7 Now some commanders of Judean soldiers who were still in the countryside, along with their men heard that the Babylonian king had made Ahikam’s son Gedalyah governor over the land. They also heard that he’d put him in charge of the men, women, and children who were the poorest people in the land—those who hadn’t been exiled to Babylon.[ref]8 So they went to Gedalyah at Mitspah. Those who went were Netanyah’s son Yishmael, Kareah’s sons Yohanan and Yonatan, Tanhumet’s son Serayah, the sons of Ofai the Netofatite, and Maakati’s son Yezanyah, and their men.9 Gedalyah (son of Ahikam, son of Shafan) made a promise to them and their men, saying, “Don’t be afraid to serve the Babylonian officials. Live in the land and serve the Babylonian king, and it will go well with you.10 See, I’m living in Mitspah to meet with the Babylonians who came to us. So harvest wine, summer fruit, and oil and store them in your containers. Live in the cities that you’ve occupied.”11 Then all the Judeans in Moav, among the people of Ammon, and in Edom, and in every land heard that the Babylonian king had allowed a small number of people to stay in Yehudah, and that he’d appointed Gedalyah (son of Ahikam, son of Shafan) over them.12 So all the Judeans from every place that they’d be driven into, came back to Yehudah to Gedalyah at Mitspah, and they harvested a lot of wine and summer fruit.