Who was Gedaliah in the Bible?

What does the Bible say about Gedaliah?

Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam, was appointed governor of Judah by the Babylonians after the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC (2Ki.25.22; Jer.40.5). He established his base at Mizpah and encouraged the remaining Jews to submit to Babylonian rule and live peacefully in the land (Jer.40.9-10). Many Jews who had fled to surrounding countries returned to Judah and settled under Gedaliah's leadership (Jer.40.11-12). However, Ishmael, a member of the royal family, conspired against Gedaliah and assassinated him along with the Babylonian officials and Jews who were with him (2Ki.25.25; Jer.41.1-3). This act of treachery led to the flight of the remaining Jews to Egypt, fearing Babylonian reprisals (2Ki.25.26; Jer.41.16-18; 43.5-7). Gedaliah's assassination marked the end of Jewish self-rule in the land and the beginning of the Babylonian exile. The prophet Jeremiah, who had been released from prison by the Babylonians and entrusted to Gedaliah's care (Jer.39.14; 40.5-6), witnessed these tragic events and mourned the loss of Gedaliah and the fate of his people (Jer.41.4-6).

Where does Gedaliah appear in the Bible?

Gedaliah is referenced in 19 verses across 2 books. Every passage below is about this one, not just every verse the word turns up in.

• 2 Kings 25:22
• 2 Kings 25:23
• 2 Kings 25:24
• Jeremiah 39:14
• Jeremiah 40:5
• Jeremiah 40:6
• Jeremiah 40:7
• Jeremiah 40:8
• Jeremiah 40:9
• Jeremiah 40:12
• Jeremiah 40:13
• Jeremiah 40:15
• Jeremiah 40:16
• Jeremiah 41:2
• Jeremiah 41:3
• Jeremiah 41:4
• Jeremiah 41:9
• Jeremiah 41:18
• Jeremiah 43:6

What else appears in these passages?

These turn up in the same passages as Gedaliah.