39 This is how the army of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon got power over Jerusalem. In the tenth month of the ninth year that Zedekiah had ruled Judah as king, Nebuchadnezzar's army marched to attack Jerusalem. The whole army made their camp around the city. 2 They stayed there until the ninth day of the fourth month of the 11th year that Zedekiah had been king. On that day, Babylon's soldiers broke through the walls of the city. 3 The king of Babylon's officers came into Jerusalem. They sat at the Middle Gate of the city. The officers were Nergal-Sharezer from Samgar, an important officer called Nebo-Sarsekim, and another important officer, also called Nergal-Sharezer. All the other officers of the king of Babylon met with them there. 4 King Zedekiah of Judah and all his soldiers tried to escape when they saw them. They left the city at night. They took a path through the king's garden and went through the gate between the two walls of the city. Then they ran towards the Jordan Valley.
5 But the soldiers of Babylon's army chased after them. They caught Zedekiah on the flat land near Jericho. They took him to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon at Riblah, in the region called Hamath. King Nebuchadnezzar decided that Zedekiah was guilty. 6 He decided how he would punish Zedekiah. He told his soldiers to kill all Zedekiah's sons, while Zedekiah watched. Nebuchadnezzar also punished all the important men of Judah with death. 7 Then they cut out Zedekiah's eyes to make him blind. They tied him with chains to take him to Babylon as their prisoner.
8 Babylon's soldiers destroyed the king's palace with fire. They also destroyed the temple and the people's houses in Jerusalem. They knocked down the walls around the city. 9 Nebuzaradan, the captain of King Nebuchadnezzar's guards, took hold of all the people who remained in Jerusalem. He sent them away as prisoners to Babylon. He also sent away the people of Judah who had joined Babylon's army. 10 But Captain Nebuzaradan let some of the very poor people remain in Judah. He gave them some fields and vineyards to take care of.
11 King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had commanded Captain Nebuzaradan what to do with Jeremiah. 12 He said, ‘Find Jeremiah and take care of him. Do not hurt him. Help him in any way that he asks you.’ 13 So Captain Nebuzaradan, an important officer called Nebushazban, Nergal-Sharezer, the king's advisor, and all King Nebuchadnezzar's other officers did that. 14 They sent some men to bring Jeremiah from the palace yard. They told Gedaliah to take care of Jeremiah. Gedaliah was Ahikam's son and Shaphan's grandson. He took Jeremiah to his home. So Jeremiah continued to live among his own people.
15 The Lord had spoken to Jeremiah while he was still a prisoner in the palace yard. 16 The Lord said, ‘Tell the Ethiopian man, Ebed-Melech, this: The Lord Almighty, Israel's God, says, “I will punish this city as I promised to do. I will send terrible trouble instead of help. You will see this when it happens. 17 But I will rescue you at that time. I promise you that. The people that you are afraid of will not take hold of you. 18 I will certainly save you. You will not die in battle. You trusted me, so I will keep your life safe. I, the Lord , say that to you.” ’
39 This is how Jerusalem was captured: During the tenth month of the ninth year that Zedekiah was king of Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon marched against Jerusalem with his whole army. He surrounded the city to defeat it. 2 And on the ninth day of the fourth month in Zedekiah’s eleventh year, the wall of Jerusalem was broken through. 3 Then all the royal officials of the king of Babylon came into the city of Jerusalem. They came in and sat down at the Middle Gate. These are the names of the officials: Nergal-Sharezer, the governor of the district of Samgar, a very high official; Nebo Sarsekim, another very high official; and various other important officials were there also.
4 King Zedekiah of Judah saw the officials from Babylon, so he and the soldiers with him ran away. They left Jerusalem at night. They went out through the king’s garden and out through the gate that was between the two walls. Then they went toward the desert. 5 The Babylonian army chased Zedekiah and the soldiers with him. They caught up with Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho. They captured Zedekiah and took him to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar was at the town of Riblah in the land of Hamath. At that place Nebuchadnezzar decided what to do to Zedekiah. 6 There at the town of Riblah, the king of Babylon killed Zedekiah’s sons and he killed all the royal officials of Judah while Zedekiah watched. 7 Then Nebuchadnezzar tore out Zedekiah’s eyes. He put bronze chains on Zedekiah and took him to Babylon.
8 The army of Babylon set fire to the king’s palace and the houses of the people of Jerusalem. And they broke down the walls of Jerusalem. 9 Nebuzaradan was the commander of the king of Babylon’s special guards. He took all the people who had surrendered to him and all the people still in Jerusalem and made them captives. He carried them away to Babylon. 10 But commander Nebuzaradan left behind some of the poor people of Judah who owned nothing. Nebuzaradan gave them vineyards and farmland in Judah.
11 Nebuchadnezzar also gave an order about Jeremiah to commander Nebuzaradan: 12 “Find Jeremiah and take care of him. Don’t hurt him. Give him whatever he asks for.”
13 So Nebuzaradan, the commander of the king’s special guards, Nebushazban, a chief officer in the army of Babylon, Nergal-Sharezer, a high official, and all the other officers of the army of Babylon sent for Jeremiah. 14 They had Jeremiah taken out of the Temple yard where he had been under the guard of the king of Judah. They turned Jeremiah over to Gedaliah [ a ] son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan. Gedaliah had orders to take Jeremiah back home. So Jeremiah was taken home, and he stayed among his own people.
15 While the guards were watching Jeremiah in the Temple yard, a message from the Lord came to him. This was the message: 16 “Jeremiah, go and tell Ebed Melech [ b ] the Ethiopian this message: ‘This is what the Lord All-Powerful, the God of the people of Israel, says: Very soon I will make my messages about this city of Jerusalem come true. My messages will come true through disaster, not through something good. You will see everything come true with your own eyes. 17 But I will save you on that day, Ebed Melech.’ This is the message from the Lord . ‘You will not be given to the people you are afraid of. 18 I will save you, Ebed Melech. You will not die from a sword, but you will escape and live. That will happen because you have trusted in me.’” This message is from the Lord .
39 In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, came Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon and all his army against Jerusalem, and they besieged it.
2 And in the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, the ninth day of the month, the city was broken up.
3 And all the princes of the king of Babylon came in, and sat in the middle gate, even Nergalsharezer, Samgarnebo, Sarsechim, Rabsaris, Nergalsharezer, Rabmag, with all the residue of the princes of the king of Babylon.
4 And it came to pass, that when Zedekiah the king of Judah saw them, and all the men of war, then they fled, and went forth out of the city by night, by the way of the king's garden, by the gate betwixt the two walls: and he went out the way of the plain.
5 But the Chaldeans' army pursued after them, and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho: and when they had taken him, they brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to Riblah in the land of Hamath, where he gave judgment upon him.
6 Then the king of Babylon slew the sons of Zedekiah in Riblah before his eyes: also the king of Babylon slew all the nobles of Judah.
7 Moreover he put out Zedekiah's eyes, and bound him with chains, to carry him to Babylon.
8 And the Chaldeans burned the king's house, and the houses of the people, with fire, and brake down the walls of Jerusalem.
9 Then Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive into Babylon the remnant of the people that remained in the city, and those that fell away, that fell to him, with the rest of the people that remained.
10 But Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left of the poor of the people, which had nothing, in the land of Judah, and gave them vineyards and fields at the same time.
11 Now Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon gave charge concerning Jeremiah to Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, saying,
12 Take him, and look well to him, and do him no harm; but do unto him even as he shall say unto thee.
13 So Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard sent, and Nebushasban, Rabsaris, and Nergalsharezer, Rabmag, and all the king of Babylon's princes;
14 Even they sent, and took Jeremiah out of the court of the prison, and committed him unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, that he should carry him home: so he dwelt among the people.
15 Now the word of the Lord came unto Jeremiah, while he was shut up in the court of the prison, saying,
16 Go and speak to Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring my words upon this city for evil, and not for good; and they shall be accomplished in that day before thee.
17 But I will deliver thee in that day, saith the Lord : and thou shalt not be given into the hand of the men of whom thou art afraid.
18 For I will surely deliver thee, and thou shalt not fall by the sword, but thy life shall be for a prey unto thee: because thou hast put thy trust in me, saith the Lord .
39 [ a ] Now when Jerusalem was captured [ b ] ( A ) in the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and all his army came to Jerusalem and laid siege to it; 2 in the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, in the ninth day of the month, the city wall was ( B ) breached. 3 Then all the ( C ) officials of the king of Babylon came in and sat down at the ( D ) Middle Gate: Nergal-sar-ezer, Samgar-nebu, Sar-sekim the [ c ] Rab-saris, Nergal-sar-ezer the [ d ] Rab-mag, and all the rest of the officials of the king of Babylon. 4 And when Zedekiah the king of Judah and all the men of war saw them, they ( E ) fled and left the city at night by way of the king’s garden through the gate ( F ) between the two walls; and he went out toward the [ e ] Arabah. 5 But the army of the ( G ) Chaldeans pursued them and overtook Zedekiah in the ( H ) plains of Jericho; and they took him and brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon at ( I ) Riblah in the land of Hamath, and he [ f ] passed sentence on him. 6 Then the ( J ) king of Babylon slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah ( K ) before his eyes at Riblah; the king of Babylon also slaughtered all the ( L ) nobles of Judah. 7 He then ( M ) blinded Zedekiah’s eyes and bound him in ( N ) shackles of bronze to bring him to ( O ) Babylon. 8 The Chaldeans also ( P ) burned the king’s palace and the houses of the people with fire, and they ( Q ) tore down the walls of Jerusalem. 9 And as for the rest of the people who were left in the city, the ( R ) deserters who had deserted to him and ( S ) the rest of the people who remained, ( T ) Nebuzaradan the ( U ) captain of the bodyguard took them into exile in Babylon. 10 But some of the ( V ) poorest people, who had nothing, ( W ) Nebuzaradan the captain of the bodyguard left behind in the land of Judah, and gave them vineyards and fields [ g ] at that time.
11 Now Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon gave orders regarding ( X ) Jeremiah through Nebuzaradan the captain of the bodyguard, saying, 12 “Take him and [ h ] look after him, and ( Y ) do not do anything harmful to him, but rather deal with him just as he tells you.” 13 So Nebuzaradan the captain of the bodyguard sent word , along with Nebushazban the [ i ] Rab-saris, Nergal-sar-ezer the [ j ] Rab-mag, and all the leading officers of the king of Babylon; 14 they even sent word and ( Z ) took Jeremiah out of the courtyard of the guardhouse and entrusted him to ( AA ) Gedaliah, the son of ( AB ) Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, to take him home. So he stayed among the people.
15 Now the word of the Lord had come to Jeremiah while he was ( AC ) confined in the courtyard of the guardhouse, saying, 16 “Go and speak to ( AD ) Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, saying, ‘This is what the Lord of armies, the God of Israel says: “Behold, I am going to bring My words on this city ( AE ) for disaster and not for [ k ] prosperity; and they will ( AF ) take place before you on that day. 17 But I will ( AG ) save you on that day,” declares the Lord , “and you will not be handed over to the men of whom you are afraid. 18 For I will assuredly rescue you, and you will not fall by the sword; but you will have your own ( AH ) life as plunder, because you have ( AI ) trusted in Me,” declares the Lord .’”
39 1 In the ninth year of Zedekiah ( A ) king of Judah, in the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar ( B ) king of Babylon marched against Jerusalem with his whole army and laid siege ( C ) to it. 2 And on the ninth day of the fourth ( D ) month of Zedekiah’s eleventh year, the city wall ( E ) was broken through. ( F ) 3 Then all the officials ( G ) of the king of Babylon came and took seats in the Middle Gate: Nergal-Sharezer of Samgar, Nebo-Sarsekim a chief officer, Nergal-Sharezer a high official and all the other officials of the king of Babylon. 4 When Zedekiah king of Judah and all the soldiers saw them, they fled; they left the city at night by way of the king’s garden, through the gate between the two walls, ( H ) and headed toward the Arabah. [ a ] ( I )
5 But the Babylonian [ b ] army pursued them and overtook Zedekiah ( J ) in the plains of Jericho. They captured ( K ) him and took him to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon at Riblah ( L ) in the land of Hamath, where he pronounced sentence on him. 6 There at Riblah the king of Babylon slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes and also killed all the nobles ( M ) of Judah. 7 Then he put out Zedekiah’s eyes ( N ) and bound him with bronze shackles to take him to Babylon. ( O )
8 The Babylonians [ c ] set fire ( P ) to the royal palace and the houses of the people and broke down the walls ( Q ) of Jerusalem. 9 Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard carried into exile to Babylon the people who remained in the city, along with those who had gone over to him, ( R ) and the rest of the people. ( S ) 10 But Nebuzaradan the commander of the guard left behind in the land of Judah some of the poor people, who owned nothing; and at that time he gave them vineyards and fields.
11 Now Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had given these orders about Jeremiah through Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard: 12 “Take him and look after him; don’t harm ( T ) him but do for him whatever he asks.” 13 So Nebuzaradan the commander of the guard, Nebushazban a chief officer, Nergal-Sharezer a high official and all the other officers ( U ) of the king of Babylon 14 sent and had Jeremiah taken out of the courtyard of the guard. ( V ) They turned him over to Gedaliah ( W ) son of Ahikam, ( X ) the son of Shaphan, ( Y ) to take him back to his home. So he remained among his own people. ( Z )
15 While Jeremiah had been confined in the courtyard of the guard, the word of the Lord came to him: 16 “Go and tell Ebed-Melek ( AA ) the Cushite, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: I am about to fulfill my words ( AB ) against this city—words concerning disaster, ( AC ) not prosperity. At that time they will be fulfilled before your eyes. 17 But I will rescue ( AD ) you on that day, declares the Lord ; you will not be given into the hands of those you fear. 18 I will save ( AE ) you; you will not fall by the sword ( AF ) but will escape with your life, ( AG ) because you trust ( AH ) in me, declares the Lord .’”
