18 Next, Nebuzaradan arrested Seraiah the chief priest, Zephaniah his assistant, and three temple officials.
19 Then he arrested one of the army commanders, the king's five personal advisors, and the officer in charge of gathering the troops for battle. He also found 60 more soldiers who were still in Jerusalem.
20 Nebuzaradan led them all to Riblah
21 near Hamath, where Nebuchadnezzar had them killed.Most of the people of Judah had been carried away as captives from their own country.
22 King Nebuchadnezzar appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam to rule the few people still living in Judah.
23 When the army officers and troops heard that Gedaliah was their ruler, the officers met with him at Mizpah. These men were Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan son of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth from Netophah, and Jaazaniah from Maacah.
24 Gedaliah said to them, “Everything will be fine, I promise. We don't need to be afraid of the Babylonian rulers, if we live here peacefully and do what Nebuchadnezzar says.”