1 Now it came to passe in the seuenth moneth, that Ishmael the sonne of Nethaniah the sonne of Elishamah of the seede royall, and the princes of the king, euen tenne men with him, came vnto Gedaliah the sonne of Ahikam to Mizpah, and there they did eate bread together in Mizpah.
2 Then arose Ishmael the sonne of Nethaniah, and the ten men that were with him, and smote Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the sonne of Shaphan with the sword, and slew him, whome the king of Babylon had made gouernour ouer the land.
3 Ishmael also slew all the Iewes that were with him, euen with Gedaliah at Mizpah, and the Caldeans that were found there, and the men of warre.
4 And it came to passe the second day after he had slaine Gedaliah, and no man knew it,
5 That there came certaine from Shechem, from Shiloh, and from Samaria, euen fourescore men, hauing their beards shauen, and their clothes rent, and hauing cut themselues, with offerings and incense in their hand, to bring them to the house of the Lord.
6 And Ishmael the sonne of Nethaniah went foorth from Mizpah to meete them, weeping all along as hee went: and it came to passe as hee met them, he said vnto them, Come to Gedaliah the sonne of Ahikam.
7 And it was so when they came into the midst of the citie, that Ishmael the sonne 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 vnto Ishmael, Slay vs not: for we haue treasures in the field, of wheate, and of barley, and of oyle, and of hony: so he forbare, and slewe them not among their brethren.
9 Now the pit wherein Ishmael had cast all the dead bodies of the men (whom he had slaine because of Gedaliah) was it, which Asa the king had made, for feare of Baasha king of Israel, and Ishmael the sonne of Nethaniah filled it with them that were slaine.
10 Then Ishmael caried away captiue all the residue of the people, that were in Mizpah, euen the kings daughters, and al the people that remained in Mizpah, whom Nebuzaradan the captaine of the guard had committed to Gedaliah the sonne of Ahikam, and Ishmael the sonne of Nethaniah caried them away captiue, and departed to goe ouer to the Ammonites.
11 ¶ But when Iohanan the sonne of Kareah, and all the captaines of the forces that were with him, heard of all the euill that Ishmael the sonne of Nethaniah had done,
12 Then they tooke all the men, and went to fight with Ishmael the sonne of Nethaniah, and found him by the great waters that are in Gibeon.
13 Now it came to passe that when al the people which were with Ishmael, sawe Iohanan the sonne of Kareah, and all the captaines of the forces, that were with him, then they were glad.
14 So all the people that Ishmael had caried away captiue from Mizpah cast about and returned, and went vnto Iohanan the sonne of Kareah.
15 But Ishmael the sonne of Nethaniah escaped from Iohanan with eight men, and went to the Ammonites.
16 Then tooke Iohanan the sonne of Kareah, and all the captaines of the forces that were with him, all the remnant of the people whom he had recouered from Ishmael the sonne of Nethaniah, from Mizpah (after that he had slaine Gedaliah the sonne of Ahikam,) euen mighty men of warre, and the women, and the children, and the eunuches whom he had brought againe from Gibeon.
17 And they departed and dwelt in the habitation of Chimham, which is by Bethlehem, to goe to enter into Egypt,
18 Because of the Caldeans: for they were afraid of them, because Ishmael the sonne of Nethaniah had slaine Gedaliah the sonne of Ahikam, whom the king of Babylon made gouernour in the land.
Ishmael murders Gedaliah. (1-10) Johanan recovers the captives, and purposes to retire to Egypt. (11-18)1-10 Those who hate the worshippers of God, often put on the appearance of piety, that they may the easier hurt them. As death often meets men where they least expect it, we should continually search whether we are in such a state and frame of mind, as we would wish to be found in when called to appear before our Judge. Sometimes the ransom of a man's life is his riches. But those who think to bribe death, saying, Slay us not, for we have treasures in the field, will find themselves wretchedly deceived. This melancholy history warns us, never to be secure in this world. We never can be sure of peace on this side heaven.
11-18 The success of villany must be short, and none can prosper who harden their hearts against God. And those justly lose comfort in real fears, who excuse themselves in sin by pretended fears. The removal of a prudent and peaceable ruler, and the succession of another who is rash and ambitious, affects the welfare of many. Only those are happy and steady who fear the Lord and walk in his ways.
Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.