9 Wafunga uGedaliya, unyana ka-Ahikam, umzukulwana kaShafan, wathi kubo nabalandeli babo: “Ze ningoyiki ukuwakhonza amaKaledi. Hlalani apha kweli lizwe, nithobele ukumkani waseBhabheli. Xa nenjenjalo niya kulungelwa.
10 Mna ke ndiza kuhlala eMizpa, ndibe ngummeli wenu kumaKaledi asihambelayo. Yiyani kuqokelela iwayini, neziqhamo zasehlotyeni, neoyile yeminquma, nifake koovimba, nihlale kwezo dolophu nizithathileyo.”
11 Athi amaJuda awayekwaMowabhi, nawayekwa-Amon, nakwaEdom, nakuwo onke amanye amazwe, akuva ukuba ukumkani waseBhabheli washiya igcudwana kwaJuda, waza wamisa uGedaliya unyana ka-Ahikam ozalwa nguShafan ukuba abe ngumphathiswa,
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.”