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have no fear of the Babylonians； for that if they would cultivate
the country； they should suffer no harm。 This he assured them of
by oath； and said that they should have him for their patron； and
that if any disturbance should arise； they should find him ready
to defend them。 He also advised them to dwell in any city； as
every one of them pleased； and that they would send men along
with his own servants； and rebuild their houses upon the old
foundations； and dwell there； and he admonished them beforehand；
that they should make preparation； while the season lasted； of
corn； and wine； and oil； that they might have whereon to feed
during the winter。 When he had thus discoursed to them； he
dismissed them； that every one might dwell in what place of the
country he pleased。
3。 Now when this report was spread abroad as far as the nations
that bordered on Judea； that Gedaliah kindly entertained those
that came to him； after they had fled away； upon this ＇only＇
condition； that they should pay tribute to the king of Babylon；
they also came readily to Gedaliah； and inhabited the country。
And when Johanan； and the rulers that were with him； observed the
country； and the humanity of Gedaliah； they were exceedingly in
love with him； and told him that Baalis； the king of the
Ammonites； had sent Ishmael to kill him by treachery； and
secretly； that he might have the dominion over the Israelites； as
being of the royal family； and they said that he might deliver
himself from this treacherous design； if he would give them leave
to slay Ishmael； and nobody should know it； for they told him
they were afraid that； when he was killed by the other； the
entire ruin of the remaining strength of the Israelites would
ensue。 But he professed that he did not believe what they said；
when they told him of such a treacherous design； in a man that
had been well treated by him； because it was not probable that
one who； under such a want of all things； had failed of nothing
that was necessary for him； should be found so wicked and
ungrateful towards his benefactor； that when it would be an
instance of wickedness in him not to save him； had he been
treacherously assaulted by others； to endeavor； and that
earnestly； to kill him with his own hands： that； however； if he
ought to suppose this information to be true； it was better for
himself to be slain by the other； than to destroy a man who fled
to him for refuge； and intrusted his own safety to him； and
committed himself to his disposal。
4。 So Johanan； and the rulers that were with him； not being able
to persuade Gedaliah； went away。 But after the interval of thirty
days was over； Ishmael came again to Gedaliah； to the city
Mispah； and ten men with him； and when he had feasted Ishmael；
and those that were with him； in a splendid manner at his table；
and had given them presents； he became disordered in drink； while
he endeavored to be very merry with them； and when Ishmael saw
him in that case； and that he was drowned in his cups to the
degree of insensibility； and fallen asleep； he rose up on a
sudden； with his ten friends； and slew Gedaliah； and those that
were with him at the feast； and when he had slain them； he went
out by night； and slew all the Jews that were in the city； and
those soldiers also which were left therein by the Babylonians。
But the next day fourscore men came out of the country with
presents to Gedaliah； none of them knowing what had befallen him；
when Ishmael saw them； he invited them in to Gedaliah； and when
they were come in； he shut up the court； and slew them； and cast
their dead bodies down into a certain deep pit； that they might
not be seen； but of these fourscore men Ishmael spared those that
entreated him not to kill them； till they had delivered up to him
what riches they had concealed in the fields； consisting of their
furniture； and garments； and corn： but he took captive the people
that were in Mispah； with their wives and children； among whom
were the daughters of king Zedekiah； whom Nebuzaradan； the
general of the army of Babylon； had left with Gedaliah。 And when
he had done this； he came to the king of the Ammonites。
5。 But when Johanan and the rulers with him heard of what was
done at Mispah by Ishmael； and of the death of Gedaliah； they had
indignation at it； and every one of them took his own armed men；
and came suddenly to fight with Ishmael； and overtook him at the
fountain in Hebron。 And when those that were carried away
captives by Ishmael saw Johanan and the rulers； they were very
glad； and looked upon them as coming to their assistance； so they
left him that had carried them captives； and came over to
Johanan： then Ishmael； with eight men； fled to the king of the
Ammonites； but Johanan took those whom he had rescued out of the
hands of Ishmael； and the eunuchs； and their wives and children；
and came to a certain place called Mandra； and there they abode
that day； for they had determined to remove from thence and go
into Egypt； out of fear； lest the Babylonians should slay them；
in case they continued in the country； and that out of anger at
the slaughter of Gedaliah； who had been by them set over it for
governor。
6。 Now while they were under this deliberation； Johanan； the son
of Kareah； and the rulers。 that were with him； came to Jeremiah
the prophet； and desired that he would pray to God； that because
they were at an utter loss about what they ought to do； he would
discover it to them； and they sware that they would do whatsoever
Jeremiah should say to them。 And when the prophet said he would
be their intercessor with God； it came to pass； that after ten
days God appeared to him； and said that he should inform Johanan；
and the other rulers； and all the people； that he would be with
them while they continued in that country； and take care of them；
and keep them from being hurt by the Babylonians； of whom they
were afraid； but that he would desert them if they went into
Egypt； and； out of this wrath against them； would inflict the
same punishments upon them which they knew their brethren had
already endured。 So when the prophet had informed Johanan and the
people that God had foretold these things； he was not believed；
when he said that God commanded them to continue in the country；
but they imagined that he said so to gratify Baruch； his own
disciple； and belied God； and that he persuaded them to stay
there； that they might be destroyed by the Babylonians。
Accordingly； both the people and Johanan disobeyed the counsel of
God； which he gave them by the prophet； and removed into Egypt；
and carried Jeremiah and Barnch along with him。
7。 And when they were there； God signified to the prophet that
the king of Babylon was about making an expedition against the
Egyptians； and commanded him to foretell to the people that Egypt
should be taken； and the king of Babylon should slay some of them
and； should take others captive； and bring them to Babylon； which
things came to pass accordingly； for on the fifth year after the
destruction of Jerusalem； which was the twenty…third of the reign
of Nebuchadnezzar； he made an expedition against Celesyria； and
when he