The Murder of Gedaliah
(2 Kings 25:25–26)

1  וַיְהִ֣י׀ (And it came to pass) בַּחֹ֣דֶשׁ (month), הַשְּׁבִיעִ֗י (in the seventh) בָּ֣א (came) יִשְׁמָעֵ֣אל (that Ishmael) בֶּן־ (son) נְתַנְיָ֣ה (of Nethaniah) בֶן־ (son) אֱלִישָׁמָ֣ע (of Elishama), מִזֶּ֣רַע (seed) הַ֠מְּלוּכָה (of the royal), וְרַבֵּ֨י (and of the officers) הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ (of the king), וַעֲשָׂרָ֨ה (and ten) אֲנָשִׁ֥ים (men) אִתּ֛וֹ (with him) אֶל־ (to) גְּדַלְיָ֥הוּ (Gedaliah) בֶן־ (son) אֲחִיקָ֖ם (of Ahikam) הַמִּצְפָּ֑תָה (at Mizpah). וַיֹּ֨אכְלוּ (They ate) שָׁ֥ם (and there) לֶ֛חֶם (bread) יַחְדָּ֖ו (together) בַּמִּצְפָּֽה׃ (in Mizpah). 2  וַיָּקָם֩ (Rose up) יִשְׁמָעֵ֨אל (and Ishmael) בֶּן־ (son) נְתַנְיָ֜ה (of Nethaniah), וַעֲשֶׂ֥רֶת (and ten) הָאֲנָשִׁ֣ים׀ (of the men) אֲשֶׁר־ (who) הָי֣וּ (were) אִתּ֗וֹ (with him) וַ֠יַּכּוּ (and they struck) אֶת־ (-) גְּדַלְיָ֨הוּ (Gedaliah) בֶן־ (son) אֲחִיקָ֧ם (of Ahikam) בֶּן־ (son) שָׁפָ֛ן (of Shaphan) בַּחֶ֖רֶב (with the sword), וַיָּ֣מֶת (and he killed) אֹת֑וֹ (him) אֲשֶׁר־ (whom) הִפְקִ֥יד (had appointed) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (the king) בָּבֶ֖ל (of Babylon) בָּאָֽרֶץ׃ (over the land). 3  וְאֵ֣ת (And also) כָּל־ (all) הַיְּהוּדִ֗ים (the Jews) אֲשֶׁר־ (who) הָי֨וּ (were) אִתּ֤וֹ (with him) אֶת־ (with) גְּדַלְיָ֙הוּ֙ (Gedaliah), בַּמִּצְפָּ֔ה (at Mizpah), וְאֶת־ (and) הַכַּשְׂדִּ֖ים (the Chaldeans) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (who) נִמְצְאוּ־ (were found) שָׁ֑ם (there), אֵ֚ת (-) אַנְשֵׁ֣י (the men) הַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה (of war) הִכָּ֖ה (struck down) יִשְׁמָעֵֽאל׃ (Ishmael).

4  וַיְהִ֛י (And it came to pass) בַּיּ֥וֹם (day) הַשֵּׁנִ֖י (on the second) לְהָמִ֣ית (after he had killed) אֶת־ (-) גְּדַלְיָ֑הוּ (Gedaliah), וְאִ֖ישׁ (a man) לֹ֥א (and not) יָדָֽע׃ (knew it). 5  וַיָּבֹ֣אוּ (That came) אֲ֠נָשִׁים (certain men) מִשְּׁכֶ֞ם (from Shechem) מִשִּׁל֤וֹ (from Shiloh) וּמִשֹּֽׁמְרוֹן֙ (and from Samaria) שְׁמֹנִ֣ים (eighty) אִ֔ישׁ (men), מְגֻלְּחֵ֥י (shaved), זָקָ֛ן (with their beards) וּקְרֻעֵ֥י (and torn), בְגָדִ֖ים (clothes) וּמִתְגֹּֽדְדִ֑ים (and having cut themselves), וּמִנְחָ֤ה (and with offering) וּלְבוֹנָה֙ (and incense) בְּיָדָ֔ם (in their hands), לְהָבִ֖יא (to bring in) בֵּ֥ית (to the house) יְהוָֽה׃ (of YHWH). 6  וַ֠יֵּצֵא (Went out) יִשְׁמָעֵ֨אל (and Ishmael) בֶּן־ (son) נְתַנְיָ֤ה (of Nethaniah) לִקְרָאתָם֙ (to meet them) מִן־ (from) הַמִּצְפָּ֔ה (Mizpah) הֹלֵ֥ךְ (as he went) הָלֹ֖ךְ (going); וּבֹכֶ֑ה (and weeping)

וַֽיְהִי֙ (and it came to pass), כִּפְגֹ֣שׁ (as he met) אֹתָ֔ם (them) וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (that he said) אֲלֵיהֶ֔ם (to them) בֹּ֖אוּ (Come) אֶל־ (to) גְּדַלְיָ֥הוּ (Gedaliah) בֶן־ (son) אֲחִיקָֽם׃ס (of Ahikam). 7  וַיְהִ֕י (And it came to pass) כְּבוֹאָ֖ם (at their coming) אֶל־ (into) תּ֣וֹךְ (the midst) הָעִ֑יר (of the city), וַיִּשְׁחָטֵ֞ם (slaughtered them) יִשְׁמָעֵ֤אל (that Ishmael) בֶּן־ (son) נְתַנְיָה֙ (of Nethaniah) אֶל־ (into) תּ֣וֹךְ (the midst) הַבּ֔וֹר (of a cistern), ה֖וּא (he), וְהָאֲנָשִׁ֥ים (and the men) אֲשֶׁר־ (who were) אִתּֽוֹ׃ (with him).

8  וַעֲשָׂרָ֨ה (And ten) אֲנָשִׁ֜ים (men) נִמְצְאוּ־ (were found) בָ֗ם (among them) וַיֹּאמְר֤וּ (and they said) אֶל־ (to) יִשְׁמָעֵאל֙ (Ishmael), אַל־ (Do not); תְּמִתֵ֔נוּ (put us to death) כִּֽי־ (for) יֶשׁ־ (have) לָ֤נוּ (we) מַטְמֹנִים֙ (treasures) בַּשָּׂדֶ֔ה (in the field), חִטִּ֥ים (wheat), וּשְׂעֹרִ֖ים (and barley), וְשֶׁ֣מֶן (and oil), וּדְבָ֑שׁ (and honey). וַיֶּחְדַּ֕ל (And he held back), וְלֹ֥א (and not) הֱמִיתָ֖ם (he did put them to death) בְּת֥וֹךְ (in the midst) אֲחֵיהֶֽם׃ (of their brothers).

9  וְהַבּ֗וֹר (And the cistern) אֲשֶׁר֩ (into which) הִשְׁלִ֨יךְ (had cast) שָׁ֤ם (there) יִשְׁמָעֵאל֙ (Ishmael) אֵ֣ת׀ (-) כָּל־ (all) פִּגְרֵ֣י (the carcasses) הָאֲנָשִׁ֗ים (of the men), אֲשֶׁ֤ר (whom) הִכָּה֙ (he had struck down) בְּיַד־ (along with the hand) גְּדַלְיָ֔הוּ (of Gedaliah), ה֗וּא (was that) אֲשֶׁ֤ר (which) עָשָׂה֙ (had made) הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ (king) אָסָ֔א (Asa) מִפְּנֵ֖י (for fear) בַּעְשָׁ֣א (of Baasha) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (king) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (of Israel); אֹת֗וֹ (it) מִלֵּ֛א (filled) יִשְׁמָעֵ֥אל (and Ishmael) בֶּן־ (son) נְתַנְיָ֖הוּ (of Nethaniah) חֲלָלִֽים׃ (with the slain).

10  וַיִּ֣שְׁבְּ׀ (Took captive) יִ֠שְׁמָעֵאל (and Ishmael) אֶת־ (-) כָּל־ (all) שְׁאֵרִ֨ית (the rest) הָעָ֜ם (of the people) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (who were) בַּמִּצְפָּ֗ה (in Mizpah), אֶת־ (-) בְּנ֤וֹת (the daughters), הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ (of the king) וְאֶת־ (and) כָּל־ (all) הָעָם֙ (the people) הַנִּשְׁאָרִ֣ים (who remained) בַּמִּצְפָּ֔ה (in Mizpah), אֲשֶׁ֣ר (whom) הִפְקִ֗יד (had appointed) נְבֽוּזַרְאֲדָן֙ (Nebuzaradan) רַב־ (the captain) טַבָּחִ֔ים (of the guards) אֶת־ (-) גְּדַלְיָ֖הוּ (Gedaliah) בֶּן־ (son) אֲחִיקָ֑ם (of Ahikam); וַיִּשְׁבֵּם֙ (took them captive), יִשְׁמָעֵ֣אל (and Ishmael) בֶּן־ (son) נְתַנְיָ֔ה (of Nethaniah) וַיֵּ֕לֶךְ (and went off) לַעֲבֹ֖ר (to cross over) אֶל־ (to) בְּנֵ֥י (the sons) עַמּֽוֹן׃ס (of Ammon).

Johanan Rescues the Captives

11  וַיִּשְׁמַע֙ (And heard) יוֹחָנָ֣ן (Johanan) בֶּן־ (son) קָרֵ֔חַ (of Kareah), וְכָל־ (and all) שָׂרֵ֥י (the captains) הַחֲיָלִ֖ים (of the forces) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (who were) אִתּ֑וֹ (with him) אֵ֤ת (-) כָּל־ (all) הָֽרָעָה֙ (the evil) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) עָשָׂ֔ה (had done), יִשְׁמָעֵ֖אל (Ishmael) בֶּן־ (son) נְתַנְיָֽה׃ (of Nethaniah). 12  וַיִּקְחוּ֙ (And they took) אֶת־ (-) כָּל־ (all) הָ֣אֲנָשִׁ֔ים (the men), וַיֵּ֣לְכ֔וּ (and went) לְהִלָּחֵ֖ם (to do battle) עִם־ (with) יִשְׁמָעֵ֣אל (Ishmael) בֶּן־ (son) נְתַנְיָ֑ה (of Nethaniah), וַיִּמְצְא֣וּ (and they found) אֹת֔וֹ (him) אֶל־ (at) מַ֥יִם (pool) רַבִּ֖ים (the great) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that is) בְּגִבְעֽוֹן׃ (in Gibeon).

13  וַיְהִ֗י (And it came to pass), כִּרְא֤וֹת (saw) כָּל־ (when all) הָעָם֙ (the people) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (who were) אֶת־ (with) יִשְׁמָעֵ֔אל (Ishmael) אֶת־ (-) יֽוֹחָנָן֙ (Johanan) בֶּן־ (son) קָרֵ֔חַ (of Kareah), וְאֵ֛ת (and) כָּל־ (all) שָׂרֵ֥י (the captains) הַחֲיָלִ֖ים (of the forces) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (who were) אִתּ֑וֹ (with him) וַיִּשְׂמָֽחוּ׃ (that they were glad). 14  וַיָּסֹ֙בּוּ֙ (Turned around) כָּל־ (and all) הָעָ֔ם (the people) אֲשֶׁר־ (whom) שָׁבָ֥ה (had taken captive) יִשְׁמָעֵ֖אל (Ishmael) מִן־ (from) הַמִּצְפָּ֑ה (Mizpah) וַיָּשֻׁ֙בוּ֙ (and they returned), וַיֵּ֣לְכ֔וּ (and they went) אֶל־ (to) יֽוֹחָנָ֖ן (Johanan) בֶּן־ (son) קָרֵֽחַ׃ (of Kareah). 15  וְיִשְׁמָעֵ֣אל (And Ishmael) בֶּן־ (son) נְתַנְיָ֗ה (of Nethaniah) נִמְלַט֙ (escaped) בִּשְׁמֹנָ֣ה (with eight) אֲנָשִׁ֔ים (men), מִפְּנֵ֖י (from) יֽוֹחָנָ֑ן (Johanan) וַיֵּ֖לֶךְ (and went) אֶל־ (to) בְּנֵ֥י (the sons) עַמּֽוֹן׃ס (of Ammon).

16  וַיִּקַּח֩ (And took) יוֹחָנָ֨ן (Johanan) בֶּן־ (son) קָרֵ֜חַ (of Kareah), וְכָל־ (and all) שָׂרֵ֧י (the captains) הַחֲיָלִ֣ים (of the forces) אֲשֶׁר־ (that were) אִתּ֗וֹ (with him) אֵ֣ת (-) כָּל־ (all) שְׁאֵרִ֤ית (the rest) הָעָם֙ (of the people) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (whom) הֵ֠שִׁיב (he had turned back) מֵאֵ֨ת (from) יִשְׁמָעֵ֤אל (Ishmael) בֶּן־ (son) נְתַנְיָה֙ (of Nethaniah), מִן־ (from) הַמִּצְפָּ֔ה (Mizpah), אַחַ֣ר (after) הִכָּ֔ה (he had struck) אֶת־ (-) גְּדַלְיָ֖ה (Gedaliah) בֶּן־ (son) אֲחִיקָ֑ם (of Ahikam), גְּבָרִ֞ים (the mighty) אַנְשֵׁ֣י (men) הַמִּלְחָמָ֗ה (of war), וְנָשִׁ֤ים (and the women), וְטַף֙ (and the sons), וְסָ֣רִסִ֔ים (and the eunuchs), אֲשֶׁ֥ר (whom) הֵשִׁ֖יב (he had brought back) מִגִּבְעֽוֹן׃ (from Gibeon). 17  וַיֵּלְכ֗וּ (And they went), וַיֵּֽשְׁבוּ֙ (and dwelt) בְּגֵר֣וּת (in the lodging-place) כְּמוֹהֶם (of Chimham) אֲשֶׁר־ (which is) אֵ֖צֶל (beside) בֵּ֣ית (Beth-) לָ֑חֶם (lehem), לָלֶ֖כֶת (to go) לָב֥וֹא (to enter) מִצְרָֽיִם׃ (Egypt), 18  מִפְּנֵי֙ (because) הַכַּשְׂדִּ֔ים (of the Chaldeans); כִּ֥י (for) יָרְא֖וּ (they were afraid) מִפְּנֵיהֶ֑ם (of their face) כִּֽי־ (because) הִכָּ֞ה (had struck) יִשְׁמָעֵ֣אל (Ishmael) בֶּן־ (son) נְתַנְיָ֗ה (of Nethaniah) אֶת־ (-) גְּדַלְיָ֙הוּ֙ (Gedaliah) בֶּן־ (son) אֲחִיקָ֔ם (of Ahikam), אֲשֶׁר־ (whom) הִפְקִ֥יד (had appointed) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (the king) בָּבֶ֖ל (of Babylon) בָּאָֽרֶץ׃ס (in the land).