Jeremiah 41

10–15 Ishmael then took captive everyone in the town where he had murdered the pilgrims (verse 10) and headed toward Ammon (present–day Jordan). But Johanan and some officers pursued Ishmael and rescued those he had taken captive (verses 11–14). Ishmael, however, escaped and fled to the Ammonites (verse 15).

16–18 Johanan and the officers, together with the rescued captives and other surviving Jews, decided to flee to Egypt (verses 16–17). They feared that the Babylonians would retaliate against them because of what Ishmael had done; after all, he had murdered Nebuchadnezzar’s appointed governor. They believed they could find safety only in Egypt.