Gedaliah Assassinated^(A)

⁷ When all the army officers and their men who were still in the open country heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam as governor^(B) over the land and had put him in charge of the men, women and children who were the poorest^(C) in the land and who had not been carried into exile to Babylon,

⁸ they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah^(A)—Ishmael^(B) son of Nethaniah, Johanan^(C) and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth, the sons of Ephai the Netophathite,^(D) and Jaazaniah^[a] the son of the Maakathite,^(E) and their men.

¹³ Johanan^(A) son of Kareah and all the army officers still in the open country came to Gedaliah at Mizpah^{(B) 14} and said to him, “Don’t you know that Baalis king of the Ammonites^(C) has sent Ishmael^(D) son of Nethaniah to take your life?” But Gedaliah son of Ahikam did not believe them.

¹⁵ Then Johanan^(E) son of Kareah said privately to Gedaliah in Mizpah, “Let me go and kill^(F) Ishmael son of Nethaniah, and no one will know it. Why should he take your life and cause all the Jews who are gathered around you to be scattered^(G) and the remnant^(H) of Judah to perish?”

¹⁶ But Gedaliah son of Ahikam said to Johanan^(I) son of Kareah, “Don’t do such a thing! What you are saying about Ishmael is not true.”