1 No sétimo mês, Ismael, filho de Netanias, filho de Elisama, que era de sangue real e tinha sido um dos oficiais do rei, foi até Gedalias, filho de Aicam, em Mispá, levando consigo dez homens. Enquanto comiam juntos,2 Ismael, filho de Netanias, e os dez homens que estavam com ele se levantaram e feriram à espada Gedalias, filho de Aicam, neto de Safã, matando aquele que o rei da Babilônia tinha nomeado governador de Judá.3 Ismael também matou todos os judeus que estavam com Gedalias em Mispá, bem como os soldados babilônios que ali estavam.4 No dia seguinte ao assassinato de Gedalias, antes que alguém o soubesse,5 oitenta homens que haviam rapado a barba, rasgado suas roupas e feito cortes no corpo, vieram de Siquém, de Siló e de Samaria, trazendo ofertas de cereal e incenso para oferecer no templo do Senhor.6 Ismael, filho de Netanias, saiu de Mispá para encontrá-los, chorando enquanto caminhava. Quando os encontrou, disse: "Venham até onde se encontra Gedalias, filho de Aicam".7 Quando entraram na cidade, Ismael, filho de Netanias, e os homens que estavam com ele os mataram e os atiraram numa cisterna.8 Mas dez deles disseram a Ismael: "Não nos mate! Temos trigo e cevada, azeite e mel, escondidos num campo". Então ele os deixou em paz e não os matou com os demais.9 A cisterna na qual ele jogou os corpos dos homens que havia matado, juntamente com o de Gedalias, tinha sido cavada pelo rei Asa para defender-se de Baasa, rei de Israel. Ismael, filho de Netanias, encheu-a com os mortos.10 Ismael tomou como prisioneiros todo o restante do povo que estava em Mispá, inclusive as filhas do rei, sobre os quais Nebuzaradã, o comandante da guarda imperial, havia nomeado Gedalias, filho de Aicam, governador. Ismael, filho de Netanias, levou-os como prisioneiros e partiu para o território de Amom.11 Quando Joanã, filho de Careá, e todos os comandantes do exército, que com ele estavam, souberam do crime que Ismael, filho de Netanias, tinha cometido,12 convocaram todos os seus soldados para lutar contra ele. Eles o alcançaram perto do grande açude de Gibeom.13 Quando todo o povo, que Ismael tinha levado como prisioneiro, viu Joanã, filho de Careá, e os comandantes do exército que estavam com ele, alegrou-se.14 Todo o povo que Ismael tinha levado como prisioneiro de Mispá se voltou e passou para o lado de Joanã, filho de Careá.15 Mas Ismael, filho de Netanias, e oito de seus homens escaparam de Joanã e fugiram para o território de Amom16 Então, Joanã, filho de Careá, e todos os comandantes do exército que com ele estavam levaram todos os que tinham restado em Mispá, os quais ele tinha resgatado de Ismael, filho de Netanias, depois que este havia assassinado Gedalias, filho de Aicam: os soldados, as mulheres, as crianças e os oficiais do palácio real, que ele tinha trazido de Gibeom.17 E eles prosseguiram, parando em Gerute-Quimã, perto de Belém, a caminho do Egito,18 Queriam escapar dos babilônios. Estavam com medo porque Ismael, filho de Netanias, tinha matado Gedalias, filho de Aicam, a quem o rei da Babilônia nomeara governador de Judá.

1 Now it came to pass in the seventh month, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, of the seed royal and [one of] the chief officers of the king, and ten men with him, came to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah, an2 Then Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and the ten men who were with him, arose and smote Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan with the sword, and killed him, whom the king of Babylon had made governor over the land.3 Ishmael also killed all the Jews who were with him, [namely], with Gedaliah, at Mizpah, and the Chaldeans who were found there, the men of war.4 And it came to pass the second day after he had slain Gedaliah, and no man knew it,5 that men came from Shechem, from Shiloh, and from Samaria, even eighty men, having their beards shaven and their clothes torn, and having cut themselves, with meal-offerings and frankincense in their hand, to bring them to the hous6 And Ishmael the son of Nethaniah went forth from Mizpah to meet them, weeping all along as he went. And it came to pass, as he met them, he said to them, Come to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam.7 And it was so, when they came into the midst of the city, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah killed them, [and cast them] into the midst of the pit, he, and the men who were with him.8 But ten men were found among those who said to Ishmael, Kill us not, for we have stores hidden in the field, of wheat, and of barley, and of oil, and of honey. So he held back, and did not kill them among their brothers.9 Now the pit in which Ishmael cast all the dead bodies of the men whom he had slain by the side of Gedaliah (the same was that which Asa the king had made for fear of Baasha king of Israel), Ishmael the son of Nethaniah filled it wi10 Then Ishmael carried away captive all the residue of the people who were in Mizpah, even the king's daughters, and all the people who remained in Mizpah, whom Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had committed to Gedaliah the son o11 But when Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces who were with him, heard of all the evil that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had done,12 then they took all the men, and went to fight with Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and found him by the great waters that are in Gibeon.13 Now it came to pass that, when all the people who were with Ishmael saw Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces who were with him, then they were glad.14 So all the people that Ishmael had carried away captive from Mizpah turned about and came back, and went to Johanan the son of Kareah.15 But Ishmael the son of Nethaniah escaped from Johanan with eight men, and went to the sons of Ammon.16 Then Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces who were with him, took all the remnant of the people whom he had recovered from Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, from Mizpah, after he had slain Gedaliah the son of A17 And they departed, and dwelt in Geruth Chimham, which is by Bethlehem, to go to enter into Egypt18 because of the Chaldeans, for they were afraid of them because Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had slain Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, whom the king of Babylon made governor over the land.