Jeremiah 39

Bad News, Not Good News

1-2 In the ninth year and tenth month of Zedekiah king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came with his entire army and laid siege to Jerusalem. In the eleventh year and fourth month, on the ninth day of Zedekiah's reign, they broke through into the city.

3 All the officers of the king of Babylon came and set themselves up as a ruling council from the Middle Gate: Nergal-sharezer of Simmagar, Nebushazban the Rabsaris, Nergal-sharezer the Rabmag, along with all the other officials of the king of Babylon.

4-7 When Zedekiah king of Judah and his remaining soldiers saw this, they ran for their lives. They slipped out at night on a path in the king's garden through the gate between two walls and headed for the wilderness, toward the Jordan Valley. The Babylonian army chased them and caught Zedekiah in the wilderness of Jericho. They seized him and took him to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon at Riblah in the country of Hamath. Nebuchadnezzar decided his fate. The king of Babylon killed all the sons of Zedekiah in Riblah right before his eyes and then killed all the nobles of Judah. After Zedekiah had seen the slaughter, Nebuchadnezzar blinded him, chained him up, and then took him off to Babylon.

8-10 Meanwhile, the Babylonians burned down the royal palace, the Temple, and all the homes of the people. They leveled the walls of Jerusalem. Nebuzaradan, commander of the king's bodyguard, rounded up everyone left in the city, along with those who had surrendered to him, and herded them off to exile in Babylon. He didn't bother taking the few poor people who had nothing. He left them in the land of Judah to eke out a living as best they could in the vineyards and fields.

11-12 Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon gave Nebuzaradan captain of the king's bodyguard special orders regarding Jeremiah: "Look out for him. Make sure nothing bad happens to him. Give him anything he wants."

13-14 So Nebuzaradan, chief of the king's bodyguard, along with Nebushazban the Rabsaris, Nergal-sharezer the Rabmag, and all the chief officers of the king of Babylon, sent for Jeremiah, taking him from the courtyard of the royal guards and putting him under the care of Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, to be taken home. And so he was able to live with the people.

15-18 Earlier, while Jeremiah was still in custody in the courtyard of the royal guards, God's Message came to him: "Go and speak with Ebed-melek the Ethiopian. Tell him, God-of-the-Angel-Armies, the God of Israel, says, Listen carefully: I will do exactly what I said I would do to this city—bad news, not good news. When it happens, you will be there to see it. But I'll deliver you on that doomsday. You won't be handed over to those men whom you have good reason to fear. Yes, I'll most certainly save you. You won't be killed. You'll walk out of there safe and sound because you trusted me.'" God's Decree.

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