Godolias is slain: the Jews that were with him are apprehensive of the
Chaldeans.
41:1. And it came to pass in the seventh month, that Ismahel the son of
Nathanias, the son of Elisama of the royal blood, and the nobles of the
king, and ten men with him, came to Godolias the son of Ahicam into
Masphath: and they ate bread there together in Masphath.
41:2. And Ismahel the son of Nathanias arose, and the ten men that were
with him, and they struck Godolias the son of Ahicam, the son of Saphan
with the sword, and slew him whom the king of Babylon had made governor
over the land.
41:3. Ismahel slew also all the Jews that were with Godolias in
Masphath, and the Chaldeans that were found there, and the soldiers.
41:4. And on the second day after he had killed Godolias, no man yet
knowing it,
41:5. There came some from Sichem, and from Silo, and from Samaria,
fourscore men, with their beards shaven, and their clothes rent, and
mourning: and they had offerings and incense in their hand, to offer in
the house of the Lord.
41:6. And Ismahel the son of Nathanias went forth from Masphath to meet
them, weeping all along as he went: and when he had met them, he said
to them: Come to Godolias, the son of Ahicam.
41:7. And when they were come to the midst of the city, Ismahel the son
of Nathanias, slew them, and cast them into the midst of the pit, he
and the men that were with him.
41:8. But ten men were found among them, that said to Ismahel: Kill us
not: for we have stores in the field, of wheat, and barley, and oil,
and honey. And he forbore, and slew them not with their brethren.
41:9. And the pit into which Ismahel cast all the dead bodies of the
men whom he slew because of Godolias, is the same that king Asa made,
for fear of Baasa the king of Israel: the same did Ismahel the son of
Nathanias fill with them that were slain.
41:10. Then Ismahel carried away captive all the remnant of the people
that were in Masphath: the king’s daughters, and all the people that
remained in Masphath: whom Nabuzardan the general of the army had
committed to Godolias the son of Ahicam. And Ismahel the son of
Nathanias took them, and he departed, to go over to the children of
Ammon.
41:11. But Johanan the son of Caree, and all the captains of the
fighting men that were with him, heard of the evil that Ismahel the son
of Nathanias had done.
41:12. And taking all the men, they went out to fight against Ismahel
the son of Nathanias, and they found him by the great waters that are
in Gabaon.
41:13. And when all the people that were with Ismahel, had seen Johanan
the son of Caree, and all the captains of the fighting men that were
with him, they rejoiced.
41:14. And all the people whom Ismahel had taken, went back to
Masphath: and they returned and went to Johanan the son of Caree.
41:15. But Ismahel the son of Nathanias fled with eight men, from the
face of Johanan, and went to the children of Ammon.
41:16. Then Johanan the son of Caree, and all the captains of the
soldiers that were with him, took all the remnant of the people whom
they had recovered from Ismahel the son of Nathanias, from Masphath,
after that he had slain Godolias the son of Ahicam: valiant men for
war, and the women, and the children, and the eunuchs whom he had
brought back from Gabaon.
41:17. And they departed, and sat as sojourners in Chamaam, which is
near Bethlehem: in order to go forward, and enter into Egypt,
41:18. From the face of the Chaldeans: for they were afraid of them,
because Ismahel the son of Nathanias had slain Godolias the son of
Ahicam, whom the king of Babylon had made governor in the land of Juda.