Old Testament · Jeremiah

Jeremiah 39

The Fall of Jerusalem

(2 Kings 25:1–12; 2 Chronicles 36:15–21)

1in the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, came Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon and all his army to Jerusalem, and they besieged it; 2in the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, on the ninth of the month, the city was breached.

3And all the princes of the king of Babylon came in and sat in the middle gate: Nergal-sharezer, Samgar-nebo, Sarsechim Rab-saris, Nergal-sharezer Rab-mag, and all the rest of the princes of the king of Babylon.

4And it came to pass, when Zedekiah king of Judah and all the men^a of war saw them, that they fled, and went out by night from the city by way of the king's garden, through the gate between the two walls; and he went out by way of the Arabah. 5And the army of the Chaldeans pursued after them, and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho; and they took him, and brought him up to Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, to Riblah in the land of Hamath, and he spoke judgments^b with him.

6And the king of Babylon slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah in Riblah before his eyes; and all the nobles of Judah the king of Babylon slaughtered. 7And the eyes of Zedekiah he blinded, and bound him with bronze fetters to bring him to Babylon.

8And the house of the king, and the house of the people, the Chaldeans burned with fire; and the walls of Jerusalem they broke down.

9And the rest of the people who remained in the city, and those falling away who had fallen to him, and the rest of the people who remained, Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried into exile to Babylon. 10And of the poor people who had nothing, Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left in the land of Judah, and gave to them vineyards and fields in that day.

Jeremiah Delivered

11And Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon commanded^c concerning Jeremiah by the hand of Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, saying: 12Take him, and set your eyes upon him, and do not do to him anything evil; but as he speaks to you, so do with him.

13And Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard sent, and Rab-saris, and Nergal-sharezer Rab-mag, and all the chief men of the king of Babylon; 14they sent and took Jeremiah from the court of the guard, and gave him to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, to bring him out to the house; and he dwelt among the people.

15And to Jeremiah the word of the LORD had come, while he was shut up in the court of the guard, saying: 16Go, and you shall say to Ebed-melech the Cushite, saying: Thus said the LORD of hosts^d, God of Israel: Behold, I am bringing My words upon this city for evil, and not for good; and they shall be before you in that day. 17And I will deliver you in that day—declaration of the LORD—and you shall not be given into the hand of the men of whom you are afraid. 18For I will surely deliver you, and by the sword you shall not fall, but your soul^e shall be to you for spoil; because you have trusted in Me—declaration of the LORD.