2 Kings 25 · a question people ask
Why did the people go to Egypt, after Gedaliah had told them not to be afraid?
2 Kings gives one reason: "for they were afraid of the Chaldeans" (25:26). Gedaliah had sworn to them, "Don’t be afraid because of the servants of the Chaldeans" (25:24) (tap afraid). Between the two verses, 25:25 tells in one verse how Gedaliah died, and 2 Kings says no more. The book of Jeremiah tells more of these months (Jeremiah 40-43). There, Johanan the son of Kareah and the captains of the forces took "all the remnant of Judah" (Jeremiah 43:5), Jeremiah the prophet among them (Jeremiah 43:6), and "They came into the land of Egypt, for they didn’t obey the LORD’s voice" (Jeremiah 43:7). These notes set the two books side by side.
The verses
“Gedaliah swore to them and to their men, and said to them, “Don’t be afraid because of the servants of the Chaldeans. Dwell in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it will be well with you.” But in the seventh month, Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, of the royal offspring came, and ten men with him, and struck Gedaliah so that he died, with the Jews and the Chaldeans that were with him at Mizpah. All the people, both small and great, and the captains of the forces arose and came to Egypt; for they were afraid of the Chaldeans.”
“But Johanan the son of Kareah and all the captains of the forces took all the remnant of Judah, who had returned from all the nations where they had been driven, to live in the land of Judah— the men, the women, the children, the king’s daughters, and every person who Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had left with Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan; and Jeremiah the prophet, and Baruch the son of Neriah. They came into the land of Egypt, for they didn’t obey the LORD’s voice; and they came to Tahpanhes.”