Because of the Chaldeans: for they were afraid of them, because Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had slain Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, whom the king of Babylon made governor in the land.
Because of the Chaldeans, people were scared. This was because Ishmael, a descendant of Nethaniah, killed Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam. The king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah as the leader in the land.