Johanan, son of Kareah, emerges as a significant figure during the tumultuous period following the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians in 586 BC. He is recognized as a Jewish military leader who played a crucial role in the events that unfolded in the aftermath of the Babylonian conquest.

Background and Context

After the fall of Jerusalem, the Babylonians appointed Gedaliah, son of Ahikam, as governor over the remnant of Judah. Gedaliah established his administration at Mizpah and sought to encourage the remaining Jews to settle and serve the Babylonians peacefully. However, this period of relative calm was short-lived due to the machinations of Ishmael, son of Nethaniah, a member of the royal family and a former officer under King Zedekiah.

The Plot Against Gedaliah

Ishmael, driven by ambition and possibly influenced by external forces, conspired to assassinate Gedaliah. Despite warnings from Johanan and other captains about Ishmael's intentions, Gedaliah dismissed their concerns, leading to his tragic assassination. The account in Jeremiah 41:2-3 states, "Ishmael son of Nethaniah and the ten men who were with him rose up and struck down Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, with the sword, killing the one whom the king of Babylon had appointed over the land. Ishmael also killed all the Jews who were with Gedaliah at Mizpah, as well as the Chaldean soldiers who were there."

Johanan's Pursuit and Defeat of Ishmael

Following the assassination, Ishmael took captives, including the king's daughters and others who were at Mizpah, intending to flee to the Ammonites. Johanan, along with other military leaders, quickly mobilized to rescue the captives and confront Ishmael. Jeremiah 41:11-12 records, "When Johanan son of Kareah and all the army officers with him heard of all the evil that Ishmael son of Nethaniah had done, they took all their men and went to fight Ishmael son of Nethaniah. They caught up with him by the great pool in Gibeon."

In the ensuing confrontation, Ishmael's forces were defeated, and he managed to escape with eight of his men to the Ammonites. Johanan successfully rescued the captives, including the royal daughters, and led them back to safety.

Aftermath and Legacy

Despite his victory over Ishmael, Johanan faced a difficult decision regarding the future of the remnant in Judah. Fearing retribution from the Babylonians for the murder of Gedaliah, Johanan and the people sought guidance from the prophet Jeremiah. They initially promised to obey the word of the LORD, whether favorable or unfavorable. However, when Jeremiah advised them to remain in the land and not flee to Egypt, they accused him of lying and ultimately decided to go to Egypt, taking Jeremiah with them (Jeremiah 42-43).

Johanan's actions during this period reflect the complex and often perilous decisions faced by the leaders of Judah in the wake of Babylonian dominance. His initial bravery in confronting Ishmael and rescuing the captives is a testament to his leadership and commitment to his people, even as subsequent choices led to further challenges for the remnant of Judah.Jeremiah 41:11-15
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,
Nave's Topical Index

The Captivity.
... back idolatry; and indeed, the whole Jewish people had ... he was taken by Nebuzaradan,
the captain who had ... his friend, the King of Ammon, when Johanan, a friend ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson x the captivity.htm

Who was Gedaliah in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus