But it cameabout in the seventhmonth,that Ishmaelthe sonof Nethaniah,the sonof Elishama,of the royalfamily,camewith tenmenand struckGedaliahdown so that he diedalong with the Jewsand the Chaldeanswhowere with him at Mizpah.
When Athaliahthe motherof Ahaziahsawthat her sonwas dead,she roseand destroyedallthe royaloffspring.
Gedaliahsworeto them and their menand saidto them, "Do not be afraidof the servantsof the Chaldeans;livein the landand servethe kingof Babylon,and it will be wellwith you."
Then Johananthe sonof Kareahspokesecretlyto Gedaliahin Mizpah,saying,"Let me goand killIshmaelthe sonof Nethaniah,and not a manwill know!Whyshould he takeyour life,so that allthe Jewswho are gatheredto you would be scatteredand the remnantof Judahwould perish?"
In the seventhmonthIshmaelthe sonof Nethaniah,the sonof Elishama,of the royalfamilyand [one] of the chiefofficersof the king,along with tenmen,cameto Mizpahto Gedaliahthe sonof Ahikam.While they were eatingbreadtogethertherein Mizpah,
Ishmaelthe sonof Nethaniahand the tenmenwhowere with him aroseand struckdownGedaliahthe sonof Ahikam,the sonof Shaphan,with the swordand putto deaththe one whomthe kingof Babylonhad appointedover the land.
Ishmaelalso struckdownallthe Jewswhowere with him, [that is] with Gedaliahat Mizpah,and the Chaldeanswhowere foundthere,the menof war.
"Sayto allthe peopleof the landand to the priests,'Whenyou fastedand mournedin the fifthand seventhmonths theseseventyyears,was it actuallyfor Me that you fasted?
"Thussaysthe LORDof hosts,'The fastof the fourth,the fastof the fifth,the fastof the seventhand the fastof the tenth[months] will becomejoy,gladness,and cheerfulfeastsfor the houseof Judah;so lovetruthand peace.'
