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?"
But the peoplesaid,"You should not goout; for ifwe indeedflee,they will not careaboutus; even ifhalfof us die,they will not careaboutus. But you are worth tenthousandof us; therefore nowit is betterthat you [be ready] to helpus from the city."
But Abishaithe sonof Zeruiahhelpedhim, and struckthe Philistineand killedhim. Thenthe menof Davidsworeto him, saying,"You shall not goout againwith us to battle,sothat you do not extinguishthe lampof Israel."
"Have the menof my tentnot said,'Whocan findone who has not been satisfiedwith his meat'?
So they cameto Gedaliahat Mizpah,along with Ishmaelthe sonof Nethaniah,and Johananand Jonathanthe sonsof Kareah,and Seraiahthe sonof Tanhumeth,and the sonsof Ephaithe Netophathite,and Jezaniahthe sonof the Maacathite,[both] they and their men.
and saidto Jeremiahthe prophet,"Pleaselet our petitioncomebeforeyou, and prayfor us to the LORDyour God,[that is] for allthisremnant;becausewe are left[but] a fewout of many,as your own eyes[now] seeus,
nordo you take into accountthat it is expedientfor you that onemandiefor the people,and that the wholenationnot perish."
The menof Davidsaidto him, "Behold,[this is] the dayof whichthe LORDsaidto you, 'Behold;I am about to giveyour enemyinto your hand,and you shall doto him as it seemsgoodto you.'" Then Davidaroseand cutoffthe edgeof Saul'srobesecretly.
Then Abishaisaidto David,"TodayGodhas deliveredyour enemyinto your hand;nowtherefore, pleaselet me strikehim with the spearto the groundwith onestroke,and I will not strike him the secondtime."
