39
1 In
the ninth year
of Zedekiah king
of Judah, in
the tenth month,
Nebuchadnezzar king
of Babylon and all
his army came
against Jerusalem,
and besieged it.
2 In
the eleventh year
of Zedekiah, in
the fourth month,
the ninth day
of the month,
a breach was
made in the
city.
3 All
the princes of
the king of Babylon
came in, and
sat in the
middle gate: Nergal Sharezer,
Samgarnebo, Sarsechim the
Rabsaris, Nergal Sharezer
the Rabmag, with
all the rest
of the princes
of the king
of Babylon.
4 When
Zedekiah the king
of Judah and
all the men
of war saw
them, then they
fled and went
out of the
city by night,
by the way
of the king’s
garden, through
the gate between
the two walls;
and he went
out toward the
Arabah.
5 But
the army of
the Chaldeans
pursued them, and
overtook Zedekiah
in the plains
of Jericho. When
they had taken
him, they brought
him up to
Nebuchadnezzar king
of Babylon to
Riblah in the land
of Hamath; and
he pronounced
judgment on him.
6 Then
the king of Babylon
killed Zedekiah’s
sons in Riblah
before his eyes.
The king of Babylon
also killed all
the nobles of
Judah.
7 Moreover he
put out Zedekiah’s
eyes and bound him
in fetters,
to carry him
to Babylon.
8 The
Chaldeans burned
the king’s house
and the people’s
houses with fire
and broke down
the walls of
Jerusalem.
9 Then
Nebuzaradan the
captain of the
guard carried away
captive into Babylon
the rest of
the people who
remained in the
city, the
deserters also who
fell away to
him, and the
rest of the
people who
remained.
10 But
Nebuzaradan the
captain of the
guard left of
the poor of
the people, who
had nothing, in
the land of Judah,
and gave them
vineyards and
fields at the
same time.
11 Now
Nebuchadnezzar king
of Babylon commanded
Nebuzaradan the
captain of the
guard concerning
Jeremiah, saying,
12 “Take
him and take
care of him.
Do him no
harm; but do
to him even
as he tells
you.”
13 So
Nebuzaradan the
captain of the
guard, Nebushazban, Rabsaris,
and Nergal Sharezer, Rabmag, and
all the chief
officers of the
king of Babylon
14 sent
and took Jeremiah
out of the
court of the
guard, and
committed him to
Gedaliah the son
of Ahikam, the son
of Shaphan, that
he should bring
him home. So
he lived among
the people.
15 Now
the LORD’s word
came to Jeremiah
while he was
shut up in
the court of
the guard, saying,
16 “Go,
and speak
to Ebedmelech the
Ethiopian, saying, ‘The
LORD of Armies,
the God of
Israel, says: “Behold, I will bring
my words on
this city for
evil, and not
for good; and
they will be
accomplished before
you in that
day.
17 But
I will deliver
you in that
day,” says the
LORD; “and you
will not be
given into the
hand of the men
of whom you
are afraid.
18 For
I will surely
save you. You won’t
fall by the
sword, but you
will escape with
your life, because
you have put
your trust in me,”
says the LORD.’ ”