25:25 seventh month. That is, October, 586 b.c.

Ishmael . . . of the royal family. Ishmael’s grandfather, Elishama, was royal secretary under Jehoiakim (Jer. 36:12; 41:1). Ishmael was part of a faction in Judah which viewed Gedaliah as a collaborator and wanted to resist the Babylonians (see the detailed account in Jer. 40:13–41:18). Ishmael probably had set his sights on reestablishing the throne of Judah with himself as king.

struck down Gedaliah. This action created even worse conditions in Judah (Jer. 44:1–14). The exiles considered Gedaliah’s death a great loss. They instituted fast days to mourn his death as well as the destruction of Judah and Jerusalem (Zech. 7:5; 8:19).