The Fall of Jerusalem
1 In theninth 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 theeleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, on the ninthdayof 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 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 andovertook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho. And when they had captured him, they brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, toRiblah in the land of Hamath, where he pronounced judgment on him.
6 Then the king of Babylon killed the sons of Zedekiah before hiseyes in Riblah; the king of Babylon also killed all thenobles of Judah.
7 Moreoverhe put out Zedekiah’s eyes, and bound him with bronze fetters to carry him off to Babylon.
8 And the Chaldeans burned the king’s house and the houses of the people withfire, and broke down thewalls 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 whodefected to him, with the rest of the people who remained.
10 But Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left in the land of Judah thepoor 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 noharm; 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 sentsomeoneto take Jeremiah from the court of the prison, and committed himto Gedaliah the son ofAhikam, the son of Shaphan, that he should take him home. So he dwelt among the people.
15 Meanwhile the word of theLordhad come to Jeremiah while he was shut up in the court of the prison, saying,
16 “Go and speak toEbed-Melech the Ethiopian, saying, ‘Thus says theLordof hosts, the God of Israel: “Behold,I will bring My words upon this city for adversity and not for good, and they shall beperformedin that day before you.
17 But I will deliver you in that day,” says theLord, “and you shall not be given into the hand of the men of whom youareafraid.
18 For I will surely deliver you, and you shall not fall by the sword; butyour life shall be as a prize to you,because you have put your trust in Me,” says theLord.’ ”