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A Plot against Gedaliah

13 Soon after this, Johanan son of Kareah and the other military leaders came to Gedaliah at Mizpah. 14 They said to him, “Did you know that Baalis, king of Ammon, has sent Ishmael son of Nethaniah to assassinate you?” But Gedaliah refused to believe them.

15 Later Johanan had a private conference with Gedaliah and volunteered to kill Ishmael secretly. “Why should we let him come and murder you?” Johanan asked. “What will happen then to the Judeans who have returned? Why should the few of us who are still left be scattered and lost?”

16 But Gedaliah said to Johanan, “I forbid you to do any such thing, for you are lying about Ishmael.”

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13 Johanan(A) son of Kareah and all the army officers still in the open country came to Gedaliah at Mizpah(B) 14 and said to him, “Don’t you know that Baalis king of the Ammonites(C) has sent Ishmael(D) son of Nethaniah to take your life?” But Gedaliah son of Ahikam did not believe them.

15 Then Johanan(E) son of Kareah said privately to Gedaliah in Mizpah, “Let me go and kill(F) Ishmael son of Nethaniah, and no one will know it. Why should he take your life and cause all the Jews who are gathered around you to be scattered(G) and the remnant(H) of Judah to perish?”

16 But Gedaliah son of Ahikam said to Johanan(I) son of Kareah, “Don’t do such a thing! What you are saying about Ishmael is not true.”

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