1 Kwathi ngenyanga yesikhombisa u-Ishmayeli indodana kaNethaniya ka-Elishama, wozalo lwenkosi nowezikhulu zenkosi, wafika namadoda ayishumi kuGedaliya indodana ka-Ahikamu eMispa, badla khona isinkwa kanyekanye eMispa.
2 Wayesesuka u-Ishmayeli indodana kaNethaniya namadoda ayishumi ayenaye, bamshaya uGedaliya indodana ka-Ahikamu kaShafani ngenkemba, bambulala, yena inkosi yaseBabele ebimenze umbusi ezweni.
3 U-Ishmayeli wabulala nabo bonke abaJuda ababe naye uGedaliya eMispa, namaKaledi, amadoda empi ayefunyanwa khona.
4 Kwathi ngosuku lwesibili esembulele uGedaliya, kungaziwa muntu,
5 kwafika amadoda angamashumi ayisishiyagalombili evela eShekemi, naseShilo, naseSamariya, izilevu zawo ziphuculiwe nezingubo ziklejuliwe, bezisikile, bephethe iminikelo yempuphu nempepho ezandleni zabo ukuba bakulethe endlini kaJehova.
6 U-Ishmayeli indodana kaNethaniya waphuma eMispa ukubahlangabeza, ehamba ekhala. Kwathi lapho esehlangana nabo, wathi kubo: “Ngenani kuGedaliya indodana ka-Ahikamu.”