1Now it came to pass in the seventh month that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah the son of Elishama of the seed royal, came, and ten men with him, to Gedaliah to Mizpah: and they ate bread there together.

2And Ishmael rose up, and the ten men that were with him, and smote Gedaliah, whom the king of Babylon had appointed governor over the land,

3and all the Jews that were with him in Mizpah, and all the Chaldeans that were found there.

4And it came to pass on the second day after he had smitten Gedaliah, and no man knew of it,

5that there came men from Shechem, and from Salem, and from Samaria, even eighty men, having their beards shaven, and their clothes rent, and beating their breasts, and they had manna and frankincense in their hands, to bring them into the house of the Lord.

6And Ishmael went out to meet them; and they went on and wept: and he said to them, Come in to Gedaliah.

7And it came to pass, when they had entered into the midst of the city, that he slew them and cast them into a pit.

8But ten men were found there, and they said to Ishmael, Slay us not: for we have treasures in the field, wheat and barley, honey and oil. So he passed by, and slew them not in the midst of their brethren.

9Now the pit into which Ishmael cast all whom he smote, is the great pit, which King Asa had made for fear of Baasha king of Israel: even this Ishmael filled with slain men.

10And Ishmael brought back all the people that were left in Mizpah, and the king’s daughter, whom the captain of the guard had committed in charge to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam: and he went away beyond the children of Ammon.

11And Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the leaders of the host that were with him, heard of all the evil deeds which Ishmael had done.

12And they brought all their army, and went to fight against him, and found him near much water in Gibeon.

13And it came to pass, when all the people that was with Ishmael saw Johanan, and the leaders of the host that was with him,

14that they returned to Johanan.

15But Ishmael escaped with eight men and went to the children of Ammon.

16And Johanan, and all the leaders of the host that were with him, took all the remnant of the people, whom he had brought back from Ishmael, mighty men in war, and the women, and the other property, and the eunuchs, whom they had brought back from Gibeon:

17and they departed, and dwelt in Geruth Chimham, that is by Bethlehem, to go into Egypt, for fear of the Chaldeans:

18for they were afraid of them, because Ishmael had smitten Gedaliah, whom the king of Babylon made governor in the land.