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Jeremiah

The Fall of Jerusalem and Jeremiah's Release

39
Chapter 39
1 In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babel and all his army came to Jerusalem, and they besieged it. 2 In the twelfth year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, on the ninth of the month, the city was breached. 3 And all the chiefs of the king of Babel came, and they sat at the Middle Gate: Nergal-sar-ezer, chief of the treasury; Samgar-Nebo, chief of the officials; Nergal-sar-ezer, chief of the treasury; Chief Mag; and all the remnant of the chiefs of the king of Babel. 4 And it was when Zedekiah king of Judah and all the men of the warfare saw them, and they fled and went out at night from the city by way of the king's garden in the gate between the walls, and he went out by way of the Arabah. 5 And the forces of the Chaldeans pursued them and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho. And they took him and brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babel at Riblah in the land of Hamath, and he spoke judgments with him. 6 And the king of Babel slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah at Riblah before his eyes, and the king of Babel slaughtered all the nobles of Judah. 7 And he blinded Zedekiah's eyes and bound him in bronze fetters to bring him to Babylon. 8 And the Chaldeans burned the house of the king and the house of the people with fire, and they broke down the walls of Jerusalem. 9 And the remainder of the people remaining in the city, and the fallen who fell on it, and the remainder of the people remaining, Nebuzaradan Rab-saris of Babylon exiled. 10 And from the people, the poor who have nothing at all, Nebuzaradan chief of the executioners left in the land of Judah, and he gave them vineyards and cisterns on that day. 11 And Nebuchadnezzar king of Babel commanded concerning Jeremiah by the hand of Nebuzaradan chief of the executioners, saying: 12 Take him and set your eyes on him and do not do anything evil to him, for just as he speaks to you, so do with him. 13 Nebuzaradan, chief of the slaughterers, sent Nebushazban, chief of the eunuchs, Nergal, ruler of the treasury and chief of the warriors, and all the chiefs of the king of Babylon. 14 And they sent and took Jeremiah from the Tabernacle courtyard and gave him to Gedaliah son of Ahikam son of Shaphan to bring him out to the House, and he sat in the midst of the people. 15 And the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah while he was confined in the court of the guard, saying: 16 Go and say to Ebed-melech the Cushite, "Thus says the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I am bringing my words upon this city for evil and not for good, and they will be before you on that day." 17 And I will save you on that day, says the LORD, and you will not be given into the hand of the men from whose faces you sojourn. 18 For I will deliver you, and you will not fall by the sword, and your life will be to you as spoil, for you have trusted in me — the utterance of the LORD.