THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET
JEREMIAH
Jeremiah 41 ©
Gedaliah, and others beside, both Jews and Chaldeans, under a color of friendship, are murdered by Ishmael, v. 1, etc. Who intends to carry away the rest of the people captive unto the Ammonites, but they are delivered out of his hand by Johanan, 10. Who intends with the entire remnant to go into Egypt, 16.
NOW it came to pass in the 1seventha month, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah the son of Elishama, of the seed 2royal, and the 3princes of the king, even ten 4men with him, came unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah; and there they 5did eat bread together in Mizpah.
Then arose Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and the ten men that were with him, and smote Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan with the sword, and 6slew him, whom the king of Babylon had made governor over the land.
Ishmael also slew all the Jews that were with him, even with Gedaliah, at Mizpah, and the Chaldeans that were found there, and the men of war.
And it came to pass the second day after he had slain Gedaliah, and no man 7knew it,
That there came certain from 8Shechem, from 9Shiloh, and from 10Samaria, even fourscore men, having their beards shaven, and their clothes rent, and having 11cut themselves, with offerings and incense in their 12hand, to bring them to the house of the LORD.
And Ishmael the son of Nethaniah went forth from Mizpah to meet them, 13weeping all along as he went: and it came to pass, as he met them, he said unto them, Come to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam.
And it was so, when they came into the midst of the city, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah slew them, 14and cast them into the midst of the 15pit, he, and the men that were with him.
But ten men were found among them that said unto Ishmael, Slay us not: for we have treasures in the field, of wheat, and of barley, and of oil, and of honey. So he forbare, and slew them not 16among their brethren.
Now the pit wherein Ishmael had cast all the dead bodies of the men, whom he had slain 17because of Gedaliah, was it which Asa the king had made 18for fear of Baasha king of Israel: and Ishmael the son of Nethaniah filled it with them that were slain.
Then Ishmael carried away captive all the residue of the people that were in Mizpah, even the king’s 19daughters, and all the people that remained in Mizpah, whom Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard had committed to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam: and Ishmael the son of Nethaniah carried them away captive, and departed to go over to the 20Ammonites.
¶But when Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were with him, heard of all the evil that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had done,
Then they took all the 21men, and went to fight with Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and found him by the great waters that are in 22Gibeon.
Now it came to pass, that when all the people which were with Ishmael saw Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were with him, then they were glad.
So all the people that Ishmael had carried away captive from Mizpah castb about and returned, and went unto Johanan the son of Kareah.
But Ishmael the son of Nethaniah escaped from Johanan with eight men, and went to the Ammonites.
Then took Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were with him, all the remnant of the people whom he had recovered from Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, 23from Mizpah, after that he had slain Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, even mighty 24men of war, and the women, and the children, and the 25eunuchs, whom he had brought again from 26Gibeon:
And they departed, and 27dwelt in the 28habitation of Chimham, which is by Beth-lehem, to go to enter into Egypt,
29Because of the Chaldeans: for they were afraid of them, because Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had slain Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, whom the king of Babylon made governor in the land.