Charles Ellicott Commentary 2 Kings 25:22

"And as for the people that were left in the land of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had left, even over them he made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, governor." — 2 Kings 25:22 (ASV)

Gedaliah the son of Ahikam. —Ahikam was one of Josiah’s princes (2 Kings 22:12). In the reign of Jehoiakim he saved the prophet Jeremiah from the popular fury (Jeremiah 26:24). Nebuzaradan committed the prophet to the care of Gedaliah, who probably, like his father, sympathized with Jeremiah’s views (Jeremiah 39:13–14). After hesitating whether to accompany Nebuzaradan to Babylon or not, the prophet finally decided to go to Gedaliah at Mizpah (Jeremiah 40:1–6).

Gedaliah’s magnanimous behavior in regard to Ishmael (Jeremiah 40:16 and following) shows that he was not a traitor and deserter, as some have misnamed him. Rather, he was a disciple of Jeremiah and did his utmost to induce the remnant over which he was appointed governor to submit with patience to their divinely-ordered lot, as the prophet urged them to do.