The Book of the Prophet Jeremiah 39 Nebuchadnezzar Takes Jerusalem and Delivers Jeremiah

 The Book of the Prophet Jeremiah 39

Nebuchadnezzar Takes Jerusalem and Delivers Jeremiah

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 breach was made in the city.

3 Then all the princes of the king of Babylon entered and stood at the Middle Gate, including Negal-Sharezer, Shamgar-Nebo, Sarsechim, Rabesaris, Nergal-Sharezer, Rabmag, and all the other princes of the king of Babylon.

4 When Zedekiah king of Judah and all the men of war saw them, they fled and went out of the city by night, by the way of the king’s garden, through the gate between the two walls; 4 And he went out by the way of the plain.

5 But the army of the Chaldeans pursued them; and they overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho, and took him captive, and brought him to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon at Riblah in the land of Hamath, and there he sentenced him.

6 And the king of Babylon killed Zedekiah’s sons at Riblah before his eyes; the king of Babylon also killed all the nobles of Judah.

7 And he gouged out Zedekiah’s eyes, and bound him with two bronze chains, to take him to Babylon.

8 And the Chaldeans burned the king’s house and the houses of the people with fire, and broke down the walls of Jerusalem.

9 And the rest of the people who remained in the city, and the rebels who had gone over to him, and the rest of the people who remained, Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, carried away to Babylon.

10 But the poor among the people, who had nothing, Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, left in the land of Judah; and he gave them vineyards and fields that day.

11 But Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, had given orders concerning Jeremiah to Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, saying,

12 “Take him, and keep a close eye on him, and do him no harm; but do to him as he tells you.”

13 So Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, gave orders, along with Nebus-Hashban, Rab-saris, Nergal-sharezer, Rab-mag, and all the princes of the king of Babylon.

14 They took Jeremiah from the court of the guard and delivered him to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, to take him to his house. And he remained among the people.

15 Now the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, while he was still shut up in the court of the guard, 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 evil and not for good; and they shall be fulfilled before you in that day.

17 But I will deliver you in that day, says the Lord, and you shall not be given into the hand of the men before whom you fear.

18 For I will surely save you, and you shall not fall by the sword; but your life shall be yours for a prize, because you trusted in Me, says the Lord.’”