2 Kings 25:23 kjv
And when all the captains of the armies, they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah governor, there came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, even Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan the son of Careah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah the son of a Maachathite, they and their men.
2 Kings 25:23 nkjv
Now when all the captains of the armies, they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah governor, they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah?Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, Johanan the son of Careah, Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah the son of a Maachathite, they and their men.
2 Kings 25:23 niv
When all the army officers and their men heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah as governor, they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah?Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan son of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, Jaazaniah the son of the Maakathite, and their men.
2 Kings 25:23 esv
Now when all the captains and their men heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah governor, they came with their men to Gedaliah at Mizpah, namely, Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah the son of the Maacathite.
2 Kings 25:23 nlt
When all the army commanders and their men learned that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah as governor, they went to see him at Mizpah. These included Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan son of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, Jezaniah son of the Maacathite, and all their men.
2 Kings 25 23 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jer. 40:7-8 | When all the captains of the forces… heard that the king of Babylon… appointed Gedaliah… came to Gedaliah at Mizpah… | Parallel account of captains coming to Gedaliah. |
| Jer. 40:9-10 | Gedaliah swore to them and their men, saying, "Do not be afraid to serve the Chaldeans…" | Gedaliah's assurances to the remnant. |
| Jer. 41:1-2 | Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, one of the royal princes… came… and there he and the ten men with him assassinated Gedaliah… | Ishmael's subsequent betrayal and murder. |
| Jer. 41:11-12 | But when Johanan the son of Kareah and all the captains… heard of all the evil that Ishmael… had done, they took all their men… | Johanan pursues Ishmael after the assassination. |
| Jer. 42:1-2 | Then all the captains of the forces… approached Jeremiah the prophet, and said to him, "Please let our petition be presented before you…" | The remnant seeks divine guidance post-Gedaliah. |
| Isa. 10:5-7 | Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger… I will send him against a godless nation… | God uses foreign nations as instruments of judgment. |
| Jer. 25:9-11 | I will bring them against this land and against its inhabitants… These nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years. | Prophecy of Babylonian captivity fulfilled. |
| Jer. 27:5-8 | I have given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, My servant… | God's divine authority over all rulers and nations. |
| Dan. 2:21 | He changes times and seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. | God's sovereignty over the appointment of leaders. |
| Prov. 21:1 | The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes. | God's control over human rulers' decisions. |
| Hab. 1:5-6 | For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans, a bitter and hasty nation which marches through the breadth of the earth, to possess dwellings that are not their own. | God using Babylon for judgment. |
| Isa. 10:20-22 | And it shall come to pass in that day that the remnant of Israel… will no longer depend on him who struck them… | Hope for a righteous remnant in the future. |
| Zep. 3:13 | The remnant of Israel shall do no unrighteousness and speak no lies, nor shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth. | Future purification and trustworthiness of the remnant. |
| Mic. 4:7 | I will make the lame a remnant, and the outcast a strong nation; the Lord will reign over them in Mount Zion from now on, even forever. | The establishment of God's future kingdom through a remnant. |
| Rom. 9:27-28 | Isaiah also cries out concerning Israel: "Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, the remnant will be saved." | New Testament affirmation of God preserving a remnant. |
| Deut. 28:25-26 | The Lord will cause you to be defeated before your enemies; you shall go out one way against them and flee seven ways before them. | Consequence of disobedience, leading to their state. |
| Prov. 11:3 | The integrity of the upright will guide them, but the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them. | Highlights the character difference between Gedaliah and Ishmael. |
| Neh. 9:36-37 | Here we are, slaves today… We are in great distress. | The state of servitude under foreign powers as a result of sin. |
| Isa. 1:19-20 | If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land; But if you refuse and rebel, You shall be devoured by the sword. | The principle of consequence for obedience or rebellion. |
| Ps. 41:9 | Even my close friend in whom I trusted, Who ate my bread, Has lifted up his heel against me. | Thematic of Ishmael's betrayal of Gedaliah. |
| Jn. 13:18 | "He who eats My bread has lifted up his heel against Me." | Illustrates profound betrayal (Judas, applicable thematically). |
| Num. 16:1-3 | Now Korah… and Dathan and Abiram… rose up before Moses with some of the children of Israel… | Example of rebellion against God-appointed leadership. |
2 Kings 25 verses
2 Kings 25 23 Meaning
2 Kings 25:23 describes the gathering of Jewish military leaders and their men at Mizpah to meet Gedaliah, whom the King of Babylon had appointed as governor over the remnant left in the land of Judah. This meeting signifies the reluctant acceptance by some Jewish elements of Babylonian authority after the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple. It lists the names of key figures who came to Gedaliah, setting the stage for the dramatic and tragic events that follow in the narrative, particularly highlighting the complex dynamics among the Jewish remnant under foreign dominion.
2 Kings 25 23 Context
This verse is situated after the complete destruction of Jerusalem and Solomon's Temple by the Babylonians (2 Kings 25:8-10) and the final deportation of most of the remaining Jewish populace to Babylon (2 Kings 25:11). The Judahite king, Zedekiah, had been captured, blinded, and taken to Babylon, signifying the complete overthrow of the Davidic monarchy in Jerusalem. Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian king, subsequently appointed Gedaliah, a Jew, as governor over the small, impoverished remnant left in the devastated land. This appointment was a Babylonian strategy to administer the conquered territory through a local proxy, providing a semblance of stability. Mizpah was chosen as the administrative center because Jerusalem lay in ruins. The verse details the first reaction to Gedaliah's appointment by the scattered military leaders who had survived the conflict, revealing the nascent structure of post-exilic Judah, fraught with complex allegiances and tensions that would soon erupt in tragedy.
2 Kings 25 23 Word analysis
- Now when all the captains of the forces (שָׂרֵי הַחֲיָלִים, sarei hakhayalim): This refers to the military leaders who had previously been involved in Judah's defense or who had escaped capture. Their assembling implies a degree of cohesion or a desire for leadership amidst the chaos. "Forces" refers to their armed men.
- they and their men: Emphasizes that these leaders brought their loyal followers, indicating a potential for power and influence within the fragile post-war society.
- heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah: This highlights Babylonian dominion. Nebuchadnezzar's authority is absolute, as he determines leadership for conquered lands. "Appointed" (הִפְקִיד, hifqid) signifies a direct delegation of power, placing Gedaliah in a position that was not self-sought or traditionally inherited.
- Gedaliah (גְּדַלְיָהוּ, Gedalyahu): His name means "Yahweh is great" or "Yahweh has made great." He was the son of Ahikam, who had previously protected Jeremiah (Jer. 26:24), and grandson of Shaphan, who helped disseminate the book of the Law during Josiah's reign (2 Kgs 22:3). This lineage connected him to those loyal to Yahweh and associated with scribal administration, suggesting a potentially good and divinely favored appointment for the remnant's survival, had events unfolded differently. His appointment represented the only opportunity for Judah's peaceful, albeit subjugated, survival in the land.
- they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah: Mizpah (מִצְפָּה, Mitzpah), meaning "watchtower," was an ancient Israelite city, north of Jerusalem. It served as a gathering place and judicial center in various biblical narratives (Judg. 20:1; 1 Sam. 7:5-6; 1 Kgs 15:22). Its choice as the new administrative capital suggests its strategic location and potential for defensibility, given Jerusalem's destruction. The act of "coming" signifies recognition, however reluctant, of Gedaliah's newly vested authority.
- Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah the son of the Maachathite: This is a specific listing of key individuals, denoting their significance. Ishmael is notoriously known for his treacherous assassination of Gedaliah (Jer. 41:1-2), illustrating the danger of internal dissent. Johanan attempts to avenge Gedaliah and save the remaining people. These names serve as direct literary pointers to future actions, demonstrating both the fragile leadership and deep-seated animosities present within the Jewish community.
- they and their men: Reiteration highlights the combined force and immediate challenge Gedaliah faced in uniting these disparate elements under a single, non-royal authority. This foreshadows the difficulties of governing a scattered and defeated people.
2 Kings 25 23 Bonus section
The appointment of Gedaliah, a local, by a foreign conqueror was a standard practice in the ancient Near East. Babylon preferred to rule indirectly when possible, believing it would lead to greater stability. Gedaliah's known association with Jeremiah's family, who advocated submission to Babylon as God's will, made him a suitable, though internally controversial, choice for the Babylonians. The tragedy that befell Gedaliah, as detailed in Jeremiah 40-41, exemplifies the extreme difficulties and deep divisions within the Jewish community even after severe judgment, indicating that rebellion against God's appointed means (even if via Babylon) persisted. His short governorship (only two months according to some calculations) represents a fleeting moment where Judah might have slowly recovered under Babylonian vassalage, had internal factionalism and misguided loyalties not intervened. This failure to cooperate with Gedaliah also ultimately drove a significant portion of the remaining Judean population into Egypt, against Jeremiah's explicit warnings, further fulfilling prophecies of complete dispersal.
2 Kings 25 23 Commentary
2 Kings 25:23 marks a crucial, albeit short-lived, period in post-destruction Judah. The king of Babylon, the instrument of God's judgment, directly appointed Gedaliah, a Jew of esteemed lineage, as governor. This offered a precarious opportunity for the faithful remnant to find some stability and begin recovery in the land. The captains of the surviving Jewish forces, including figures like Johanan who seemed well-intentioned, and Ishmael, a disgruntled member of the former royal family, recognized Gedaliah's authority by assembling at Mizpah. This gathering reflects both a pragmatic acknowledgment of Babylonian power and a fragile hope for leadership. However, the internal tensions, fueled by ambition, mistrust, and resentment towards a perceived collaboration with the enemy (even though Gedaliah was legitimately appointed by the controlling power, akin to how God orchestrates even gentile kings), proved catastrophic. The listing of the captains' names foreshadows the dramatic events of internal strife and betrayal that would shatter this nascent Judean administration and lead to further dispersal of the Jewish remnant. It underscores the profound consequences of internal divisions and a failure to heed the call for submission to the divine plan, even through unwelcome circumstances.