Overview
Kareah appears in the biblical narrative as the father of Johanan son of Kareah, a Jewish military officer active during the final days of Judah's kingdom. Following Nebuchadnezzar's destruction of Jerusalem, Johanan and his forces rescued the prophet Jeremiah from Babylonian captivity and later led a group of Jews to Egypt against the prophet's counsel.
Key Scriptures
"Then Johanan son of Kareah and all the army officers who were with him heard of all the disasters that Ishmael son of Nethaniah had done." (Jeremiah 41:13, NIV)
"And Johanan son of Kareah and all the army officers who were with him took from Mizpah all the people he had recovered from Ishmael son of Nethaniah after Ishmael had assassinated Gedaliah son of Ahikam." (Jeremiah 41:14, NIV)
Application
Johanan's military leadership demonstrates how God works through human agents in history, though believers must ultimately trust God's direction through His prophets rather than following human reasoning alone.