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 acompanhavam

12 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 In the seventh month Ishmael son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, who was of royal blood and had been one of the king's officers, came with ten men to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah. While they were eating together there,

2 Ishmael son of Nethaniah and the ten men who were with him got up and struck down Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, with the sword, killing the one whom the king of Babylon had appointed as governor over the land.

3 Ishmael also killed all the men of Judah who were with Gedaliah at Mizpah, as well as the Babylonian "soldiers who were there.

4 The day after Gedaliah's assassination, before anyone knew about it,

5 eighty men who had shaved off their beards, torn their clothes and cut themselves came from Shechem, Shiloh and Samaria, bringing grain offerings and incense with them to the house of the LORD.

6 Ishmael son of Nethaniah went out from Mizpah to meet them, weeping as he went. When he met them, he said, "Come to Gedaliah son of Ahikam."

7 When they went into the city, Ishmael son of Nethaniah and the men who were with him slaughtered them and threw them into a cistern.

8 But ten of them said to Ishmael, "Don't kill us! We have wheat and barley, olive oil and honey, hidden in a field." So he let them alone and did not kill them with the others.

9 Now the cistern where he threw all the bodies of the men he had killed along with Gedaliah was the one King Asa had made as part of his defense against Baasha king of Israel. Ishmael son of Nethaniah filled it with the dead.

10 Ishmael made captives of all the rest of the people who were in Mizpah —the king's daughters along with all the others who were left there, over whom Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam. Ishmael son of Nethaniah took them captive and set out to cross over to the Ammonites.

11 When Johanan son of Kareah and all the army officers who were with him heard about all the crimes Ishmael son of Nethaniah had committed,

12 they took all their men and went to fight Ishmael son of Nethaniah. They caught up with him near the great pool in Gibeon.

13 When all the people Ishmael had with him saw Johanan son of Kareah and the army officers who were with him, they were glad.

14 All the people Ishmael had taken captive at Mizpah turned and went over to Johanan son of Kareah.

15 But Ishmael son of Nethaniah and eight of his men escaped from Johanan and fled to the Ammonites.

16 Then Johanan son of Kareah and all the army officers who were with him led away all the people of Mizpah who had survived, whom Johanan had recovered from Ishmael son of Nethaniah after Ishmael had assassinated Gedaliah son of Ahikam —the soldiers, women, children and court officials he had recovered from Gibeon.

17 And they went on, stopping at Geruth Kimham near Bethlehem on their way to Egypt

18 to escape the Babylonians. "They were afraid of them because Ishmael son of Nethaniah had killed Gedaliah son of Ahikam, whom the king of Babylon had appointed as governor over the land.