Gedaliah

Gedaliah ben Ahikam was a governor of Judah appointed by Nebuchadnezzar II, king of Babylon, after the destruction of the First Temple and the exile of much of the Jewish population in 586 BCE. His appointment is recorded in the Hebrew Bible, specifically in the Second Book of Kings (2 Kings 25:22-26) and the Book of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 40-41).

Following the Babylonian conquest and the assassination of Zedekiah, the last king of Judah, Gedaliah was entrusted with overseeing the remaining Jewish inhabitants in the land. He established his government in Mizpah, a town in the territory of Benjamin. Gedaliah's policy was one of cooperation with the Babylonian authorities, encouraging the people to remain in the land, cultivate it, and pay tribute to Babylon. He promised protection to those who accepted Babylonian rule.

Despite Gedaliah's efforts to rebuild Judean society under Babylonian authority, his rule was short-lived. He was assassinated in Mizpah by Ishmael ben Nethaniah, a member of the royal family who was possibly motivated by resentment of Gedaliah's collaboration with Babylon or by a desire to restore the Davidic monarchy. Ishmael was reportedly incited by Baalis, king of Ammon.

Gedaliah's assassination had devastating consequences. The remaining Jews in Judah, fearing Babylonian reprisal for the murder of their appointed governor, fled to Egypt. This event is considered a major turning point in Jewish history, marking the final end of autonomous Jewish rule in the land of Judah until the Hasmonean period.

The Jewish community observes a fast day, the Fast of Gedaliah (Tzom Gedaliah), on the third day of Tishrei (the day after Rosh Hashanah if Rosh Hashanah falls on a weekday) to commemorate his assassination and the ensuing exile. This fast serves as a reminder of the loss of independence and the disruption of Jewish life in Judah. The event is seen as a tragedy brought about by internal strife and disobedience to the prophets who urged cooperation with the Babylonian authorities.