Ishmael

Ishmael, the son of Nethaniah, was a member of the royal family of Judah (2 Kings 25:25). After the Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem and appointed Gedaliah as governor over the remnant, Ishmael and other army officers came to Gedaliah at Mizpah (2 Kings 25:23;Jeremiah 40:8). Despite being warned of Ishmael's treacherous intentions (Jeremiah 40:13-16), Gedaliah welcomed him. However, Ishmael, acting under the orders of Baalis, king of the Ammonites, assassinated Gedaliah and his men (2 Kings 25:25;Jeremiah 41:1-3). Ishmael then led captives, including the king's daughters, from Mizpah toward Ammon (Jeremiah 41:10). When Johanan and the other leaders heard of Ishmael's actions, they pursued him. Ishmael's captives were rescued, but he escaped to the Ammonites with eight men (Jeremiah 41:11-15). Ishmael's treachery further devastated the remnant of Judah after the Babylonian conquest. His actions led the survivors to flee to Egypt out of fear of Babylonian reprisals (Jeremiah 41:16-18), directly disobeying God's command through Jeremiah (Jer.42-43).