)
After the Babylonians destroyed the First Temple and exiled most of the Jews, the King of Babylonia appointed Gedalia son of Aĥikam as governor of the Jews who remained in Judea. For a while, it looked like the Jews who remained in the Land would be able to recover from the destruction. They worked their fields and vineyards, preparing the infrastructure for a national rebirth. Unfortunately, the King of Ammon, who wished to destroy the Jewish remnant, sent Yishmael son of Netania to murder Gedalia. A number of army officers warned Gedalia about Yishmael, and even suggested killing Yishmael before he could carry out his plot. However, Gedalia refused to believe them, and accused them of slandering Yishmael. Ultimately, Yishmael did murder Gedalia and his entourage. The rest of the Jews scattered, thus extinguishing the last ember of Jewish rule in the Land (Jeremiah 40-42). In the wake of this tragedy, we fast on the third of Tishrei.
