Jeremiah 41

1

(2 Kings 25:25–26)

In the seventhH7637 monthH2320, IshmaelH3458 sonH1121 of NethaniahH5418, the sonH1121 of ElishamaH476, who was a member of the royalH4410 familyH2233 and one of the king’sH4428 chief officersH7227, cameH935 withH854 tenH6235 menH582 toH413 GedaliahH1436 sonH1121 of AhikamH296 at MizpahH4709, and they ateH398 a mealH3899 togetherH3162 thereH8033. 2Then IshmaelH3458 sonH1121 of NethaniahH5418 and the tenH6235 menH582 whoH834 wereH1961 with himH854 got upH6965 and struck downH5221 GedaliahH1436 sonH1121 of AhikamH296, the sonH1121 of ShaphanH8227, with the swordH2719, killingH4191 the oneH853 whomH834 the kingH4428 of BabylonH894 had appointed to governH6485 the landH776. 3IshmaelH3458 alsoH853 killedH5221 allH3605 the JewsH3064 whoH834 wereH1961 withH854 GedaliahH1436 at MizpahH4709, as well as the ChaldeanH37781 soldiersH4421 whoH834H4672 were thereH8033.

4

On the secondH8145 dayH3117 after the murderH4191 of GedaliahH1436, when noH3808 oneH376 yet knew about itH3045, 5eightyH8084H376 menH582 who had shaved offH1548 their beardsH2206, tornH7167 their garmentsH899, and cut themselvesH1413 cameH935 from ShechemH7927, ShilohH7887, and SamariaH8111, carryingH3027H935 grain offeringsH4503 and frankincenseH3828 for the houseH1004 of the LORDH3068. 6And IshmaelH3458 sonH1121 of NethaniahH5418 went outH3318 fromH4480 MizpahH4709 to meet themH7122, weepingH1058H1961 as he wentH1980.

When Ishmael encounteredH6298 the men, he saidH559, “ComeH935H413 toH413 GedaliahH1436 sonH1121 of AhikamH296.” 7And when they cameH935 intoH413H8432 the cityH5892, IshmaelH3458 sonH1121 of NethaniahH5418 and the menH582 with himH854 slaughtered themH7819 and threw them intoH413H8432 a cisternH953H1931.

8But tenH6235 of the menH582 among them saidH559 toH413 IshmaelH3458, “Do notH408 kill usH4191, forH3588 we haveH3426 hidden treasureH4301 in the fieldH7704—wheatH2406, barleyH8184, oilH8081, and honeyH1706!” So he refrainedH2308H3808 from killing themH4191 withH8432 the othersH251.

9Now the cisternH953 into whichH834 IshmaelH3458 had thrownH7993H8033 allH3605 the bodiesH6297 of the menH582 he had struck downH5221 along withH3027 GedaliahH1436H1931 was a large one thatH834 KingH4428 AsaH609 had madeH6213 for fearH6440 of BaashaH1201 kingH4428 of IsraelH3478. IshmaelH3458 sonH1121 of NethaniahH5418 filled itH4390 with the slainH2491.

10Then IshmaelH3458 took captiveH7617 allH3605 the remnantH7611 of the peopleH5971 of MizpahH4709—the daughtersH1323 of the kingH4428 along withH853 allH3605 the othersH5971 who remainedH7604 in MizpahH4709—over whomH834 NebuzaradanH5018 captainH7227 of the guardH2876H854 had appointedH6485 GedaliahH1436 sonH1121 of AhikamH296. IshmaelH3458 sonH1121 of NethaniahH5418 took them captiveH7617 and set offH1980 to cross overH5674 toH413 the AmmonitesH1121H5983.

Johanan Rescues the Captives

11When JohananH3110 sonH1121 of KareahH7143 and allH3605 the commandersH8269 of the armiesH2428 withH854 himH853 heardH8085 of allH3605 the crimesH7451 thatH834 IshmaelH3458 sonH1121 of NethaniahH5418 had committedH6213, 12they tookH3947 allH3605 their menH582 and wentH1980 to fightH3898H5973 IshmaelH3458 sonH1121 of NethaniahH5418. And they foundH4672 himH853 nearH413 the greatH7227 poolH4325 in GibeonH1391.

13

When allH3605 the peopleH5971 withH854 IshmaelH3458 sawH7200 JohananH3110 sonH1121 of KareahH7143 and allH3605 the commandersH8269 of the armyH2428 with himH854, they rejoicedH8055, 14and allH3605 the peopleH5971 whomH834 IshmaelH3458 had taken captiveH7617 atH4480 MizpahH4709 turnedH5437 and went overH7725H1980 toH413 JohananH3110 sonH1121 of KareahH7143. 15But IshmaelH3458 sonH1121 of NethaniahH5418 and eightH8083 of his menH582 escapedH4422 fromH6440 JohananH3110 and wentH1980 toH413 the AmmonitesH1121H5983.

16Then JohananH3110 sonH1121 of KareahH7143 and allH3605 the commandersH8269 of the armiesH2428 with himH854 tookH3947 the wholeH3605 remnantH7611 of the peopleH5971 fromH4480 MizpahH4709 whomH834 he had recoveredH7725H854 from IshmaelH3458 sonH1121 of NethaniahH5418 afterH310 Ishmael had killedH5221 GedaliahH1436 sonH1121 of AhikamH296: the soldiersH1397H582H4421, womenH802, childrenH2945, and court officialsH56312 he had brought backH7725 from GibeonH1391. 17And they wentH1980 and stayedH3427 in GeruthH1628 ChimhamH3644, nearH681 BethlehemH1035, in order to proceedH1980H935 into EgyptH4714 18to escapeH6440 the ChaldeansH3778.3 ForH3588 they were afraidH3372 ofH6440 the Chaldeans becauseH3588 IshmaelH3458 sonH1121 of NethaniahH5418 had struck downH5221 GedaliahH1436 sonH1121 of AhikamH296, whomH834 the kingH4428 of BabylonH894 had appointedH6485 over the landH776.