1 No sétimo mês daquele ano, Ismael, filho de Netanias e neto de Elisama, que era da família do rei, foi até Mispa com dez homens para encontrar-se com Gedalias. Enquanto estavam todos ali, tomando uma refeição juntos, 2 Ismael e os dez homens que estavam com ele pegaram as suas espadas e mataram Gedalias. Assim mataram aquele que tinha sido posto pelo rei da Babilônia como governador do país. 3 Ismael também matou todos os judeus que estavam com Gedalias em Mispa e os soldados babilônios que estavam lá.

4 No dia seguinte, antes que alguém soubesse que Gedalias tinha sido morto, 5 chegaram ali oitenta homens. Eles vinham de Siquém, Siló e Samaria. Estavam com a barba raspada e as roupas rasgadas e tinham feito cortes no corpo. Eles traziam cereais e incenso para oferecer a Deus, o Senhor, no Templo. 6 Então Ismael saiu chorando de Mispa e foi encontrar-se com eles. Quando chegou perto deles, disse:

— Entrem e venham ver Gedalias.

7 Quando eles entraram na cidade, Ismael e os seus homens os mataram e jogaram os corpos num poço.

8 Mas havia no grupo dez homens que disseram a Ismael:

— Não nos mate! Temos trigo, cevada, azeite e mel escondidos no campo.

Aí ele desistiu e não os matou como havia feito com os seus companheiros. 9 Era grande o poço em que Ismael jogou os corpos dos homens que ele havia matado. O rei Asa o havia cavado para se prevenir contra os ataques do rei Baasa, de Israel. Ismael encheu esse poço com os corpos dos homens que haviam sido mortos. 10 E depois Ismael partiu para o país de Amom, levando como prisioneiros as filhas do rei e todo o resto do povo que estava em Mispa. O comandante-geral Nebuzaradã tinha deixado Gedalias como o responsável por essa gente.

11 Joanã, filho de Careá, e todos os chefes do exército que estavam com ele ouviram falar do crime que Ismael havia cometido. 12 Então reuniram os seus soldados e foram combater contra Ismael. Eles o alcançaram perto do grande poço de Gibeão. 13 Quando os prisioneiros de Ismael viram Joanã e os chefes do exército com ele, ficaram alegres. 14 Aí viraram e correram para o lado de Joanã. 15 Mas Ismael e oito dos seus homens escaparam de Joanã e fugiram para o país de Amom.

16 Então Joanã e os chefes do exército que estavam com ele reuniram os soldados, as mulheres, as crianças e os eunucos que Ismael havia levado de Mispa como prisioneiros, depois de ter matado Gedalias. Assim reuniram a gente que Joanã havia tomado de Ismael em Gibeão 17 e partiram, parando um pouco em Gerute-Quimã, perto de Belém. Eles queriam ir até o Egito 18 para fugir dos babilônios. Estavam com medo deles porque Ismael tinha matado Gedalias, aquele que havia sido posto como governador do país pelo rei da Babilônia.

1 And it came to pass in the seventh month, that Ishmael son of Nethaniah son of Elishama of the seed royal and chiefs of the king, and ten men with him, came in, unto Gedaliah son of Ahikam, at Mizpah,and they did there eat bread together in Mizpah.

2 Then arose Ishmael son of Nethaniahand the ten men who were with him and they smote Gedaliah son of Ahikam son of Shaphanwith the sword and slew him whom the king of Babylon had set in charge, over the land.

3 And Ishmael smote, all the Jews who were with him even with Gedaliah in Mizpah, and the Chaldeans who were found there the men of war.

4 And it came to pass, on the second day, after he had slain Gedaliah, not, a man, knowing it,

5 that men came in from Shechem, from Shiloh, and from Samaria,eighty men, with beards shaven and clothes rent who also had cut themselves, with a meal-offering and frankincense in their hand, to bring them into the house of Yahweh.

6 Then went forth Ishmael son of Nethaniah to meet them out of Mizpah, weeping all along as he went,and it came to pass when he fell in with them, that he said unto them, Come ye in unto Gedaliah son of Ahikam.

7 And so it was when they had come into the midst of the city, that Ishmael son of Nethaniah slew them and east them into the midst of a pit, he and the men who were with him.

8 But, ten men, were found among them, who said unto IshmaelDo not put us to death, for we have secret treasures in the field, wheat and barley and oil and honey, So he forbare and put them not to death in the midst of their brethren.

9 Now the pit whereinto Ishmael cast all the dead bodies of the men whom he had smitten, was a large pit which King Asa had made for fear of Baasha king of Israel,the same, did Ishmael son of Nethaniah fill with the slain,

10 Then did Ishmael take captive all the remnant of the people that was in Mizpah,the daughters of the king, and all the people that were left remaining in Mizpah, whom Nebuzaradan chief of the royal executioners had committed unto Gedaliah son of Ahikam,yea Ishmael son of Nethaniah took them captive, and departed to pass over unto the sons of Ammon.

11 But when Johanan son of Kareah and all the captains of the forces who were with him heard of all the wickedness which Ishmael son of Nethaniah had done,

12 then took they all the men, and went their way to fight with Ishmael son of Nethaniah,and found him near the many waters which were in Gibeon.

13 And it came to pass, when all the people who were with Ishmael saw Johanan son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces who were with him, then were they glad.

14 So all the people whom Ishmael had carried away captive out of Mizpah, compassed about, and returned and went their way unto Johanan son of Kareah.

15 But, Ishmael son of Nethaniah, escaped with eight men, from the face of Johanan,and departed unto the sons of Ammon.

16 Then did Johanan son of Kareah and all the captains of the forces who were with him take all the remnant of the people whom he had recovered from Ishmael son of Nethaniah out of Mizpah, after he had smitten Gedaliah son of Ahikam,mighty men, men of war, and women and children and eunuchs, whom he had recovered out of Gibeon;

17 and they departed, and dwelt in the khan of Chimham, which is near Bethlehem,that they might go to enter Egypt;

18 because of the Chaldeans, for they were afraid of them,because Ishmael son of Nethaniah had smitten Gedaliah son of Ahikam, whom the king of Babylon had set in charge over the land.