Gedaliah

GEDALIAH, the son of Abikam, was left by Nebuchadnezzar in Palestine after the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple b, that he might govern the remainder of Jerem. xl. xli. 2 Kings xxv. 22. b In the year of the World 3416, before J. C. 584, before the Vulgar Æra 588.the people, which continued there, and gather those again together, who had fled. Jeremiah retired to him at Mizpah, where he had settled his abode; and many of the Jews who had fled into the land of Moab and Ammon, came thither also. Gedaliah assured them of Nebuchadnezzar’s protection, provided they lived peaceably. In the mean time Ishmael, the son of Nethaniah, of the royal family of Judah, came likewise to see Gedaliah, who had been informed that Ishmael was sent by Baalis King of Ammon, with an intention to kill him; but Gedaliah would believe nothing of it, and would not permit any one to prevent the ill design of Ishmael. He received him at his table, and entertained him; but when the banquet was over, Ishmael, and they who were with him, fell upon Gedaliah, and massacred him, and all those who were about him, as well Jews as Chaldæans. Vide Jerem. xl. xli.Hereupon the rest of the people fled into Egypt, and forcibly carried Jeremiah thither with them, whatever the Prophet could say to divert them from this resolution.

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