Man living at the time of Divided Monarchy
Johanan, the son of Kareah, was a prominent Judean military leader who played a significant role in the events following the fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians.
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Johanan, the son of Kareah, was a prominent Judean military leader who was active in the aftermath of the fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians in 586 BC. After the Babylonians appointed Gedaliah as governor over the remnant of Judah, Johanan and other army officers came to him at Mizpah (2Ki.25.23; Jer.40.8). When Ishmael, a member of the royal family, assassinated Gedaliah and killed many others, Johanan pursued him and rescued the captives Ishmael had taken (Jer.41.11-16).
Following these events, Johanan and the other leaders sought the advice of the prophet Jeremiah, asking him to pray for guidance (Jer.42.1-3). However, when Jeremiah conveyed God's message that they should remain in the land and not flee to Egypt, Johanan and the others refused to obey (Jer.43.2-4). Instead, they took the remnant of Judah, including Jeremiah, and went to Egypt (Jer.43.5-7).
Johanan's story highlights the complex political situation in Judah after the Babylonian conquest and the challenges faced by those who remained in the land. While he initially seemed to support Gedaliah and sought Jeremiah's guidance, his ultimate refusal to obey God's word led him and the remnant of Judah into further disobedience and exile.
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15 verses in 2 books · English text: BSB (change it from the menu at the top) · Strong’s H3110
When all the commanders of the armies and their men heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah as governor, they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah—Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan son of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah son of the Maacathite, as well as their men.
they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah—Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth, the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniah son of the Maacathite—they and their men.
Meanwhile, Johanan son of Kareah and all the commanders of the armies in the field came to Gedaliah at Mizpah
Then Johanan son of Kareah spoke privately to Gedaliah at Mizpah. “Let me go and kill Ishmael son of Nethaniah,” he said. “No one will know it. Why should he take your life and scatter all the people of Judah who have gathered to you, so that the remnant of Judah would perish?”
But Gedaliah son of Ahikam said to Johanan son of Kareah, “Do not do such a thing! What you are saying about Ishmael is a lie.”
When Johanan son of Kareah and all the commanders of the armies with him heard of all the crimes that Ishmael son of Nethaniah had committed,
When all the people with Ishmael saw Johanan son of Kareah and all the commanders of the army with him, they rejoiced,
and all the people whom Ishmael had taken captive at Mizpah turned and went over to Johanan son of Kareah.
But Ishmael son of Nethaniah and eight of his men escaped from Johanan and went to the Ammonites.
Then Johanan son of Kareah and all the commanders of the armies with him took the whole remnant of the people from Mizpah whom he had recovered from Ishmael son of Nethaniah after Ishmael had killed Gedaliah son of Ahikam: the soldiers, women, children, and court officials he had brought back from Gibeon.
Then all the commanders of the forces, along with Johanan son of Kareah, Jezaniah son of Hoshaiah, and all the people from the least to the greatest, approached
and he summoned Johanan son of Kareah, all the commanders of the forces who were with him, and all the people from the least to the greatest.
Azariah son of Hoshaiah, Johanan son of Kareah, and all the arrogant men said to Jeremiah, “You are lying! The LORD our God has not sent you to say, ‘You must not go to Egypt to reside there.’
So Johanan son of Kareah and all the commanders of the forces disobeyed the command of the LORD to stay in the land of Judah.
Instead, Johanan son of Kareah and all the commanders of the forces took the whole remnant of Judah, those who had returned to the land of Judah from all the nations to which they had been scattered,
Names, family links and references: STEPBible TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Short descriptions were drafted with AI assistance by STEPBible. Family links follow STEPBible’s scholarly decisions where genealogies are ambiguous.