administration and others seeking security after Jerusalem’s fall. Their seizure exposed the continuing devastation caused by rebellion, violence, and divided loyalties. 1Sa 30:18-19 So David recovered everything the Amalekites had taken,… turned and went over to Johanan son of Kareah. Johanan’s pursuit brought deliverance to those Ishmael had carried away. Having previously warned Gedaliah of the plot, Johanan now acted decisively to protect the surviving people. Their return to him reflects their recognition that he offered refuge from Ishmael’s treachery and a measure of order amid Judah’s collapse. 2Ch 15:9 And he assembled all Judah and Benjamin, … But Ishmael son of Nethaniah Ishmael belonged to Judah’s royal family, yet he used his position to destroy Gedaliah, whom Babylon had appointed to govern the remnant. His murder of Gedaliah rejected God’s provision for preserving the people in the land after Jerusalem’s fall. Jer 40:8 they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah—Ishmael son of Nethaniah… and eight of his men Ishmael’s surviving company was small, made up of men personally committed to his rebellion. Judah’s collapse had left the land divided among fearful factions and vulnerable to violence. 1Sa 22:2 And all who were distressed or indebted or discontented… escaped from Johanan Johanan had sought to prevent Gedaliah’s assassination and then pursued Ishmael to rescue the captives taken from Mizpah. Although Johanan recovered the people, he could not bring Ishmael to justice. 1Sa 19:10 Saul tried to pin him to the wall with his spear.… and went to the Ammonites. Ishmael fled east to Ammon, whose king Baalis had encouraged the plot against Gedaliah. His refuge among Israel’s enemies completed his betrayal and left Judah’s remnant facing further fear and uncertainty. Jer 40:14 and said to him, “Are you aware… Then Johanan son of Kareah and all the commanders of the armies with him Johanan emerged as a leading figure among the surviving military officers of Judah. The commanders acted together in response to Ishmael’s violence, showing that not all Judah’s leaders had joined the rebellion against Babylonian authority. Their united action briefly restrained the disorder unleashed by Gedaliah’s murder. Jer 40:13-14 Meanwhile, Johanan son of Kareah and all the commanders… took the whole remnant of the people from Mizpah Mizpah had become the center of Jewish administration after Jerusalem’s destruction. The remnant included those spared from death and deportation, preserving a visible continuation of the people of Judah in the land God had given them. Though greatly reduced, they remained under the Lord’s watchful care. Jer 43:4-5 So Johanan son of Kareah and all the commanders… whom he had recovered from Ishmael son of Nethaniah Johanan rescued the captives after Ishmael’s attempt to carry them into Ammonite territory failed. Ishmael’s betrayal had threatened to remove or destroy the remaining community, but his captives were delivered. The rescue provided an opportunity for the remnant to remain together, though fear of Babylonian retaliation soon shaped their decisions. Jer 43:4-5 So Johanan son of Kareah and all the commanders… after Ishmael had killed Gedaliah son of Ahikam: Gedaliah had been appointed by Nebuchadnezzar to govern Judah and had urged the people to submit peacefully to Babylon. His assassination was both a personal crime and a national disaster, bringing renewed danger upon those who had remained in the land. Gedaliah’s death confirmed the ruinous consequences of rejecting the counsel God had given through Jeremiah. 2Ki 25:25-26 In the seventh month, however, Ishmael son of Nethaniah,… the soldiers, women, children, and court officials The rescued company represented the full surviving community: defenders, families, and royal servants. None were untouched by the nation’s collapse. Their preservation demonstrated that Judah’s future did not rest in its former institutions or military strength, but in God’s mercy toward His covenant people. Jer 43:6-7 the men, the women, the children, the king’s daughters… he had brought back from Gibeon. Gibeon lay north of Jerusalem and was the place where Johanan intercepted Ishmael and recovered the captives. Its history as a city connected with Israel’s earlier settlement in the land recalls the Lord’s enduring faithfulness, even amid judgment. Jos 9:3-27 But the people of Gibeon, having heard what Joshua had done… And they went and stayed in Geruth Chimham, Johanan son of Kareah and the rescued remnant halted at a place associated with Chimham, the son of Barzillai the Gileadite, who had faithfully supported David during Absalom’s rebellion (2 Samuel 19:31–40). Geruth Chimham was likely an estate or lodging place near Bethlehem, providing temporary shelter for a people shaken by Gedaliah’s murder and fearful of Babylonian retaliation. 2Sa 19:37-40 Please let your servant return, that I may die… near Bethlehem, The location stood near David’s hometown and within the territory of Judah, linking the distressed remnant with the Davidic heritage of the land. Bethlehem had long been a recognized and settled community, making it a natural gathering point before a dangerous journey. The town would later be identified by Micah as the birthplace of the promised Ruler and by Matthew as the birthplace of Jesus Christ (Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:1). Mic 5:2 But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are small… in order to proceed into Egypt The group intended to flee Egypt because they feared the Babylonians would hold them responsible for Ishmael’s assassination of Gedaliah. Egypt had often served as a refuge during famine, political danger, and war, yet it also represented the nation from which God had delivered Israel. Their plan revealed reliance on human protection rather than confidence in the Lord’s care. God would soon command the remnant to remain in Judah and warn that seeking safety in Egypt would bring the very judgment they feared (Jeremiah 42:10–16). Jer 42:14-17 No, but we will go to the land of Egypt and live there… to escape the Chaldeans. The survivors fled toward Egypt, expecting Babylon to punish Judah for Gedaliah’s murder. Their fear drove them toward a land God had repeatedly warned His people not to trust. 2Ki 25:26 Then all the people small and great arose and fled to Egypt… For they were afraid of the Chaldeans Babylon’s armies had destroyed Jerusalem, burned the temple, and carried many into exile. The remaining people knew that the murder of Babylon’s appointed governor could be treated as rebellion by the empire. Jer 42:11 Do not be afraid of the king of Babylon, whom you now fear;… because Ishmael son of Nethaniah had struck down Gedaliah son of Ahikam, Ishmael’s assassination of Gedaliah shattered the fragile peace established after Jerusalem’s fall. Gedaliah had urged the remnant to submit to Babylon and live peacefully in the land. Ishmael’s violence brought renewed danger upon people who had not shared in his crime. 2Ki 25:25 In the seventh month, however, Ishmael son of Nethaniah,… whom the king of Babylon had appointed over the land. Gedaliah served as Babylon’s governor over the poor and scattered remnant of Judah. His death threatened to bring severe retaliation and led the survivors to seek safety in Egypt, setting the stage for their refusal to heed Jeremiah’s warning against going there. 2Ki 25:22 Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon appointed Gedaliah… This is a draft of the Berean Study Bible. Please send all comments and recommendations to bereanstudybible@aol.com. Bible Hub |
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