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14 and said to him, “Surely you are aware that Baalis, the Ammonite king,[a] has sent Ishmael, son of Nethaniah, to assassinate you?”(A) But Gedaliah, son of Ahikam, would not believe them. 15 Then Johanan, son of Kareah, said secretly to Gedaliah in Mizpah: “Please let me go and kill Ishmael, son of Nethaniah; no one will know it. What if he assassinates you? All the Judahites who have now rallied behind you would scatter and the remnant of Judah would perish.” 16 Gedaliah, son of Ahikam, answered Johanan, son of Kareah, “You must not do that. What you are saying about Ishmael is a lie!”

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Footnotes

  1. 40:14 In an attempt, perhaps, to weaken Babylon’s hold on the area and to add Judah to the Ammonite kingdom, Baalis supported Ishmael’s claim to the throne of David (cf. 41:1 for Ishmael’s genealogy).

14 and said to him, “Don’t you know that Baalis king of the Ammonites(A) has sent Ishmael(B) son of Nethaniah to take your life?” But Gedaliah son of Ahikam did not believe them.

15 Then Johanan(C) son of Kareah said privately to Gedaliah in Mizpah, “Let me go and kill(D) Ishmael son of Nethaniah, and no one will know it. Why should he take your life and cause all the Jews who are gathered around you to be scattered(E) and the remnant(F) of Judah to perish?”

16 But Gedaliah son of Ahikam said to Johanan(G) son of Kareah, “Don’t do such a thing! What you are saying about Ishmael is not true.”

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