Jeremiah 39

1In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem with all his army, and they laid siege to it.

2In the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, on the ninth day of the month, the city was breached.

3Then all the officials of the king of Babylon came in and sat in the Middle Gate: Nergal-sharezer, Samgar-nebu, Sarsechim the Rab-saris, Nergal-sharezer the Rab-mag, and all the rest of the officials of the king of Babylon.

4And when Zedekiah king of Judah and all the men of war saw them, 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.

5But the army of the Chaldeans pursued them and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho. They seized him and brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon at Riblah, in the land of Hamath, and he passed sentence on him.

6The king of Babylon slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah at Riblah before his eyes, and the king of Babylon slaughtered all the nobles of Judah.

7He blinded Zedekiah’s eyes and bound him with bronze shackles to bring him to Babylon.

8The Chaldeans burned the king’s house and the houses of the people with fire, and they tore down the walls of Jerusalem.

9As for the rest of the people who remained in the city, and the deserters who had gone over to him, together with the rest of the people who remained, Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, carried away to Babylon.

10But Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left some of the poorest of the people, who had nothing, in the land of Judah, and on that day he gave them vineyards and fields.

11Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon gave orders concerning Jeremiah through Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, saying,

12Take him, keep your eyes on him, and do him no harm; rather, do with him just as he speaks to you.

13Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, Nebushazban the chief officer, Nergal-sharezer the chief magus, and all the chief officials of the king of Babylon sent word.

14So they sent and took Jeremiah from the court of the guard, and they entrusted him to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, to bring him home. So he lived among the people.

15The word of Yahweh had come to Jeremiah while he was confined in the court of the guard, saying,

16Go and say to Ebed-melech the Cushite, ‘Thus says Yahweh of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I am bringing my words against this city for harm and not for good, and they will come to pass before you on that day.’

17But I will deliver you on that day, declares Yahweh, and you will not be given into the hand of the men of whom you are afraid.

18For I will surely rescue you, and you will not fall by the sword. Your life will be yours as plunder, because you have trusted in me, declares Yahweh.