Gedaliah's family had experience in civic matters, so people initially accepted his role as governor (see also Jeremiah 40:1–12). A seal impression found at Lachish shows Gedaliah's importance as the officer "over the house" (see study note on 1 Kings 4:6).
The prophet Jeremiah, along with army commanders, went to Mizpah to support Gedaliah (Jeremiah 40:6). This Mizpah was a border town in Benjamin and was known in Israelite history as a place for religious gatherings (1 Samuel 7:5–6).
The men mentioned here held significant positions. Ishmael came from a royal family (2 Kings 25:25; Jeremiah 36:12). Johanan was a loyal supporter of Gedaliah (Jeremiah 40:13–16). The name Jezaniah appears on items found during excavations at Tell-en-Nasbeh.