Jeremiah 41 (Brenton)

1Now it came to pass in the seventh month that Ismael the son of Nathanias the son of Eleasa of the seed royal, came, and ten men with him, to Godolias to Massepha: and they ate bread there together.In the seventh month, Ishmael son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, who was a member of the royal family and one of the king’s chief officers, came with ten men to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah, and they ate a meal together there.

2And Ismael rose up, and the ten men that were with him, and smote Godolias, whom the king of Babylon had appointed governor over the land,Then Ishmael son of Nethaniah and the ten men who were with him got 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 to govern the land.

3and all the Jews that were with him in Massepha, and all the Chaldeans that were found there.Ishmael also killed all the Jews who were with Gedaliah at Mizpah, as well as the Chaldean soldiers who were there.

4And it came to pass on the second day after he had smitten Godolias, and no man knew of it,On the second day after the murder of Gedaliah, when no one yet knew about it,

5that there came men from Sychem, and from Salem, and from Samaria, even eighty men, having their beards shaven, and their clothes rent, and beating their breasts, and they had manna and frankincense in their hands, to bring them into the house of the Lord.eighty men who had shaved off their beards, torn their garments, and cut themselves came from Shechem, Shiloh, and Samaria, carrying grain offerings and frankincense for the house of the LORD.

6And Ismael went out to meet them; and they went on and wept: and he said to them, Come in to Godolias.And Ishmael son of Nethaniah went out from Mizpah to meet them, weeping as he went. When Ishmael encountered the men, he said, “Come to Gedaliah son of Ahikam.”

7And it came to pass, when they had entered into the midst of the city, that he slew them and cast them into a pit.And when they came into the city, Ishmael son of Nethaniah and the men with him slaughtered them and threw them into a cistern.

8But ten men were found there, and they said to Ismael, Slay us not: for we have treasures in the field, wheat and barley, honey and oil. So he passed by, and slew them not in the midst of their brethren.But ten of the men among them said to Ishmael, “Do not kill us, for we have hidden treasure in the field—wheat, barley, oil, and honey!” So he refrained from killing them with the others.

9Now the pit into which Ismael cast all whom he smote, is the great pit, which king Asa had made for fear of Baasa king of Israel: even this Ismael filled with slain men.Now the cistern into which Ishmael had thrown all the bodies of the men he had struck down along with Gedaliah was a large one that King Asa had made for fear of Baasha king of Israel. Ishmael son of Nethaniah filled it with the slain.

10And Ismael brought back all the people that were left in Massepha, and the king's daughter, whom the captain of the guard had committed in charge to Godolias the son of Achicam: and he went away beyond the children of Ammon.Then Ishmael took captive all the remnant of the people of Mizpah—the daughters of the king along with all the others who remained in Mizpah—over whom Nebuzaradan captain of the guard had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam. Ishmael son of Nethaniah took them captive and set off to cross over to the Ammonites.

11And Joanan the son of Careë, and all the leaders of the host that were with him, heard of all the evil deeds which Ismael had done.When Johanan son of Kareah and all the commanders of the armies with him heard of all the crimes that Ishmael son of Nethaniah had committed,

12And they brought all their army, and went to fight against him, and found him near much water in Gabaon.they took all their men and went to fight Ishmael son of Nethaniah. And they found him near the great pool in Gibeon.

13And it came to pass, when all the people that was with Ismael saw Joanan, and the leaders of the host that was with him,When all the people with Ishmael saw Johanan son of Kareah and all the commanders of the army with him, they rejoiced,

14that they returned to Joanan.and all the people whom Ishmael had taken captive at Mizpah turned and went over to Johanan son of Kareah.

15But Ismael escaped with eight men and went to the children of Ammon.But Ishmael son of Nethaniah and eight of his men escaped from Johanan and went to the Ammonites.

16And Joanan, and all the leaders of the host that were with him, took all the remnant of the people, whom he had brought back from Ismael, mighty men in war, and the women, and the other property, and the eunuchs, whom they had brought back from Gabaon:Then Johanan son of Kareah and all the commanders of the armies with him took the whole remnant of the people from Mizpah whom he had recovered from Ishmael son of Nethaniah after Ishmael had killed Gedaliah son of Ahikam: the soldiers, women, children, and court officials he had brought back from Gibeon.

17and they departed, and dwelt in Gaberoch-amaa, that is by Bethleem, to go into Egypt, for fear of the Chaldeans:And they went and stayed in Geruth Chimham, near Bethlehem, in order to proceed into Egypt

18for they were afraid of them, because Ismael had smitten Godolias, whom the king of Babylon made governor in the land.to escape the Chaldeans. For they were afraid of the Chaldeans because Ishmael son of Nethaniah had struck down Gedaliah son of Ahikam, whom the king of Babylon had appointed over the land.

Jeremiah 41

The Murder of Gedaliah

Johanan Rescues the Captives

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