1 Em outubro daquele ano, Ismael, filho de Netanias e neto de Elisama, que era da família real e que havia sido um alto oficial do rei, foi a Mispá com dez homens para se encontrar com Gedalias, filho de Aicam e neto de Safã. Enquanto faziam uma refeição juntos, 2 Ismael e os dez homens se levantaram de um salto, puxaram suas espadas e mataram Gedalias, que o rei da Babilônia havia nomeado governador. 3 Ismael também matou todos os soldados judeus e babilônios que estavam com Gedalias em Mispá.

4 No dia seguinte, antes que alguém soubesse do assassinato de Gedalias, 5 oitenta homens chegaram de Siquém, Siló e Samaria para adorar no templo do Senhor. Tinham raspado a cabeça, rasgado as roupas e se cortado e traziam ofertas de cereal e incenso. 6 Ismael, filho de Netanias, saiu de Mispá e foi ao encontro deles, chorando ao longo do caminho. Quando os encontrou, disse: "Venham e vejam o que aconteceu a Gedalias, filho de Aicam".

7 Assim que todos entraram na cidade, Ismael e os homens que o acompanhavam mataram setenta deles e jogaram os corpos numa cisterna. 8 Os outros dez sobreviveram, pois haviam convencido Ismael a soltá-los ao prometer lhes trazer os suprimentos de trigo, cevada, azeite e mel que haviam escondido. 9 A cisterna em que Ismael jogou os corpos dos homens que ele assassinou era a grande cisterna cavada pelo rei Asa, quando ele fortificou a cidade para se defender de Baasa, rei de Israel. Ismael, filho de Netanias, a encheu de cadáveres.

10 Então Ismael prendeu as filhas do rei e outras pessoas que Nebuzaradã, capitão da guarda, havia deixado em Mispá aos cuidados de Gedalias. Ismael partiu para a terra de Amom levando os prisioneiros.

11 Quando Joanã, filho de Careá, e os outros comandantes que o acompanhavam souberam dos crimes de Ismael, 12 reuniram todos os seus soldados e partiram para lutar contra ele. Eles o alcançaram no grande açude perto de Gibeom. 13 O povo que Ismael tinha capturado gritou de alegria quando viu Joanã e os outros comandantes. 14 Todos os prisioneiros de Mispá escaparam e começaram a ajudar Joanã. 15 Enquanto isso, Ismael e oito dos homens que estavam com ele escaparam de Joanã e foram para a terra de Amom.

16 Então Joanã, filho de Careá, e os outros comandantes levaram todo o povo que tinham resgatado em Gibeom: os soldados, as mulheres, as crianças e os oficiais do palácio que Ismael havia capturado em Mispá depois de matar Gedalias. 17 Foram todos para o povoado de Gerute-Quimã, perto de Belém, de onde planejavam fugir para o Egito. 18 Tinham medo daquilo que os babilônios fariam quando soubessem que Ismael havia assassinado Gedalias, o governador nomeado pelo rei da Babilônia.

1 Now in the seventh month, Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, of the royal offspring and one of the chief officers of the king, and ten men with him, came to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah; and there they ate bread together in Mizpah. 2 Then Ishmael the son of Nethaniah arose, and the ten men who were with him, and struck 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 Gedaliah at Mizpah, and the Chaldeans men of war who were found there.

4 The second day after he had killed Gedaliah, and no man knew it, 5 men came from Shechem, from Shiloh, and from Samaria, even eighty men, having their beards shaved and their clothes torn, and having cut themselves, with meal offerings and frankincense in their hand, to bring them to Yahweh’s house. 6 Ishmael the son of Nethaniah went out from Mizpah to meet them, weeping all along as he went, and as he met them, he said to them, "Come to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam." 7 It was so, when they came into the middle of the city, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah killed them, and cast them into the middle of the pit, he, and the men who were with him. 8 But ten men were found among those who said to Ishmael, "Don’t kill us; for we have stores hidden in the field, of wheat, and of barley, and of oil, and of honey."

So he stopped, and didn’t kill them among their brothers. 9 Now the pit in which Ishmael cast all the dead bodies of the men whom he had killed, by the side of Gedaliah (this was that which Asa the king had made for fear of Baasha king of Israel), Ishmael the son of Nethaniah filled it with those who were killed.

10 Then Ishmael carried away captive all of the people who were left 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 of Ahikam. Ishmael the son of Nethaniah carried them away captive, and departed to go over to the children of Ammon.

11 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 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 who 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 children 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 killed Gedaliah the son of Ahikam—the men of war, with the women, the children, and the eunuchs, whom he had brought back from Gibeon. 17 They departed and lived in Geruth Chimham, which is by Bethlehem, to go to enter into Egypt 18 because of the Chaldeans; for they were afraid of them, because Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had killed Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, whom the king of Babylon made governor over the land.