מלכים ב, פרק כ״ה, פסוק כ״ב

Following the destruction and the exile, a remnant of the people remained in the land of Judah. To manage this surviving group, the king of Babylon decided to establish a local leadership. This was an official appointment that granted authority over administration and financial oversight [מצודת ציון].

The man chosen for this position was Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam. He was the grandson of Shaphan the scribe, who had served as the minister of foreign affairs during the reign of King Josiah. Nebuchadnezzar selected Gedaliah to serve as his governor specifically because of his family background. For generations, this family had maintained a peaceful stance toward the Babylonian empire [ביאור שטיינזלץ].