Some of the military leaders listened (compare Jeremiah 40:11–16), but not Ishmael. From Jeremiah 40:14 it shows the murder of Gedaliah was a deliberate attack, which also involved the king of Ammon. He had no interest in a neighbouring country with a pro-Babylonian attitude, and he would rather see rebellion there. The murderous attack was successful, but the conspiracy failed, as the murderer received no support from his earlier army companions and was forced to flee to Ammon (Jeremiah 41:15). The murder of Gedaliah is more extensively covered in Jeremiah 40:13 – 41:15.
25 But in the seventh month, Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, son of Elishama, of the royal family, came with ten men and struck down Gedaliah and put him to death along with the Jews and the Chaldeans who were with him at Mizpah.