Gedaliah גְּדַלְיָ֫הוּ
Appointed governor of Judah by Babylonians; assassinated by Ishmael.
Who is Gedaliah in the Bible?
Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam, was appointed governor of Judah by the Babylonians after Jerusalem's fall in 586 BC (2 Kings 25:22; Jeremiah 40:5). He established his administrative base at Mizpah and worked to restore stability by encouraging the remaining Jews to submit to Babylonian rule and live peacefully in the land (Jeremiah 40:9-10). Many Jews who had fled to surrounding nations returned and settled under his leadership (Jeremiah 40:11-12). However, Ishmael, a member of the royal family, assassinated Gedaliah along with the Babylonian officials and Jews with him (2 Kings 25:25; Jeremiah 41:1-3). This murder triggered the final dispersal of Judah's population, as the surviving Jews fled to Egypt in fear of Babylonian reprisals, marking the effective end of Jewish self-rule in the land.
Biography
Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam, was appointed governor of Judah by the Babylonians after the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC (2Ki.25.22; Jer.40.5). He established his base at Mizpah and encouraged the remaining Jews to submit to Babylonian rule and live peacefully in the land (Jer.40.9-10). Many Jews who had fled to surrounding countries returned to Judah and settled under Gedaliah's leadership (Jer.40.11-12). However, Ishmael, a member of the royal family, conspired against Gedaliah and assassinated him along with the Babylonian officials and Jews who were with him (2Ki.25.25; Jer.41.1-3). This act of treachery led to the flight of the remaining Jews to Egypt, fearing Babylonian reprisals (2Ki.25.26; Jer.41.16-18; 43.5-7). Gedaliah's assassination marked the end of Jewish self-rule in the land and the beginning of the Babylonian exile. The prophet Jeremiah, who had been released from prison by the Babylonians and entrusted to Gedaliah's care (Jer.39.14; 40.5-6), witnessed these tragic events and mourned the loss of Gedaliah and the fate of his people (Jer.41.4-6).
Family
In Scripture
2 biblical books ; 1 with study content2 Kings 4 verses
- 2 Kings 25:22
"Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, over the people he had left behind in the land of Judah."
- 2 Kings 25:23
"When all the commanders of the armies and their men heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah as governor, they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah—Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan son of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah son of the Maacathite,..."
- 2 Kings 25:24
"And Gedaliah took an oath before them and their men, assuring them, “Do not be afraid of the servants of the Chaldeans. Live in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it will be well with you.”"
- 2 Kings 25:25
"In the seventh month, however, Ishmael son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, who was a member of the royal family, came with ten men and struck down and killed Gedaliah, along with the Judeans and Chaldeans who were with him at Mizpah."
Jeremiah 5 verses
- Jeremiah 39:14
"had Jeremiah brought from the courtyard of the guard, and they turned him over to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, to take him home. So Jeremiah remained among his own people."
Study Jeremiah → - Jeremiah 40:6
"So Jeremiah went to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah and stayed with him among the people who were left in the land."
Study Jeremiah → - Jeremiah 40:7
"When all the commanders and men of the armies in the field heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam over the land and that he had put him in charge of the men, women, and children who were the poorest of the land and had not been exiled to Babylon,"
Study Jeremiah → - Jeremiah 40:9
"Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, swore an oath to them and their men, assuring them, “Do not be afraid to serve the Chaldeans. Live in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it will go well with you."
Study Jeremiah → - Jeremiah 40:11
"When all the Jews in Moab, Ammon, Edom, and all the other lands heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant in Judah and had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, over them,"
Study Jeremiah →
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | גְּדַלְיָ֫הוּ |
| Spelled | Hebrew | גְּדַלְיָה |