12 asuka onke, abuyela kwelakwaJuda, aya kuGedaliya eMizpa. Ayesuka kumazwe ngamazwe awayethe saa kuwo. Aqokelela intaphane yewayini neziqhamo zasehlotyeni.
13 Kwafika uYohanan unyana kaKareya kuGedaliya eMizpa, ehamba nabanye abaphathi bamabutho awayesemaphandleni,
14 bathi kuye: “Akuvanga na ukuba uBhahalisi ukumkani wama-Amon uthumele uIshmayeli unyana kaNetaniya ukuba akugwinte?” UGedaliya yena unyana ka-Ahikam akazange abakholelwe.
15 Emva koko uYohanan unyana kaKareya waya kuGedaliya ngasese apho eMizpa, wathi: “Ndivumele ndiye kubulala uIshamyeli unyana kaNetaniya; akukho mntu uya kuyazi loo nto. Makangayekwa akubulale, aze la maJuda aqokeleleke apha phantsi kwakho athi saa, atshabalale amasalela akwaJuda.”
16 UGedaliya waphendula uYohanan ngelithi: “Uze ungakhe uyenze into enjalo! Bubuxoki le nto wena uyithethayo ngoIshmayeli.”