Ishmael יִשְׁמָעֵאל
Assassinated Gedaliah the governor; led captives to Ammon.
Who is Ishmael in the Bible?
Ishmael, son of Nethaniah, was a member of Judah's royal family who assassinated Gedaliah, the governor appointed by Babylon after Jerusalem's destruction (2 Kings 25:25; Jeremiah 41:1-3). Acting under orders from the Ammonite king Baalis, Ishmael killed Gedaliah and his men at Mizpah, despite warnings of his treacherous intentions (Jeremiah 40:13-16). He then led captives, including the king's daughters, toward Ammon, but was pursued by Johanan and other leaders who rescued most of the captives while Ishmael escaped with eight men (Jeremiah 41:10-15). His assassination of the governor deepened the instability and division among Judah's remnant following the Babylonian exile, ultimately leading to further displacement and the flight of survivors to Egypt.
Biography
Ishmael, the son of Nethaniah, was a member of the royal family of Judah (2Ki.25.25). After the Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem and appointed Gedaliah as governor over the remnant, Ishmael and other army officers came to Gedaliah at Mizpah (2Ki.25.23; Jer.40.8).
Despite being warned of Ishmael's treacherous intentions (Jer.40.13-16), Gedaliah welcomed him. However, Ishmael, acting under the orders of Baalis, king of the Ammonites, assassinated Gedaliah and his men (2Ki.25.25; Jer.41.1-3).
Ishmael then led captives, including the king's daughters, from Mizpah toward Ammon (Jer.41.10). When Johanan and the other leaders heard of Ishmael's actions, they pursued him. Ishmael's captives were rescued, but he escaped to the Ammonites with eight men (Jer.41.11-15).
Ishmael's treachery further devastated the remnant of Judah after the Babylonian conquest. His actions led the survivors to flee to Egypt out of fear of Babylonian reprisals (Jer.41.16-18), directly disobeying God's command through Jeremiah (Jer.42-43).
Family
In Scripture
2 biblical books ; 1 with study content2 Kings 2 verses
- 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 25:25
"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 40:8
"they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah—Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth, the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniah son of the Maacathite—they and their men."
Study Jeremiah → - Jeremiah 40:14
"and said to him, “Are you aware that Baalis king of the Ammonites has sent Ishmael son of Nethaniah to take your life?” But Gedaliah son of Ahikam did not believe them."
Study Jeremiah → - Jeremiah 40:15
"Then Johanan son of Kareah spoke privately to Gedaliah at Mizpah. “Let me go and kill Ishmael son of Nethaniah,” he said. “No one will know it. Why should he take your life and scatter all the people of Judah who have gathered to you, so that the remnant of Judah would perish?”"
Study Jeremiah → - Jeremiah 40:16
"But Gedaliah son of Ahikam said to Johanan son of Kareah, “Do not do such a thing! What you are saying about Ishmael is a lie.”"
Study Jeremiah → - Jeremiah 41:1
"In the seventh month, Ishmael son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, who was a member of the royal family and one of the king’s chief officers, came with ten men to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah, and they ate a meal together there."
Study Jeremiah →
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | יִשְׁמָעֵאל | yišĕmāʿēʾl | Jishmael , the name of Abraham's oldest son, and of five Israelites |