Jeremiah 39
The Fall of Jerusalem
In the aninth 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 aeleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, on the ninth day of the month, the city was penetrated.
3 aThen 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 aSo 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 king’s 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 aovertook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho. And when they had captured him, they brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, to bRiblah in the land of Hamath, where he pronounced judgment on him. 6 Then the king of Babylon killed the sons of Zedekiah before his aeyes in Riblah; the king of Babylon also killed all the bnobles of Judah. 7 Moreover ahe put out Zedekiah’s eyes, and bound him with bronze fetters to carry him off to Babylon. 8 aAnd the Chaldeans burned the king’s house and the houses of the people with bfire, and broke down the cwalls of Jerusalem. 9 aThen Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive to Babylon the remnant of the people who remained in the city and those who bdefected 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 apoor 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 aharm; 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 Babylon’s chief officers; 14 then they sent someone ato take Jeremiah from the court of the prison, and committed him bto Gedaliah the son of cAhikam, 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 aEbed-Melech the Ethiopian, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: “Behold, bI 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 ayour life shall be as a prize to you, bbecause you have put your trust in Me,” says the Lord.’ ”
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson.
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