Baalis

Baalis was a king of Ammon mentioned in the Hebrew Bible (Jeremiah 40:14). He is primarily known for his role in the assassination of Gedaliah, the governor of Judah appointed by Nebuchadnezzar II after the fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians in 586 BCE.

According to the Book of Jeremiah, Baalis conspired with Ishmael ben Nethaniah, a member of the Judean royal family, to assassinate Gedaliah. Ishmael, along with ten men, murdered Gedaliah and the Judeans and Babylonians who were with him at Mizpah. This act destabilized the region and led to the flight of many remaining Judeans to Egypt, fearing Babylonian reprisal.

The motive for Baalis' involvement is not explicitly stated in the biblical text. Theories suggest he may have sought to weaken Babylonian control over the region or to destabilize Judah in order to expand Ammonite influence.

Baalis is a relatively minor figure in biblical history, but his actions had significant consequences for the remnant of the Jewish population left in Judah after the Babylonian conquest. His name is primarily preserved in connection with the Gedaliah assassination and its aftermath.