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, the city was penetrated.3 Then all the princes of the king of Babylon came in and sat in the Middle Gate: Nergal-Sharezer, Samgar-Nebo, Sarsechim, Rabsaris, Nergal-Sarezer, Rabmag, with the rest of the princes of the king of Babylon.4 So it was, when Zedekiah the king of Judah and all the men of war saw them, that they fled and went out of the city by night, by way of the kings garden, by the gate between the two walls. And he went out by way of the plain.5 But the Chaldean army pursued them and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho. And when they had captured him, they brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, to Riblah in the land of Hamath, where he pronounced judgment on him.6 Then the king of Babylon killed the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes in Riblah; the king of Babylon also killed all the nobles of Judah.7 Moreover he put out Zedekiahs eyes, and bound him with bronze fetters to carry him off to Babylon.8 And the Chaldeans burned the kings house and the houses of the people with fire, and broke down the walls of Jerusalem.9 Then Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive to Babylon the remnant of the people who remained in the city and those who defected to him, with the rest of the people who remained.10 But Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left in the land of Judah the poor people, who had nothing, and gave them vineyards and fields at the same time.

Jeremiah Goes Free

11 Now Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon gave charge concerning Jeremiah to Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, saying,12 Take him and look after him, and do him no harm; but do to him just as he says to you.13 So Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard sent Nebushasban, Rabsaris, Nergal-Sharezer, Rabmag, and all the king of Babylons chief officers;14 then they sent someone to take Jeremiah from the court of the prison, and committed him to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, that he should take him home. So he dwelt among the people.15 Meanwhile the word of the Lord had come to Jeremiah while he was shut up in the court of the prison, saying,16 Go and speak to Ebed-Melech the Ethiopian, saying, Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will bring My words upon this city for adversity and not for good, and they shall be performed in that day before you.17 But I will deliver you in that day, says the Lord, and you shall not be given into the hand of the men of whom you are afraid.18 For I will surely deliver you, and you shall not fall by the sword; but your life shall be as a prize to you, because you have put your trust in Me, says 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