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Gedaliah
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Gedaliah

The governor appointed over the remnant left in Judah after Jerusalem fell, son of Ahikam and grandson of Shaphan. From Mizpah he urged the scattered people to settle, serve the Babylonians and gather the harvest, and Jeremiah chose to stay with him. Warned that Ishmael son of Nethaniah was coming to kill him at the instigation of the king of Ammon, he refused to believe it and declined an offer to strike first. He was murdered at a meal, and the survivors fled to Egypt in fear of reprisal; the fast of the seventh month still marks his death.

Role: Governor of Judah
Lived: c. 6th century BC
Born: Jerusalem

What we know — and how we know it

Bible — stated in scripture (with verse) · 2 Archaeology — physical evidence · 1
Life, role & deeds
BibleAppointed by Babylon as governor over the remnant of Judah after Jerusalem's fall, based at Mizpah.
2 Kings 25:22–24; Jeremiah 40:5–7
ArchaeologyA clay sealing from Lachish reads 'belonging to Gedalyahu who is over the house' — the steward's title of just such a chief official.
Lachish bulla 'lgdlyhw ʾšr ʿl hbyt' ('belonging to Gedalyahu who is over the house'), Wellcome-Marston Expedition (J. L. Starkey); O. Tufnell, Lachish III: The Iron Age (London/Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1953)
Death & legacy
BibleHe was assassinated by Ishmael of the royal line — an act still marked by a Jewish fast.
2 Kings 25:25; Jeremiah 41:1–2

Where in scripture

2 Kings

As for the people who were left in the land of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had left, even over them he made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, governor.

2 Kings 25:22 — Made governor

Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, a public-domain translation.

2 Kings 25:22

Family

AhikamGedaliah

In their own words — 1 recorded saying

“Then Gedaliah gave his oath to them and their men, saying, Have no fear because of the servants of the Chaldaeans; go on living in the land under the rule of the king of Babylon, and all will be well.” — 2 Kings 25:24

Speaker attribution: Clear Bible MACULA (CC BY 4.0). Wording: Bible in Basic English (public domain).

Places in their life

Jerusalem
Born · Jerusalem (today Jerusalem)
Photo: Godot13 — CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)