Gedaliah

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

1. Son of Ahikam, who saved Jeremiah from death ( Jeremiah 26:24); grandson of Shaphan, Josiah's secretary, whom the king sent to inquire concerning the book of Jehovah' s law recently found ( 2 Kings 22:12;  2 Kings 22:14). Gedaliah thus inherited from father and grandfather a legacy of the fear of God. Left by Nebuchadnezzar, after the destruction of the temple (588 B.C.), to govern the cities of Judah and the farmers and vinedressers, who were allowed to remain in the land ( Jeremiah 39:10;  Jeremiah 39:14;  Jeremiah 40:5-6;  Jeremiah 40:11;  Jeremiah 52:16). He was stationed at the stronghold Mizpah, six miles N. of Jerusalem, with a Chaldean guard (Jeremiah 41).

Jeremiah, when given his choice by Nebuzaradan where he should dwell, attached himself to Gedaliah, who was joined also by a promiscuous multitude of "men, women, and children, and of the poor of the land"; also by Ishmael of the blood royal, Johanan and Jonathan, Seraiah, the sons of Ephai, Jezaniah, and their men; also by the Jews who had been driven to Moab, Ammon, and Edom, but who now with reassured confidence began to gather, as formerly, "wine and summer fruits." This indicates his deserved popularity, while his words imply his loyalty to the supreme monarch to whom God by express prophecy had assigned the world kingdoms, and at the same time his gentleness as a ruler. "Fear not to be servants of the Chaldees; dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you."

Even reverence for the temple, though in ruins, revived under him; and men from Shechem, Shiloh, and Samaria came with their offerings and badges of mourning for the destruction of the Lord's house and the holy city ( Jeremiah 41:5). Johanan warned Gedaliah that Baalis (called from the idol Baal) king of Ammon had sent Ishmael to assassinate him and his retinue. With unsuspecting generosity Gedaliah refused to credit it. So Ishmael, in violation of the sacred rights of hospitality and taking advantage of the opportunity, while eating Gedaliah's "bread" at Mizpah, smote him two months after his appointment (compare  Psalms 41:9). Jealousy of Gedaliah's presidency was Ishmael's motive; his royal descent leading him to regard himself as the rightful ruler. Ammon, Israel's ancient foe, gladly used such a tool.

A mystery of providence that God should permit the righteous, in spite of warning, to rush in unsuspecting honesty of purpose into the trap laid for them;  Isaiah 57:1 suggests a solution. An enemy's presence appears in such anomalies. Faith, in spite of them, believes God is ordering all things for the ultimate good of His people, and at the judgment will vindicate His ways and clear up all that is now dark. All suffering nature and disorganized society as well as believers yearn for the advent of Him who shall reign in righteousness (Isaiah 11;  Ezekiel 21:27). His death is commemorated in the Jewish calendar as a national calamity; and many Jews under Johanan, fearing Babylon's vengeance, fled to Egypt, forcing Jeremiah with them ( Jeremiah 41:18).

2.  1 Chronicles 25:3;  1 Chronicles 25:9.

3.  Ezra 10:18.

4.  Zephaniah 1:1.

5. Son of Pashur; one of the princes who caused Jeremiah's imprisonment ( Jeremiah 38:1, etc.).

Bridgeway Bible Dictionary

In 587 BC the Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem, abolished Judah’s monarchy, plundered the nation’s treasures and took all its best people into captivity ( 2 Kings 25:1-21). They then appointed Gedaliah, son of a former Jerusalem official, governor over those Judeans who remained in the land ( 2 Kings 25:22; cf.  Jeremiah 26:24).

Gedaliah set up his headquarters at Mizpah, north of Jerusalem, and with Jeremiah’s support followed a policy of submission to Babylon. He took no action against Judah’s anti-Babylonian military leaders who had managed to escape the Babylonian army, but encouraged them, and other Judeans who had fled for safety, to return and settle around Mizpah ( 2 Kings 25:23-24;  Jeremiah 40:5-12).

One of Judah’s former army commanders, Ishmael, opposed this policy of submission to Babylon and plotted to overthrow Gedaliah. When told of the plot, Gedaliah refused to believe it. That did not stop Ishmael from murdering him, along with all the Judean officials and Babylonian supervisors at Gedaliah’s headquarters ( 2 Kings 25:25;  Jeremiah 40:13-16;  Jeremiah 41:1-3). That started a sequence of events that resulted in the rest of the Judeans fleeing to Egypt ( 2 Kings 25:26;  Jeremiah 41:4-18; Jeremiah 42; Jeremiah 43).

The Bible mentions four other men named Gedaliah. The first was a musician in the time of David ( 1 Chronicles 25:3;  1 Chronicles 25:9), the second an ancestor of the prophet Zephaniah ( Zephaniah 1:1), the third an official in Jerusalem who opposed Jeremiah ( Jeremiah 38:1-6), and the fourth a priest in the time of Ezra ( Ezra 10:18).

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

GEDALIAH. 1 . Son of Ahikam, who had protected Jeremiah from the anti-Chaldæan party (  Jeremiah 26:24 ), and probably grandson of Shaphan, the pious scribe (  2 Kings 22:1-20 ). Gedaliah naturally shared the views of Jeremiah. This commended him to Nebuchadnezzar, who made him governor over ‘the poor of the people that were left in the land.’ His two months’ rule and treacherous murder are detailed in   Jeremiah 40:1-16;   Jeremiah 41:1-18 (  2 Kings 25:22-25 ). The anniversary of Gedaliah’s murder the third day of the seventh month, Tishri (  Zechariah 7:5;   Zechariah 8:19 ) has ever since been observed as one of the four Jewish fasts. 2. Eldest ‘son’ of Jeduthun (  1 Chronicles 25:3;   1 Chronicles 25:9 ). 3. A priest ‘of the sons of Jeshua,’ who had married a ‘strange’ woman (  Ezra 10:18 ); called in   Esther 9:19  Esther 9:19 Joadanus . 4. Son of Pashhur, a prince in the reign of Zedekiah (  Jeremiah 38:1 ). 5. Grandfather of the prophet Zephaniah (  Zephaniah 1:1 ).

Easton's Bible Dictionary

The son of Ahikam, and grandson of Shaphan, secretary of king Josiah ( Jeremiah 26:24 ). After the destruction of Jerusalem (see  2 Kings 25:22;  Jeremiah 40:5;  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" ( 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.

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.

Bibliography Information Easton, Matthew George. Entry for 'Gedaliah'. Easton's Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/ebd/g/gedaliah.html. 1897.

Morrish Bible Dictionary

1. Son of Ahikam: he was made governor over those left in the land, with a Chaldean guard, by Nebuchadnezzar. He was joined by Jeremiah, and apparently ruled well; but he was treacherously murdered by Ishmael of Judah, who, according to Josephus (Ant. 10:9,3), was a member of the royal family. Gedaliah was duly warned, but had too good an opinion of the man.  2 Kings 25:22-25;  Jeremiah 39:14;  Jeremiah 40:5-16;  Jeremiah 41:1-18;  Jeremiah 43:6 .

2. Levite, son of Jeduthun.   1 Chronicles 25:3,9 .

3. Priest who had married a strange wife.  Ezra 10:18 .

4. Grandfather of Zephaniah the prophet.  Zephaniah 1:1 .

5. Son of Pashur and one of the princes who caused Jeremiah to be cast into a dungeon.  Jeremiah 38:1 .

Holman Bible Dictionary

 2 Kings 25:22 Jeremiah 26:24 Jeremiah 39:14 Jeremiah 40:1-41:18 2 Jeremiah 38:1 3 1 Chronicles 25:3 1 Chronicles 25:9

An abbreviated form of the Hebrew name is given a priest with a foreign wife under Ezra ( Ezra 10:18 ) and the grandfather of the prophet Zephaniah ( Zephaniah 1:1 ).

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

Son of Ahikam, appointed by Nebuchadnezzar to govern Judea after the destruction of Jerusalem. Like his father, he honored and befriended Jeremiah,  Jeremiah 40:5 . He began the administration of his government at Mizpeh with wisdom, but in two months was treacherously murdered by one Ishmael,  2 Kings 25:22-26   Jeremiah 39:14   40:5-41:18 .

People's Dictionary of the Bible

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

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ged - a - lı̄´a ( גּדליה , gedhalyāh  ; except in   1 Chronicles 25:3 ,  1 Chronicles 25:9 and   Jeremiah 38:1 , where it is גּדליהוּ , gedhalyāhū , "Yah(u) is great"):

(1) Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam (the friend and protector of Jeremiah) and grandson of Shaphan (the scribe in the reign of Josiah) ( 2 Kings 25:22-25;  Jeremiah 39:14;  Jeremiah 40:5-16; 41:1-18).

1. His Appointment as Governor in Judah

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 ( 2 Kings 25:12 ,  2 Kings 25:22 ). To his charge were committed also some royal princesses ( Jeremiah 43:6 ) and courtiers ( 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 ( Jeremiah 40:6 ).

2. His Conciliatory Spirit and Wise Rule

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 ( 2 Kings 25:23 ,  2 Kings 25:14;  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 ( Jeremiah 40:11 ,  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.

3. His Treacherous Assassination

But evil spirits were at work against him. Baalis, king of Ammon, had determined upon his life ( 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 ( 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 ( 2 Kings 25:25;  Jeremiah 41:1-3 ). They then cast the bodies of their victims into the cistern which Asa had made ( Jeremiah 41:9 ). Ishmael was pursued and overtaken by Johanan, but he succeeded in effecting his escape to the Ammonites ( Jeremiah 41:11-15 ). Then Johanan and the other captains, afraid lest the Chaldeans should avenge upon them the murder of the governor ( 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 ( 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 ( Zechariah 7:5;  Zechariah 8:19 ).

4. His Noble Character

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.

(2) ( gedhalyāhū ): Son of Jeduthun, and instrumental leader of the 2nd of the 24 choirs in the Levitical orchestra (  1 Chronicles 25:3 ,  1 Chronicles 25:1 ).

(3) A priest of the "sons of Jeshua," in the time of Ezra, who had married a foreign woman ( Ezra 10:18 ).

(4) ( gedhalyāhū ): Son of Pashhur (who beat Jeremiah and put him in the stocks,   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 ( Jeremiah 38:1 ,  Jeremiah 38:4-6 ).

(5) Grandfather of Zephaniah the prophet, and grandson of Hezekiah, probably the king ( Zephaniah 1:1 ).

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(Heb. Gedatyah', גְּדִלְיָה made Great By Jehovah ,  Ezra 10:18;  Jeremiah 40:5;  Jeremiah 40:8;  Jeremiah 12:16;  Zephaniah 1:1; elsewhere in the prolonged or full form Gedalya ´ hu, גְּדִלְרָהוּ ; Sept. usually Γοδολία , Vulgate Godolia), the same of five men.

1. The son and second assistant of Jeduthuen in the Levitical choir of the Temple in the time of David ( 1 Chronicles 25:3;  1 Chronicles 25:9), B.C. 1013.

2. The (son of Amariah and father of Cusbi) grandfather of the prophet Zephaniah ( Zephaniah 1:1). B.C. sante 635.

3. Son of Pashur, and one of the Jewish nobles who conspired to accuse and imprison Jeremiah ( Jeremiah 38:1). B.C. 589.

4. The son of Ahikam (Jeremiah's protector,  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 ( Jeremiah 40:5) at Mizpah, a strong ( 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 ( 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 ( 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 ( Jeremiah 40:6;  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  Jeremiah 26:24), the prosperity of hin brief rule ( Jeremiah 40:12), the reverence which revived and was fostered sunder him for the ruined Temple ( 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 ( 2 Kings 25:22-26; Jeremiah 39:14; 12:18). (See Jeremiah).

5. A descendant of Jeshua, and one of the priests who divorced their heathen wives after the return from the Babylonian captivity ( Ezra 10:18). B.C. 458.

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

Gedali´ah (God-greatened); son of Ahikam, and appointed by Nebuchadnezzar governor of Judea after the destruction of Jerusalem. He was probably of the number of those who quitted 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 (, sq.), and was moreover enjoined by Nebuzaradan 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 the 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 Mizpeh in the tribe of Benjamin: and there the Jews, who had fled at the advance of the Chaldean 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 ensure them the undisturbed enjoyment of their possessions, and of the produce of the ground. In this hope the labors of the field were resumed, and the extraordinary returns of that season secured as if specially given to repair the recent injuries of war. But this calm was of short duration. Among those who returned was a member of the royal family, named Ishmael, who had taken refuge with Baalis, king of the Ammonites. He appears to have been irritated at seeing one who was not of the house of David seated upon even the shadow of David's throne; and some of the friends of Gedaliah believed him to be in a plot with Baalis to take away his life. But the noble-minded governor refused to entertain such a suspicion, and rejected with horror the proposal of an over-zealous friend, who offered to assassinate Ishmael. The suspicion which he thus generously repelled was, however, correct. He was murdered in the midst of a repast by this very Ishmael, whom he had received as a friend. This event happened about two months after the destruction of Jerusalem, and by it the present ruin of Judea seemed to be consummated, B.C. 588 .