And as for the people that remained in the land of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had left, even over them he made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, ruler.
As for the people who were left behind in the land of Judah, those whom King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had not taken away, he appointed Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam and grandson of Shaphan, to govern them.
The writer is explaining that after conquering Judah, the Babylonian king left some people behind and appointed a Jewish governor named Gedaliah to rule over them.
📚 Historical Context
This verse is set during the Babylonian exile, following the destruction of Jerusalem by King Nebuchadnezzar in 586 BC, when most of Judah's people were deported, leaving behind the poor and those not considered threats. Nebuchadnezzar appointed Gedaliah, a member of a prominent Jewish family known for its loyalty, as governor to oversee the remnants and maintain stability in the ravaged land. This action reflects the common ancient practice of installing local leaders to administer conquered territories and prevent further rebellion.
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