Daily Tanach Wednesday 16th Iyar Sefer Melachim 2 Chapter 25 Part 3: The ruling and assassination of Gedaliah the son of Achikam

* The article below is an excerpt from the above Sefer
  1. The ruling and assassination of Gedaliah the son of Achikam:
  • Gedaliah the son of Achikam appointed as governor: Nevuchadnetzar the king of Babylon allowed some of the people to remain in the land of Yehuda and he appointed Gedaliah the son of Achikam the son of Shafan to be their governor.
  • The leaders of the land go out of hiding and join Gedaliah: All the military leaders of the armies [who went into hiding[1]] heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah as the governor, and they came to Gedaliah to Mitzpah. The following people arrived: Yishmael the son of Nesaniyah, and Yochanan the son of Koreiach and Serayah the son of Tanchumes the Netophathite, and Yaazanaiyhu the son of the Maachasi, together with their men. Gedaliah reassured them that they have no need to fear the Casdians, and that they can dwell in the land and serve the king of Babylon and live in peace.
  • Gedaliah is assassinated: In the seventh month of reign of Gedaliah, Yishmael the son of Nesaniyah the son of Elishama who was of royal descent, came with ten men and assassinated Gedaliah and he died. He also killed the Jewish people and the Casdians who were with him at Mitzpah.
  • The people run away to Egypt: All the people, young and old, and the officers of the armies, fled to Egypt as they feared retribution from the Casdians.
  1. Yehoyachin is reappointed to his position of royalty in Babylon:
  • Evil-Merodach reigns after Nevuchadnetzar: Evil-Merodach became the king of Babylon after the death of Nevuchadnetzar.
  • Yehoyachin is released from prison: Yehoyachin the king of Yehuda was released from prison by Evil-Merodach in the thirty-seventh year of exile, in the twelfth month [i.e. Adar], on the twenty-seventh day.
  • Yehoyachin is raised to the throne: Evil-Merodach spoke kindly with Yehoyachin and placed his throne above the throne of all the other kings who were with him in Babylon. Evil-Merodach had Yehoyachin’s clothing changed, and he had him eat meals before him regularly throughout his life.

[1] Rashi 25:23

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