Difference between revisions of "Gedaliah"

<li> The son of Ahikam, and grandson of Shaphan, secretary of king [[Josiah]] (&nbsp;Jeremiah 26:24 ). After the destruction of Jerusalem (see &nbsp;2 Kings 25:22; &nbsp;Jeremiah 40:5; &nbsp;52:16 ). Ishmael, however, at the head of a party of the royal family, "Jewish irreconcilables", rose against him, and slew him and "all the Jews that were with him" (&nbsp;Jeremiah 41:2,3 ) at Mizpah about three months after the destruction of Jerusalem. He and his band also plundered the town of Mizpah, and carried off many captives. He was, however, overtaken by Johanan and routed. He fled with such of his followers as escaped to the [[Ammonites]] (41:15). The little remnant of the Jews now fled to Egypt. <div> <p> '''Copyright Statement''' These dictionary topics are from M.G. Easton [[M.A., DD]]  Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition, published by [[Thomas]] Nelson, 1897. Public Domain. </p> <p> '''Bibliography Information''' Easton, Matthew George. Entry for 'Gedaliah'. Easton's Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/ebd/g/gedaliah.html. 1897. </p> </div> </li>

<p> [[Gedaliah]] ( ''Gĕd'A-Lî'Ah'' ), ''Whom [[Jehovah]] Hath Made Powerful.'' The governor of Judæa, appointed by Nebuchadnezzar after its subjection. &nbsp;2 Kings 25:22; &nbsp;Jeremiah 40:5. He was a friend of Jeremiah, &nbsp;Jeremiah 40:6; a party headed by Ishmael slew him. &nbsp;Jeremiah 41:2. </p>

<p> ''''' ged ''''' - ''''' a ''''' - ''''' lı̄´a ''''' ( גּדליה , <i> ''''' gedhalyāh ''''' </i> ; except in &nbsp; 1 Chronicles 25:3 , &nbsp;1 Chronicles 25:9 and &nbsp; Jeremiah 38:1 , where it is גּדליהוּ , <i> ''''' gedhalyāhū ''''' </i> , "Yah(u) is great"): </p> <p> (1) Gedaliah, the son of [[Ahikam]] (the friend and protector of Jeremiah) and grandson of [[Shaphan]] (the scribe in the reign of Josiah) (&nbsp;2 Kings 25:22-25; &nbsp;Jeremiah 39:14; &nbsp;Jeremiah 40:5-16; 41:1-18). </p> 1. His [[Appointment]] as [[Governor]] in Judah <p> After the destruction of Jerusalem and the carrying away captive of the Jews to Babylon (586 bc), Gedaliah was appointed by Nebuchadnezzar governor over the poor Jews who had been left in the land to be vinedressers and husbandmen (&nbsp;2 Kings 25:12 , &nbsp;2 Kings 25:22 ). To his charge were committed also some royal princesses (&nbsp;Jeremiah 43:6 ) and courtiers (&nbsp;Jeremiah 41:16 ) who had been allowed to remain as unlikely to cause any trouble. Gedaliah fixed his residence at Mizpah, a few miles Northwest of Jerusalem. Here he was joined by Jeremiah (&nbsp;Jeremiah 40:6 ). </p> 2. His Conciliatory Spirit and [[Wise]] Rule <p> The Jewish soldiers who had escaped capture, having heard that the [[Chaldeans]] had departed, and that Gedaliah, one of their own nation, had been appointed governor in Judah, came with Ishmael, Johanan and other officers at their head, to Gedaliah at Mizpah (&nbsp;2 Kings 25:23 , &nbsp;2 Kings 25:14; &nbsp;Jeremiah 40:7-10 ). The governor assured them that they need have no fear of vengeance from their conquerors, and promised them on oath protection and security, if they would remain and cultivate the land and become the peaceful subjects of the king of Babylon. This assurance led to a general gathering around Gedaliah of refugees from all the neighboring countries (&nbsp;Jeremiah 40:11 , &nbsp;Jeremiah 40:12 ). For two months (some think longer) Gedaliah's beneficent and wise rule did much to consolidate affairs in Judah and to inspire the feeble remnant of his countrymen with heart and hope. </p> 3. His [[Treacherous]] [[Assassination]] <p> But evil spirits were at work against him. Baalis, king of Ammon, had determined upon his life (&nbsp;Jeremiah 40:13-16 ). The peaceful and popular rule which was being established by the good governor stood in the way of the accomplishment of any plan of conquest he entertained. Baalis found a ready instrument for his murderous design in Ishmael who, as one of royal birth and in the counsels of the king (&nbsp;Jeremiah 41:1 ), was doubtless jealous of the man who had been chosen governor in preference to himself. Gedaliah was informed by Johanan and the other captains of the plot to assassinate him, and Johanan at a private interview expressed to him a strong desire to go himself and slay Ishmael secretly, declaring that the safety of the Jews depended upon the life of the governor. But Gedaliah refused to allow Johanan to anticipate his enemy, believing, in the generosity of his heart, that Ishmael was not capable of such an act of treachery. He soon found, however, that his confidence had been sadly misplaced. Ishmael, with ten of his companions, came on a visit to him to Mizpah, and after they had been hospitably entertained they fell upon their good host and murdered him, along with all the Jewish and the Chaldean soldiers whom he had with him for order and protection (&nbsp;2 Kings 25:25; &nbsp;Jeremiah 41:1-3 ). They then cast the bodies of their victims into the cistern which Asa had made (&nbsp;Jeremiah 41:9 ). Ishmael was pursued and overtaken by Johanan, but he succeeded in effecting his escape to the Ammonites (&nbsp;Jeremiah 41:11-15 ). Then Johanan and the other captains, afraid lest the Chaldeans should avenge upon them the murder of the governor (&nbsp;Jeremiah 41:16-18 ), and against the earnest entreaties of Jeremiah (chapter 42), fled to Egypt, taking the prophet and the Jewish remnant with them (&nbsp;Jeremiah 43:5-7 ). In memory of the date of Gedaliah's assassination the Jews kept a fast (which is still retained in the Jewish calendar) on the 3rd day of the 7th month, Tishri (&nbsp;Zechariah 7:5; &nbsp;Zechariah 8:19 ). </p> 4. His [[Noble]] Character <p> The narratives reveal Gedaliah in a very attractive light, as one who possessed the confidence alike of his own people and their conquerors; a man of rare wisdom and tact, and of upright, transparent character, whose kindly nature and generous disposition would not allow him to think evil of a brother; a man altogether worthy of the esteem in which he was held by succeeding generations of his fellow-countrymen. </p> <p> (2) ( <i> ''''' gedhalyāhū ''''' </i> ): Son of Jeduthun, and instrumental leader of the 2nd of the 24 choirs in the [[Levitical]] orchestra (&nbsp; 1 Chronicles 25:3 , &nbsp;1 Chronicles 25:1 ). </p> <p> (3) A priest of the "sons of Jeshua," in the time of Ezra, who had married a foreign woman (&nbsp;Ezra 10:18 ). </p> <p> (4) ( <i> ''''' gedhalyāhū ''''' </i> ): Son of [[Pashhur]] (who beat Jeremiah and put him in the stocks, &nbsp; Jeremiah 20:1-6 ), and one of the chiefs of Jerusalem who, with the sanction of the king, Zedekiah, took Jeremiah and let him down with cords into a cistern where he sank in the mud (&nbsp;Jeremiah 38:1 , &nbsp;Jeremiah 38:4-6 ). </p> <p> (5) Grandfather of Zephaniah the prophet, and grandson of Hezekiah, probably the king (&nbsp;Zephaniah 1:1 ). </p>

<p> (Heb. Gedatyah', '''''גְּדִלְיָה''''' made ''Great By Jehovah'' , &nbsp;Ezra 10:18; &nbsp;Jeremiah 40:5; &nbsp;Jeremiah 40:8; &nbsp;Jeremiah 12:16; &nbsp;Zephaniah 1:1; elsewhere in the prolonged or full form Gedalya '''''´''''' hu, '''''גְּדִלְרָהוּ''''' ; Sept. usually '''''Γοδολία''''' , [[Vulgate]] Godolia), the same of five men. </p> <p> '''1.''' The son and second assistant of Jeduthuen in the Levitical choir of the [[Temple]] in the time of David (&nbsp;1 Chronicles 25:3; &nbsp;1 Chronicles 25:9), B.C. 1013. </p> <p> '''2.''' The (son of [[Amariah]] and father of Cusbi) grandfather of the prophet Zephaniah (&nbsp;Zephaniah 1:1). B.C. sante 635. </p> <p> '''3.''' Son of Pashur, and one of the Jewish nobles who conspired to accuse and imprison Jeremiah (&nbsp;Jeremiah 38:1). B.C. 589. </p> <p> '''4.''' The son of Ahikam (Jeremiah's protector, &nbsp;Jeremiah 26:24), and grandson of Shaphan, the secretary of king Josiah. After the destruction of the Temple, B.C. 588, Nebuchadnezzar departed from Judaea, leaving Gedaliah with a Chaldfaean guard (&nbsp;Jeremiah 40:5) at Mizpah, a strong (&nbsp;1 Kings 15:22) town, six miles north of Jerusalem, to govern, as tributary (Josephus, ''Ant.'' 10:9, 1) of the king of Babylon, the vine-dressers and husband men (&nbsp;Jeremiah 52:16) who were exempted from captivity. He was probably of the nunmber of those who left the city at the instance of the prophet, justly despairing of the successful defense of a place which God had abandoned. Gedaliah had inherited his father's respect for Jeremiah (&nbsp;Jeremiah 40:5 sq.), and was, moreover, enjoined by Neluzaradan to look to his safety and welfare. Gedaliah was in every way worthy of the difficult post he had to fill; and he adopted, as the principle of his conduct, that submission to existing circumstances which was requisite in one who believed that Judah had, according to thee declared will of God, been justly doomed and punished for her iniquities, and who yet believed that his loving kindness had not utterly departed from her. He established the seat of his melancholy government at Mizpah, in the tribe of Benjamin; and there the inhabitants, who had fled at the advance of the Chaldaean armies, or when the troops of Zedekiah were dispersed in the plains of Jericho, quitting their retreats, began to gather around him. Gedaliah wisely counseled them to submission and quietness; and he promised, on that condition, to insure them. the undisturbed enjoyment of their possassions, sand of the produce of the ground. In this hope the labors of the field were resunied, and the extraordinary returns of that season secured as if specially given to repair the recent injuries of war. Jeremiah joined Gedaliah; and Mizpah became the resort of Jews from various quarters (&nbsp;Jeremiah 40:6; &nbsp;Jeremiah 40:11), many of whom, as might be expected at the end of a long war, were in a demoralized state, unrestrained by religion, patriotism, or prudence. The gentle and popular character of Gedaliah (Joseph. ''Ant.'' 10:9, 1 and 3), his hereditary piety (Rosenm '''''Ü''''' ller on &nbsp;Jeremiah 26:24), the prosperity of hin brief rule (&nbsp;Jeremiah 40:12), the reverence which revived and was fostered sunder him for the ruined Temple (&nbsp;Jeremiah 41:5), fear of the Chaldean conquerors, whose officer he was all proved insufficient to secure Gedaliah from the foreign jealousy of Baalis, king of Ammon, and the domestic ambition of Ishmael, a member of the royal family of Judah (Joseph. Ant. 10:9, 3). This man came to Mizpah with a secret purpose to destroy Gedaliab. Gedaliab, generously refusing to believe a friendlfy warning which he received of the intended treachery, was murdered, with his Jewish and Chaldsman followers, two months after his appointment. After his death, which is still commemorated in the Jewish [[Calendar]] (Prideaux, Connexion, anno 588, and Zechariah 7:19) as a national calamity, the Jews, in their native land, anticipating the resentment of the king of Babylon, gave way to despair. Many, forcing Jeremiah to accompany them, fled to Egypt under Johanan. By this series (of tragical enents the utter ruin of [[Judaea]] was consummated (&nbsp;2 Kings 25:22-26; Jeremiah 39:14; 12:18). (See [[Jeremiah]]). </p> <p> '''5.''' A descendant of Jeshua, and one of the priests who divorced their heathen wives after the return from the Babylonian captivity (&nbsp;Ezra 10:18). B.C. 458. </p>