Ishmael

22Some people were still left in Judah. Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon chose Gedaliah to be their leader. Gedaliah was the son of Ahikam and the grandson of Shaphan.

And as for the people that remained in the land of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had left, even over them he made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, ruler.

NoteA governor is a leader who runs a land for a faraway king. Gedaliah would rule Judah for the king of Babylon.

23Army leaders and their men heard that Gedaliah was now governor. So they came to him at a town called Mizpah. They were Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan son of Careah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth from Netophah, and Jaazaniah the Maachathite. Their men came with them.

And when all the captains of the armies, they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah governor, there came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, even Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan the son of Careah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah the son of a Maachathite, they and their men.

NoteMizpah was a small town a few miles north of Jerusalem. Jerusalem itself lay in ruins, so leaders met at Mizpah instead.

24Gedaliah made a promise to them and their men. He said, "Do not be afraid to serve the Babylonians. Live here in the land. Serve the king of Babylon, and things will go well for you."

And Gedaliah sware to them, and to their men, and said unto them, Fear not to be the servants of the Chaldees: dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babylon; and it shall be well with you.

NoteGedaliah's promise was an oath, a very strong promise made before God.

25But in month seven, Ishmael came with ten men. He was the son of Nethaniah and the grandson of Elishama, and he came from the king's family. They killed Gedaliah. They also killed the men from Judah and Babylon who were with him at Mizpah.

But it came to pass in the seventh month, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, of the seed royal, came, and ten men with him, and smote Gedaliah, that he died, and the Jews and the Chaldees that were with him at Mizpah.

NoteIshmael came from the old royal family of Judah. Some people thought Gedaliah was helping the enemy.

26Then all the people, young and old, got up and left. The army leaders went too. They all ran away to Egypt because they were afraid of the Babylonians.

And all the people, both small and great, and the captains of the armies, arose, and came to Egypt: for they were afraid of the Chaldees.

NoteEgypt was far to the south. The king of Babylon did not rule there, so people felt safer.

7Some army leaders and their men were still out in the open country. They heard that the king of Babylon had put Gedaliah in charge of the land. Gedaliah was to care for the men, women, and children left behind. These were the poorest people, who had not been taken away to Babylon.

Now when all the captains of the forces which were in the fields, even they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam governor in the land, and had committed unto him men, and women, and children, and of the poor of the land, of them that were not carried away captive to Babylon;

NoteThese army leaders were soldiers from Judah. They had hidden out in the hills and fields when the war ended.

8So they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah. They were Ishmael son of Nethaniah, and Johanan and Jonathan, the sons of Kareah. Seraiah son of Tanhumeth came too. So did the sons of Ephai from Netophah, and Jezaniah son of the Maacathite. Their men came with them.

Then they came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, even Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth, and the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniah the son of a Maachathite, they and their men.

NotePeople were often named after their fathers. "Son of Kareah" means his father was named Kareah.

9Gedaliah son of Ahikam made a promise to them and their men. He said, "Do not be afraid to serve the Chaldeans, the people of Babylon. Live here in the land and serve the king of Babylon. Then things will go well for you."

And Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan sware unto them and to their men, saying, Fear not to serve the Chaldeans: dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you.

NoteChaldeans was another name for the people of Babylon. When Gedaliah made this promise, he used God's name. That showed everyone he really meant it.

10"As for me, I will stay here in Mizpah. I will speak for you to the men from Babylon who come to us. You should gather grapes, summer fruit, and olive oil. Put them in your jars. Live in the towns you have taken."

As for me, behold, I will dwell at Mizpah, to serve the Chaldeans, which will come unto us: but ye, gather ye wine, and summer fruits, and oil, and put them in your vessels, and dwell in your cities that ye have taken.

NoteSummer fruit meant figs and other fruit picked at the end of summer. Olive oil is squeezed out of olives. People cooked with it and burned it in their lamps. The jars were big clay pots for keeping food and drink.

11Some Jews were living in Moab, Ammon, Edom, and other lands. They heard that the king of Babylon had left some people alive in Judah. They also heard that he had put Gedaliah son of Ahikam in charge of them.

Likewise when all the Jews that were in Moab, and among the Ammonites, and in Edom, and that were in all the countries, heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant of Judah, and that he had set over them Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan;

NoteMoab, Ammon, and Edom were lands close to Judah. Many Jews had run there to hide while the war was going on.

12So they all came back from the places where they had been sent. They came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah at Mizpah. There they gathered a very large amount of grapes and summer fruit.

Even all the Jews returned out of all places whither they were driven, and came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah, unto Mizpah, and gathered wine and summer fruits very much.

13Then Johanan son of Kareah came to Gedaliah at Mizpah. The other army leaders from the open country came with him.

Moreover Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were in the fields, came to Gedaliah to Mizpah,

14They said to him, "Do you know what Baalis, the king of Ammon, has done? He has sent Ishmael son of Nethaniah to kill you." But Gedaliah son of Ahikam did not believe them.

And said unto him, Dost thou certainly know that Baalis the king of the Ammonites hath sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to slay thee? But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam believed them not.

NoteAmmon was a country east of the Jordan River. Ishmael came from the family of Judah's old kings.

15Then Johanan son of Kareah spoke to Gedaliah alone at Mizpah. He said, "Please let me go and kill Ishmael son of Nethaniah. No one will know about it. Why should he kill you? Then all the Jews who came to you would be scattered. The few people left in Judah would die."

Then Johanan the son of Kareah spake to Gedaliah in Mizpah secretly, saying, Let me go, I pray thee, and I will slay Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and no man shall know it: wherefore should he slay thee, that all the Jews which are gathered unto thee should be scattered, and the remnant in Judah perish?

NoteScattered means the people would run off in every direction. Then no group of them would be left living together in Judah.

16But Gedaliah son of Ahikam said to Johanan son of Kareah, "Do not do this. What you are saying about Ishmael is not true."

But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said unto Johanan the son of Kareah, Thou shalt not do this thing: for thou speakest falsely of Ishmael.

1In the seventh month, a man named Ishmael came to the town of Mizpah. He was the son of Nethaniah, who was the son of Elishama. Ishmael was part of the king's family and one of the king's officers. He brought ten men with him. They came to Gedaliah son of Ahikam. They all ate a meal together there.

Now it came to pass in the seventh month, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah the son of Elishama, of the seed royal, and the princes of the king, even ten men with him, came unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah; and there they did eat bread together in Mizpah.

NoteThe seventh month came in the fall, near harvest time. Mizpah was a small town north of Jerusalem. Babylon's army had knocked down Jerusalem, so Gedaliah ruled from Mizpah instead. Sharing a meal was a promise of friendship. Guests at your table were supposed to be safe.

2Then Ishmael and his ten men stood up. They killed Gedaliah son of Ahikam with a sword. The king of Babylon had put Gedaliah in charge of the whole land.

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 slew him, whom the king of Babylon had made governor over the land.

NoteBabylon was a strong country far away. Its army had beaten Judah in a war. The king of Babylon picked Gedaliah to look after the land for him.

3Ishmael also killed all the Jewish men who were with Gedaliah at Mizpah. He killed the soldiers from Babylon who were there too. Those soldiers were called Chaldeans.

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.

NoteJewish people were the people of Judah, God's people. Chaldeans was another name for the people of Babylon.

4The next day, no one had heard yet that Gedaliah was dead.

And it came to pass the second day after he had slain Gedaliah, and no man knew it,

5That day eighty men came from the towns of Shechem, Shiloh, and Samaria. They had shaved their beards, torn their clothes, and cut their skin. They carried gifts of grain and sweet-smelling incense. They were bringing these to the house of the LORD.

That there came certain from Shechem, from Shiloh, and from Samaria, even fourscore men, having their beards shaven, and their clothes rent, and having cut themselves, with offerings and incense in their hand, to bring them to the house of the LORD.

NoteShaving your beard, tearing your clothes, and cutting your skin were ways to show great sadness. Everyone could see you were crying inside. Grain is seed like wheat that is ground up to make bread. People brought grain to God as a gift. Incense is a sweet-smelling powder that people burned for God. The house of the LORD was the temple in Jerusalem, God's special house. Babylon's army had burned it down, but people still came to that place.

6Ishmael went out from Mizpah to meet them. He cried the whole way as he walked. When he met the men, he said, "Come and see Gedaliah son of Ahikam."

And Ishmael the son of Nethaniah went forth from Mizpah to meet them, weeping 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.

7When they came into the middle of the town, Ishmael and his men killed them. Then they threw the bodies into a deep pit.

And it was so, when they came into the midst of the city, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah slew them, and cast them into the midst of the pit, he, and the men that were with him.

NoteThe King James calls it a pit. It was a big hole dug in the rock to hold rain water. There was not much rain in that land, so people saved every drop.

8But ten of the men said to Ishmael, "Please do not kill us. We have food hidden out in the field. We have wheat, barley, oil, and honey." So Ishmael stopped and did not kill those ten with the rest.

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 among their brethren.

NoteIn a war, people hid food in holes in the ground. Then soldiers could not find it and take it.

9King Asa had dug it because he was afraid of Baasha, the king of Israel. Ishmael filled that pit with the bodies of the men he had killed.

Now the pit wherein Ishmael had cast all the dead bodies of the men, whom he had slain because of Gedaliah, was it which Asa the king had made for fear of Baasha king of Israel: and Ishmael the son of Nethaniah filled it with them that were slain.

NoteAsa was a king of Judah long, long before this. Baasha was a king who fought against him. Asa dug this big water hole to keep his town safe during a war.

10Then Ishmael took the rest of the people at Mizpah away as prisoners. This included the king's daughters and everyone else left in the town. Nebuzaradan, the captain of Babylon's guard, had put Gedaliah in charge of them. Ishmael led them all away toward the land of the Ammonites.

Then Ishmael carried away captive all the residue of the people that were in Mizpah, even the king’s daughters, and all the people that remained in Mizpah, whom Nebuzaradan 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 Ammonites.

NoteNebuzaradan was the leader of the king of Babylon's soldiers. The Ammonites lived east of Judah, across the Jordan River. They were often enemies of God's people.

11Johanan son of Kareah heard about all the terrible things Ishmael had done. The army leaders who were with him heard about it too.

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,

NoteJohanan was a leader of soldiers from Judah. His men had not been in the town when Ishmael killed Gedaliah.

12So they gathered all their men and went to fight Ishmael. They found him beside the big pool of water at Gibeon.

Then they took all the men, and went to fight with Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and found him by the great waters that are in Gibeon.

NoteGibeon was a town a few miles from Mizpah. It had a large pool of water where people came to fill their jars.

13The people with Ishmael saw Johanan son of Kareah coming. They saw all the army leaders with him, and they were glad.

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.

14All the people Ishmael had taken from Mizpah turned around. They walked over and joined Johanan son of Kareah.

So all the people that Ishmael had carried away captive from Mizpah cast about and returned, and went unto Johanan the son of Kareah.

15But Ishmael got away from Johanan with eight of his men. He went to the land of the Ammonites.

But Ishmael the son of Nethaniah escaped from Johanan with eight men, and went to the Ammonites.

16So Johanan and the army leaders took charge of the people who were left. He had won them back from Ishmael after Ishmael killed Gedaliah. Among them were soldiers, women, children, and palace servants. Johanan brought them all back from Gibeon.

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, from Mizpah, after that he had slain Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, even mighty men of war, and the women, and the children, and the eunuchs, whom he had brought again from Gibeon:

NoteThe King James calls these men eunuchs. They were servants who worked inside a king's house.

17They traveled on and stayed at a place called Chimham, near the town of Bethlehem. They planned to keep going and enter the land of Egypt.

And they departed, and dwelt in the habitation of Chimham, which is by Bethlehem, to go to enter into Egypt,

NoteChimham was a resting place for travelers near Bethlehem. It was on the road that led south toward Egypt.

18They were afraid of the Chaldeans, the people of Babylon. Ishmael had killed Gedaliah, the man the king of Babylon had put in charge of the land.

Because 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.

NoteThey were afraid Babylon would blame them all for Gedaliah's death. Egypt was far to the south, away from Babylon's army.