Bible Strands
2 Kings 25:22
Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, over the people he had left behind in the land of Judah.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Nebuchadnezzar appoints Gedaliah son of Ahikam over the Judean survivors immediately following the Riblah executions and mass exile recorded in 2 Kings 25:21. This administrative placement sets the stage for the military commanders' arrival at Mizpah in 2 Kings 25:23.
The words — The Hebrew הַנִּשְׁאָר (ha.nish.'Ar) translates literally as "the remaining," identifying the population left after the deportation. The verb הִשְׁאִיר (hish.'Ir) means "he left behind," marking Gedaliah's jurisdiction as strictly limited to those excluded from the Babylonian exile.
The thread — Gedaliah's grandfather Shaphan appears in the prophetic protection narrative of Jeremiah 39:14 and in the Josianic reform leadership lists of 2 Kings 22:12 and 2 Chronicles 34:20.
Why it lands — The verse records a Babylonian imperial appointment rather than a covenantal restoration, stating only the political reality of post-conquest governance. Readers note that historical survival continues under foreign administration before any divine intervention is described.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And as for the people that remained 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, ruler.
Cross-references
- Jeremiah 39:14 had Jeremiah brought from the courtyard of the guard, and they turned him over to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, to take him home. So Jeremiah remained among his own people.
- 2 Kings 22:12 and commanded Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Achbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the servant of the king:
- 2 Chronicles 34:20 and commanded Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Abdon son of Micah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the servant of the king:
- Jeremiah 26:24 Nevertheless, Ahikam son of Shaphan supported Jeremiah, so he was not handed over to the people to be put to death.
- Jeremiah 41:2 Then Ishmael son of Nethaniah and the ten men who were with him got up and struck down Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, with the sword, killing the one whom the king of Babylon had appointed to govern the land.
- 2 Kings 25:25 In the seventh month, however, Ishmael son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, who was a member of the royal family, came with ten men and struck down and killed Gedaliah, along with the Judeans and Chaldeans who were with him at Mizpah.
- Jeremiah 40:5 But before Jeremiah turned to go, Nebuzaradan added, “Return to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon has appointed over the cities of Judah, and stay with him among the people, or go anywhere else that seems right.” Then the captain of the guard gave him a ration and a gift and released him.