Ishmael יִשְׁמָעֵאל
Assassinated Gedaliah the governor; led captives to Ammon.
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
"Now when all the captains of the forces, they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah governor, they came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, even Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and..."
- 2 Kings 25:25
"But in the seventh month, Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, of the royal offspring came, and ten men with him, and struck Gedaliah, so that he died, with the Jews and the Chaldeans that were with him at Mizpah."
Jeremiah 5 verses Study available
- Jeremiah 40:8
"then Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth, and the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniah the son of the Maacathite, they and their men came to Gedaliah to Mizpah."
Study Jeremiah → - Jeremiah 40:14
"and said to him, “Do you know that Baalis the king of the children of Ammon has sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to take your life?” But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam didn’t believe them."
Study Jeremiah → - Jeremiah 40:15
"Then Johanan the son of Kareah spoke to Gedaliah in Mizpah secretly, saying, “Please let me go, and I will kill Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and no man will know it. Why should he take your life, that all the Jews who are gathered to you should be scattered, and the remnant of..."
Study Jeremiah → - Jeremiah 40:16
"But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said to Johanan the son of Kareah, “You shall not do this thing; for you speak falsely of Ishmael.”"
Study Jeremiah → - Jeremiah 41:1
"Now in the seventh month, Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, of the royal offspring and one of the chief officers of the king, and ten men with him, came to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah; and there they ate bread together in Mizpah."
Study Jeremiah →
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Strong's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | יִשְׁמָעֵאל | H3458H |