Bible Figure
Gedaliah
Biblical character; son of Ahikam, governor of Judah
Gedaliah son of Ahikam was appointed governor over the people remaining in Judah after Babylon destroyed Jerusalem, but he was assassinated by Ishmael son of Nethaniah.
Biography
After Jerusalem fell to Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonians appointed Gedaliah over the remnant left in the land and established his administration at Mizpah. Gedaliah encouraged the people to serve the Babylonians peacefully, cultivate the land, and gather its produce. Judean military leaders who had been scattered returned to him. Johanan warned Gedaliah that Ishmael son of Nethaniah had been sent to kill him, but Gedaliah did not believe the report and refused a proposal to kill Ishmael preemptively. Ishmael subsequently came to Mizpah and murdered Gedaliah along with others. Fear of Babylonian retaliation then contributed to the remnant's disastrous decision to flee toward Egypt.
Biblical Significance
Gedaliah's brief governorship represented a possible path of stability for devastated Judah. His assassination deepened the catastrophe following Jerusalem's fall and forms an important part of the background to Jeremiah's final narratives.