ISMAHEL. — The name is identical in Hebrew to Ishmael (Yiḥud’el); however, the Vulgate generally makes a slight distinction between the son of Abraham (Ismael) and other characters bearing the same name (Ismahel).
Among these, the following are noteworthy:
1. I., father of Zabadias: his son was one of the overseers of Judah under King Josaphat (v.) and an active collaborator in the reforming work (2 Chr 19:11).
2. I., son of Johanan, one of the captains who, under the command of the high priest Joiada (v.), overthrew Queen Athaliah (2 Chr 23:1).
3. I., the murderer of Godolias (v.). Son of Nathanias, of the royal line of Judah. After the capture of Jerusalem by King Nebuchadnezzar (58? B.C.), he initially collaborated with Godolias, whom the Babylonian king had left to govern Judea. But after three months, while the valiant governor, with the help of the prophet Jeremiah, was preparing to undertake the difficult work of social reconstruction, I., instigated by the anti-Babylonian faction and supported by the king of the Ammonites, treacherously killed him at his residence in Mizpah, then managed to escape and take refuge with the Ammonites (2 Kgs 25:22–26; Jer 40–41).