JOHANAN BEN KAREAH ():
General of the Israelites at the time of Nebuchadnezzar (c. 586
The generals noticed that Ishmael intended to kill Gedaliah; and Johanan, who seems to have had an especial feeling of friendship for Gedaliah, volunteered secretly to kill Ishmael before it might be too late; Gedaliah, however, would not consent (Jer. xl. 15-16). Ishmael carried out his intention, and Johanan b. Kareah, at the head of the other generals, fought with Ishmael "by the great water in Gibeon." The people who had been imprisoned by Ishmael at once went over to Johanan, and Ishmael had to flee (Jer. xli. 11-15). Johanan then gathered about him the generals and all the people he had saved in the hamlet of Chimham (Jer. xli. 17; Josephus, "Ant." x. 9, § 5, has Μάνδρα = "hamlet," the name apparently having been lost), intending to lead them into Egypt, beyond the reach of the Chaldeans. The people sought counsel of Jeremiah, who advised them, addressing himself chiefly to Johanan (Jer. xlii. 8), to stay in the country. But the generals and the much-tried people rejected the prophet's advice, and emigrated to Egypt under Johanan's leadership (Jer. xliii. 1-7). Here all trace of him is lost.