The road toward Egypt

16Then Yohanan son of Kareah, and all the commanders of the forces who were with him, took all the remnant of the people whom he had recovered from Ishmael son of Nethaniah, from Mizpah, after he had struck down Gedaliah son of Ahikam: the soldiers, the men of war, and the women, and the little children, and the court officials, whom he had brought back from Gibeon.

17So they went and stayed at Geruth Chimham, which is beside Bethlehem, intending to go on into Egypt.

18because of the Chaldeans, for they were afraid of them, because Ishmael son of Nethaniah had struck down Gedaliah son of Ahikam, whom the king of Babylon had appointed over the land.