Jeremiah 39

The Fall of Jerusalem

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, on the ninth day of the month, a breach was made in the city.3 Then all the officials of the king of Babylon came and sat in the middle gate: Nergal-sar-ezer, Samgar-nebu, Sar-sekim the Rab-saris, Nergal-sar-ezer the Rab-mag, with all the rest of the officers of the king of Babylon.4 When Zedekiah king of Judah and all the soldiers saw them, they fled, going out of the city at night by way of the king's garden through the gate between the two walls; and they went toward the Arabah.5 But the army of the Chaldeans pursued them and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho. And when they had taken him, they brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, at Riblah, in the land of Hamath; and he passed sentence on him.6 The king of Babylon slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah at Riblah before his eyes, and the king of Babylon slaughtered all the nobles of Judah.7 He put out the eyes of Zedekiah and bound him in chains to take him to Babylon.8 The Chaldeans burned the king's house and the house of the people, and broke down the walls of Jerusalem.9 Then Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, carried into exile to Babylon the rest of the people who were left in the city, those who had deserted to him, and the people who remained.10 Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, left in the land of Judah some of the poor people who owned nothing, and gave them vineyards and fields at the same time.

The Lord Delivers Jeremiah

11 Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon gave command concerning Jeremiah through Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, saying,12 "Take him, look after him well, and do him no harm, but deal with him as he tells you."13 So Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, Nebushazban the Rab-saris, Nergal-sar-ezer the Rab-mag, and all the chief officers of the king of Babylon14 sent and took Jeremiah from the court of the guard. They entrusted him to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, that he should take him home. So he lived among the people.

15 The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah while he was shut up in the court of the guard:16 "Go, and say to Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, 'Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will fulfill my words against this city for harm and not for good, and they shall be accomplished before you on that day.17 But I will deliver you on that day, declares the Lord, and you shall not be given into the hand of the men of whom you are afraid.18 For I will surely save you, and you shall not fall by the sword, but you shall have your life as a prize of war, because you have put your trust in me, declares the Lord.'"

Jeremiah 39

1 King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came against Jerusalem with his whole army and laid siege to it. The siege began in the tenth month of the ninth year that Zedekiah ruled over Judah.s2 It lasted until the ninth day of the fourth month of Zedekiah’s eleventh year.s On that day they broke through the city walls.3 Then Nergal-Sharezer of Samgar, Nebo-Sarsekim, who was a chief officer, Nergal-Sharezer, who was a high official,t and all the other officers of the king of Babylon came and set up quarterst in the Middle Gate.ts4 When King Zedekiah of Judah and all his soldiers saw them, they tried to escape. They departed from the city during the night. They took a path through the king’s garden and passed out through the gate between the two walls.s Then they headed for the Jordan Valley.s5 But the Babyloniant army chased after them. They caught up with Zedekiah in the plains of Jerichos and captured him.s They took him to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon at Riblahs in the territory of Hamath and Nebuchadnezzar passed sentence on him there.6 There at Riblah the king of Babylon had Zedekiah’s sons put to death while Zedekiah was forced to watch. The king of Babylon also had all the nobles of Judah put to death.7 Then he had Zedekiah’s eyes put out and had him bound in chainst to be led off to Babylon.8 The Babylonianst burned down the royal palace, the temple of the Lord, and the people’s homes,s and they tore down the wall of Jerusalem.s9 Then Nebuzaradan, the captain of the royal guard,t took captive the rest of the people who were left in the city. He carried them off to Babylon along with the people who had deserted to him.s

10 But het left behind in the land of Judah some of the poor people who owned nothing. He gave them fields and vineyards at that time.
11 Now King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had issued orders concerning Jeremiah. He had passed them on through Nebuzaradan, the captain of his royal guard,t12 “Find Jeremiaht and look out for him.t Do not do anything to harm him,t but do with him whatever he tells you.”13 So Nebuzaradan, the captain of the royal guard, Nebushazban, who was a chief officer, Nergal-Sharezer, who was a high official,t and all the other officers of the king of Babylon

14 sent and had Jeremiah brought from the courtyard of the guardhouse. They turned him over to Gedaliah,s the son of Ahikam and the grandson of Shaphan, to take him home with him.t But Jeremiah stayed among the people.t

Ebed Melech Is Promised Deliverance because of His Faith

15 s Now the Lord had spoken to Jeremiah while he was still confined in the courtyard of the guardhouse,t16 “Gos and tell Ebed-Melech the Ethiopian, ‘The Lord God of Israel who rules over all says, “I will carry out against this city what I promised. It will mean disaster and not good fortune for it.t When that disaster happens, you will be there to see it.t17 But I will rescue you when it happens.t I, the Lord, affirm it!t You will not be handed over to those whom you fear.s

18 I will certainly save you. You will not fall victim to violence.s You will escape with your lifet because you trust in me. I, the Lord, affirm it!”’”t