Atomic Bible

Father of Johanan and Jonathan

Kareah

Named in 14 verses across 2 books, first in 2 Kings 25:23.

קָרֵחַKareah

The name means “bald; ice.” Hitchcock's Bible Names, 1869

Children
Johanan, Jonathan

About Kareah Written by AI

Kareah is mentioned in 2Kings 25 and Jeremiah 40-43 as the father of Johanan and Jonathan, two military leaders who played a significant role in the events following the fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians in 586 BC. After the Babylonians appointed Gedaliah as governor over the remnant of Judah, Johanan and Jonathan, along with other army officers, came to Gedaliah at Mizpah (2 Kings 25:23; Jeremiah 40:8). They pledged their allegiance to Gedaliah and agreed to serve the Babylonians (Jeremiah 40:9 to 10). Later, when Johanan learned of a plot by Ishmael to assassinate Gedaliah, he warned the governor, but Gedaliah did not believe him (Jeremiah 40:13 to 16). After Ishmael carried out the assassination and fled with captives, Johanan and his men pursued Ishmael and rescued the captives (Jeremiah 41:11 to 16). Following these events, Johanan, his brother Jonathan, and the other military leaders sought the advice of Jeremiah the prophet, asking whether they should stay in Judah or flee to Egypt (Jeremiah 42:1 to 3). Despite Jeremiah's warning to stay in the land, Johanan and the others disobeyed and took the remnant of Judah, including Jeremiah, to Egypt (Jeremiah 43:2 to 7). Throughout these passages, Kareah is consistently mentioned as the father of Johanan and Jonathan, highlighting their family connection and the significance of their roles in the events surrounding the fall of Jerusalem and its aftermath. The actions of Johanan and Jonathan, as well as their disobedience to Jeremiah's prophetic word, had far-reaching consequences for the remnant of Judah.

Drafted by an AI model for STEPBible's TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Check it against the verses below.

Easton's Bible Dictionary, 1897

Bald, the father of Johanan and Jonathan, who for a time were loyal to Gedaliah, the Babylonian governor of Jerusalem (Jer. 40:8, 13, 15, 16).

M. G. Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary, third edition (1897), public domain, from CrossWire. Shown as written; its Scripture quotes are from older translations.

GenesisMatthewRevelation

Where the Bible names him

  1. 2 Kings 25:23

    When all the commanders of the armies and their men heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah as governor, they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah—Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan son of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah son of the Maacathite, as well as their men.

  2. Jeremiah 40:8

    they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah—Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth, the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniah son of the Maacathite—they and their men.

  3. Jeremiah 40:13

    Meanwhile, Johanan son of Kareah and all the commanders of the armies in the field came to Gedaliah at Mizpah

  4. Jeremiah 40:15

    Then Johanan son of Kareah spoke privately to Gedaliah at Mizpah. “Let me go and kill Ishmael son of Nethaniah,” he said. “No one will know it. Why should he take your life and scatter all the people of Judah who have gathered to you, so that the remnant of Judah would perish?”

  5. Jeremiah 40:16

    But Gedaliah son of Ahikam said to Johanan son of Kareah, “Do not do such a thing! What you are saying about Ishmael is a lie.”

  6. Jeremiah 41:11

    When Johanan son of Kareah and all the commanders of the armies with him heard of all the crimes that Ishmael son of Nethaniah had committed,

  7. Jeremiah 41:13

    When all the people with Ishmael saw Johanan son of Kareah and all the commanders of the army with him, they rejoiced,

  8. Jeremiah 41:14

    and all the people whom Ishmael had taken captive at Mizpah turned and went over to Johanan son of Kareah.

  9. Jeremiah 41:16

    Then Johanan son of Kareah and all the commanders of the armies with him took the whole remnant of the people from Mizpah whom he had recovered from Ishmael son of Nethaniah after Ishmael had killed Gedaliah son of Ahikam: the soldiers, women, children, and court officials he had brought back from Gibeon.

  10. Jeremiah 42:1

    Then all the commanders of the forces, along with Johanan son of Kareah, Jezaniah son of Hoshaiah, and all the people from the least to the greatest, approached

  11. Jeremiah 42:8

    and he summoned Johanan son of Kareah, all the commanders of the forces who were with him, and all the people from the least to the greatest.

  12. Jeremiah 43:2

    Azariah son of Hoshaiah, Johanan son of Kareah, and all the arrogant men said to Jeremiah, “You are lying! The LORD our God has not sent you to say, ‘You must not go to Egypt to reside there.’

  13. Jeremiah 43:4

    So Johanan son of Kareah and all the commanders of the forces disobeyed the command of the LORD to stay in the land of Judah.

  14. Jeremiah 43:5

    Instead, Johanan son of Kareah and all the commanders of the forces took the whole remnant of Judah, those who had returned to the land of Judah from all the nations to which they had been scattered,

From STEPBible's TIPNR, Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0): names, family, references and the AI written article. Verse text is the BSB.