1Kwathi ngenyanga yesikhombisa u-Ishmayeli, indodana kaNethaniya ka-Elishama, ongowozalo lwasebukhosini futhi engomunye wezikhulu zenkosi kanye namadoda alishumi, bafika kuGedaliya, indodana ka-Ahikamu eMizpha, badla khona ukudla ndawonye. 2U-Ishmayeli, indodana kaNethaniya namadoda alishumi ayehamba nawo, basukuma, bambulala ngenkemba uGedaliya, indodana ka-Ahikamu kaShafani; uGedaliya owayebekwe yinkosi yaseBhabhele ukuba abe ngumbusi ezweni. 3Bonke abaJuda ababenoGedaliya eMizpa namaKhaledi, namabutho ayelapho, wawabulala.
4Kwathi ngosuku lwesibili uGedaliya ebulewe, kungazi muntu, 5kwafika amadoda angama-80 evela eShekhemi, eShilo, naseSamariya egunde izilevu zawo, nezingubo zawo ziklejuliwe, nawo ezisikile uqobo, ephethe ngezandla zawo iminikelo yokusanhlamvu nempepho ukuzokunikela endlini kaSimakade. 6U-Ishmayeli, indodana kaNethaniya, waphuma eMizpha ukuyowahlangabeza, ehamba ekhala. Kwathi lapho ehlangana nawo, wathi kuwo: “Wozani kuGedaliya indodana ka-Ahikamu.”
7Kwathi ukuba angene phakathi emzini, u-Ishmayeli, indodana kaNethaniya, namadoda ayenaye bawabulala lawo madoda, bawaphonsa emgodini. 8Kepha kwakukhona amadoda alishumi phakathi kwawo, athi ku-Ishmayeli: “Ungasibulali, ngokuba emasimini ethu sinengcebo kakolo, ibhali, amafutha, noju.”
Wayesewayeka, wangawabulala nabafowabo. 9Umgodi lapho u-Ishmayeli alahla khona izidumbu zamadoda ayewabulele kwakuwumgodi omkhulu owawumbiwe yinkosi u-Asa, ukuze azivikele kuBhahasha, inkosi yakwa-Israyeli. U-Ishmayeli, indodana kaNethaniya, wawugcwalisa ngezidumbu zababuleweyo.
10U-Ishmayeli wathumba bonke abantu ababesele eMizpha, amadodakazi enkosi nabo bonke abantu ababesele khona, uNebuzaradani induna yabalindi ayebanikele kuGedaliya indodana ka-Ahikamu, u-Ishmayeli indodana kaNethaniya wabathumba, wahamba ukuze adlulele kwabakwa-Amoni.
11Kwathi ukuba uJohanani, indodana kaKhareya, nabo bonke abakhuzi bempi ababenaye, bezwe ngobubi obenziwe ngu-Ishmayeli, indodana kaNethaliya, 12baqoqa wonke amadoda, bahamba bayokulwa no-Ishmayeli, indodana kaNethaniya, bamthola ngasemanzini amaningi aseGibheyoni. 13Kwathi ukuba bonke abantu ababeno-Ishmayeli bambone uJohanani, indodana kaKhareya, nabo bonke abakhuzi bempi ababenaye, bathokoza. 14Bonke abantu ababethunjwe ngu-Ishmayeli eMizpha bajika, babuyela emuva noJohanani, indodana kaKhareya. 15Kepha u-Ishmayeli, indodana kaNethaniya, waphunyuka kuJohanani namadoda ayisishiyagalombili, waya kwabakwa-Amoni.
16UJohanani, indodana kaKhareya, nabo bonke abakhuzi bempi ababenaye, bathatha yonke insali yabantu eyayithunjwe ngu-Ishmayeli, indodana kaNethaniya, eMizpha, emveni kokuba esebulele uGedaliya indodana ka-Ahikamu, amabutho, abesifazane, izingane, nabathenwa, ayebuye nabo eGibheyoni. 17Bahamba, baze bayophumula eKhimihamu eliseduze neBhethlehema, ukuze baqhubekele eGibhithe, 18bebalekela amaKhaledi, ngokuba babewesaba, lokhu u-Ishmayeli, indodana kaNethaniya, wayebulele uGedaliya, indodana ka-Ahikamu, owayebekwe yinkosi yaseBhabhele ukuba abe ngumbusi ezweni.
