1 Mas em Outubro , Ismael (filho de Netanias e neto de Elisama), membro da família real que tinha sido um dos membros mais evidentes do conselho do rei, chegou a Mizpá, acompanhado de dez homens. Gedalias convidou-o para uma refeição juntos.2 Enquanto comiam, Ismael e os dez homens, seus companheiros, saltaram-lhe repentinamente em cima, e puxando das espadas mataram Gedalias.3 Seguidamente, sairam e assassinaram todos os judeus chefes da administração pública e os soldados babilónicos que viviam ali em Mizpá com Gedalias.4 No dia seguinte, antes que toda a gente tomasse conhecimento do que tinha acontecido, oitenta homens aproximaram-se de Mizpá, vindos de Siquem, de Silo e de Samaria, dirigindo-se ao templo do Senhor para o adorarem. Todos eles tinham rapado as barbas, rasgado os vestidos e tinham-se também ferido a si mesmos; vinham com ofertas e com incenso para oferecerem. Ismael saiu da cidade ao encontro deles, chorando, à medida que eles se aproximavam. Quando se chegaram junto dele, disse-lhes: Oh! Venham ver o que aconteceu a Gedalias!7 Então, quando estavam todos dentro da povoação, Ismael e os seus homens mataram-nos, deixando apenas dez com vida; os corpos dos outros setenta atiraram-nos para dentro dum poço. Os dez que não foram mortos foi porque prometeram trazer-lhes grandes quantidades de trigo, cevada, azeite e mel que tinham escondido no campo. A cisterna em que Ismael lançou os corpos dos que foram assassinados era a maior, construída pelo rei Asa, quando este fortificou Mizpa, para se proteger contra os ataques de Basha, rei de Israel.10 Ismael prendeu as filhas do rei, assim como todo o resto do povo que Nebuzaradão, comandante da guarda, tinha deixada em Mizpa, ao cuidado de Gedalias. Pouco tempo depois, levou aquela gente consigo, quando decidiu ir para a terra dos amonitas.11 No entanto, Joanã (filho de Careá) e os outros chefes de guerrilha, ao saberem o que Ismael tinha feito, pegaram nos seus homens todos e foram detê-lo. Apanharam-no no tanque que está junto de Gibeão. As gentes que iam, presas, com Ismael, começaram a gritar de alegria quando viram Joanã e os companheiros, e correram ao seu encontro.15 Entretanto Ismael conseguiu escapar-se com oito dos seus, para os amonitas.16 Então Joanã mais os seus homens foram para a povoação de Gerute-Quimá, perto de Belém, levando consigo os que tinham livrado das mãos de Ismael - soldados, mulheres, crianças e eunucos - preparando-se para se passarem para o Egipto. Eles tinham receio do que poderiam fazer os babilónios quando soubessem da notícia de que Ismael tinha morto Gedalias, o governador, pois que este tinha sido escolhido e nomeado pelo próprio imperador de Babilónia.

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 the princes of the king, even ten men with him, came to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah; and there they ate bread together in Mizpah.2 Then arose Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and the ten men that were with him, and smote Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan with the sword, and slew him, whom the king of Babylon had made governor over the land.3 Ishmael also slew all the Jews that were with him, even with Gedaliah, at Mizpah, and the Chaldeans that were found there, and 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 there came men from Shechem, from Shiloh, and from Samaria, even eighty men, having their beards shaven, and their clothes rent, and having cut themselves, with offerings and incense in their hand, to bring them to the house of the LORD.6 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 slew them, and cast them into the midst of the pit, he, and the men that were with him.8 But ten men were found among them that said to Ishmael, Slay us not: for we have treasures in the field, of wheat, and of barley, and of oil, and of honey. So he forbore, and slew them not among their brethren.9 Now the pit into which Ishmael had cast all the dead bodies of the men, whom he had slain because of Gedaliah, was that which Asa the king had made for fear of Baasha king of Israel: and Ishmael the son of Nethaniah filled it with them that were slain.10 Then Ishmael carried away captive all the residue of the people that were in Mizpah, even the king's daughters, and all the people that remained in Mizpah, whom Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard had committed to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam: and Ishmael the son of Nethaniah carried them away captive, and departed to go over to the Ammonites.11 But when Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that 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 that were with him, then they were glad.14 So all the people that Ishmael had carried away captive from Mizpah cast about and returned, 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 Ammonites.16 Then Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were with him, took all the remnant of the people whom he had recovered from Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, from Mizpeh, after that he had slain Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, even mighty men of war, and the women, and the children, and the eunuchs, whom he had brought again from Gibeon.17 And they departed, and dwelt in the habitation of Chimham, which is by Beth-lehem, to go to enter into Egypt,18 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 in the land.