1 Decorria o sétimo mês. Ismael, filho de Natanias, filho de Elisama, de linhagem real e um dos grandes do rei, apresentou-se, acompanhado de dez homens, diante de Godolias, filho de Aicão, em Masfa, e juntos comeram.2 Então Ismael, filho de Natanias, e seus dez companheiros, a golpes de espada, atentaram contra a vida de Godolias, filho de Aicão, filho de Safã. E assim mataram aquele que o rei de Babilônia nomeara governador da terra,3 bem como todos os judeus que estavam com ele. Ismael matou, igualmente, todos os guerreiros caldeus que lá se encontravam.4 Dois dias depois da morte de Godolias, quando ainda todos a ignoravam,5 chegou a Siquém, de Silo e de Samaria um grupo de oitenta homens, de barba raspada, vestes rasgadas e o rosto desfigurado. Traziam oferendas e incenso para a casa do Senhor.6 Ismael, filho de Natanias, saiu de Masfa ao encontro deles, banhado em lágrimas. Quando, afinal, os encontrou, disse-lhes: Vinde a Godolias, filho de Aicão.7 Apenas, porém, chegaram ao meio da cidade, mandou Ismael decapitá-los, e lançar seus corpos em uma cisterna.8 Entre as vítimas, contudo, encontravam-se dez homens que disseram a Ismael: Não nos mates. Temos no campo provisões escondidas de trigo, cevada, azeite e mel. Diante disso, suspendeu Ismael o massacre e não os matou como os demais, seus irmãos.9 A cisterna em que Ismael lançara os cadáveres dos homens que matara era imensa e fora perfurada pelo rei Asa, quando se defendia contra Baasa, rei de Israel. Foi essa cisterna que Ismael encheu de cadáveres.10 Em seguida, aprisionou quantos ainda restavam em Masfa, as princesas reais e toda a população que lá ficara, entregue por Nabuzardã, chefe dos guardas, aos cuidados de Godolias, filho de Aicão. Conduzindo seus cativos, pôs-se Ismael a caminho das terras dos filhos de Amon.11 Ante a notícia de todo o mal que cometera Ismael, filho de Natanias, Joanã, filho de Carée e os oficiais de guerra que o acompanhavam12 reuniram todos os seus homens a fim de atacar Ismael, filho de Natanias. Alcançaram-no perto da piscina de Gabaon.13 Quando todo o povo que estava com Ismael avistou Joanã, filho de Carée, e todos os oficiais de guerra que vinham com ele, encheu-se de alegria.14 E a multidão que Ismael trouxera de Masfa abandonou-o e foi unir-se a Joanã, filho de Carée.15 Entretanto, Ismael, filho de Natanias, conseguiu escapar de Joanã, com mais oito homens, fugindo para a terra dos filhos de Amon.16 Então, Joanã, filho de Carée, e os oficiais que o acompanhavam, puseram-se à testa da tropa de sobreviventes de que Ismael, filho de Natanias, se apoderara em Masfa, após o assassínio de Godolias, filho de Aicão. Guerreiros, mulheres, crianças e eunucos, fê-los todos regressar de Gabaon.17 Puseram-se então a caminho, detendo-se em Camaã, nas proximidades de Belém, para de lá se retirarem para o Egito.18 Queriam assim furtar-se aos caldeus, dos quais receavam represálias, dado que Ismael, filho de Natanias, assassinara Godolias, filho de Aicão, nomeado para governar a terra pelo rei de Babilônia.

1 Now it came to pass in the seventh month, that Ishmael the son of Nethanyah the son of Elishama’, of the royal seed, and the chiefs of the king, even ten men with him, came unto Gedalyahu the son of Achikam to Mizpah; and they ate there bread together in Mizpah.2 Then arose Ishmael the son of Nethanyah, and the ten men that were with him, and smote Gedalyahu the son of Achikam the son of Shaphan with the sword, and put to death him, whom the king of Babylon had appointed governor over the land.3 And all the Jews that were with him, even with Gedalyahu, at Mizpah, and the Chaldeans that were found there, even the men of war, did Ishmael slay.4 And it came to pass on the second day after he had put Gedalyahu to death, while no man knew of it,5 That there came certain men from Shechem, from Shiloh, and from Samaria, eighty men in all, having their beards shaven, and their clothes rent, and having cut themselves, with meat–offerings and frankincense in their hand, to bring the same to the house of the Lord.6 And Ishmael the son of Nethanyah went forth from Mizpah to meet them, going along and weeping: and it came to pass as he met them, that he said unto them, Come to Gedalyahu the son of Achikam.7 And it happened, as they entered into the midst of the city, that Ishmael the son of Nethanyah slaughtered them, and cast them into the midst of the cistern, he, and the men that were with him.8 But ten men were found among them that said unto Ishmael, Slay us not; for we have some things hidden in the field, such as wheat, and barley, and oil, and honey. So he forbore, and slew them not in the midst of their brethren.9 And the cistern wherein Ishmael cast all the corpses of the men, whom he had slain in company with Gedalyahu, is the same which king Assa had made on account of Ba’sha the king of Israel: this did Ishmael the son of Nethanyah fill with slain persons.10 Then did Ishmael carry away captive all the residue of the people that were in Mizpah, the king’s daughters, and all the people that were remaining in Mizpah, whom Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had entrusted to Gedalyahu the son of Achikam: and Ishmael the son of Nethanyah carried them away captive, and went off to pass over to the children of Ammon.11 But when Jochanan the son of Kareach, and all the captains of the armies that were with him, heard of all the evil that Ishmael the son of Nethanyah had done:12 Then did they take all the men, and went to fight with Ishmael the son of Nethanyah, and found him by the great water–pool that is near Gib’on.13 And it came to pass, when all the people who were with Ishmael saw Jochanan the son of Kareach, and all the captains of the armies that were with him, that they were rejoiced.14 And all the people that Ishmael had carried away captive from Mizpah turned about and returned, and went unto Jochanan the son of Kareach.15 But Ishmael the son of Nethanyah escaped with eight men from the presence of Jochanan, and he went to the children of ‘Ammon.16 Then took Jochanan the son of Kareach, and all the captains of the armies that were with him, all the remnant of the people whom he had recovered from Ishmael the son of Nethanyah, from Mizpah, after he had slain Gedalyah the son of Achikam, the adult males, the men of war, and the women, and the children, and the eunuchs, whom he had brought back from Gib’on;17 And they went, and remained in Geruth–Kimham, which is by Beth–lechem, to go to enter into Egypt,18 Because of the Chaldeans; for they were afraid of them; because Ishmael the son of Nethanyah had slain Gedalyahu the son of Achikam, whom the king of Babylon had appointed governor over the land.