Jeremiah 39

(2 Kings 25:1–12; 2 Chronicles 36:15–21)

1In the ninthH8671 yearH8141 of ZedekiahH6667 kingH4428 of JudahH3063, in the tenthH6224 monthH2320, NebuchadnezzarH5019 kingH4428 of BabylonH894 marchedH935 againstH413 JerusalemH3389 with his entireH3605 armyH2428 and laid siegeH6696 toH5921 the city. 2And on the ninthH8672 dayH2320 of the fourthH7243 monthH2320 of Zedekiah’sH6667 eleventhH6249H6240 yearH8141, the cityH5892 was breachedH1234.

3Then allH3605 the officialsH8269 of the kingH4428 of BabylonH894 enteredH935 and satH3427 in the MiddleH8432 GateH8179: Nergal-sharezerH5371 of SamgarH5562, Nebo-sarsekimH5562H83101 the RabsarisH7249,2 Nergal-sharezerH5371 the RabmagH7248,3 and allH3605 the restH7611 of the officialsH8269 of the kingH4428 of BabylonH894.

4

WhenH834 ZedekiahH6667 kingH4428 of JudahH3063 and allH3605 the soldiersH582H4421 saw themH7200, they fledH1272. They leftH3318 the cityH5892 at nightH3915H4480 by wayH1870 of the king’sH4428 gardenH1588, through the gateH8179 betweenH996 the two wallsH2346, and they went outH3318 along the routeH1870 to the ArabahH6160.4 5But the armyH2428 of the ChaldeansH37785 pursuedH7291 themH310 and overtookH5381 ZedekiahH6667 in the plainsH6160 of JerichoH3405. They seizedH3947 himH853 and brought him upH5927 toH413 NebuchadnezzarH5019 kingH4428 of BabylonH894 at RiblahH7247 in the landH776 of HamathH2574, where he pronouncedH1696 judgmentH4941 on himH854.

6There at RiblahH7247 the kingH4428 of BabylonH894 slaughteredH7819 the sonsH1121 of ZedekiahH6667 before his eyesH5869, and heH4428H894 also killedH7819 allH3605 the noblesH2715 of JudahH3063. 7Then he put outH5786 Zedekiah’sH6667 eyesH5869 and bound himH631 with bronze chainsH5178 to takeH935 himH853 to BabylonH894.

8

The ChaldeansH3778 set fire toH8313H784 the palaceH1004 of the kingH4428 andH853 to the housesH1004 of the peopleH5971, andH853 they broke downH5422 the wallsH2346 of JerusalemH3389.

9ThenH853 NebuzaradanH5018 captainH7227 of the guardH2876 carriedH1540 away to BabylonH894 the remnantH3499 of the peopleH5971 who had remainedH7604 in the cityH5892, along withH853 the desertersH5307 whoH834 had defectedH5307 toH5921 himH853. 10But NebuzaradanH5018 left behindH7604 in the landH776 of JudahH3063 some ofH4480 the poorH1800 peopleH5971 whoH834 had no propertyH369H3972, and at thatH1931 timeH3117 he gaveH5414 them vineyardsH3754 and fieldsH3010.

Jeremiah Delivered

11Now NebuchadnezzarH5019 kingH4428 of BabylonH894 had given ordersH6680 aboutH5921 JeremiahH3414 throughH3027 NebuzaradanH5018 captainH7227 of the guardH2876, sayingH559, 12“Take himH3947, look afterH5869H7760 himH5921, and do notH408 let anyH3972 harmH7451H3588 comeH6213 to him; doH6213 for himH5973 whateverH834 he saysH1696H413H3651.”

13

So NebuzaradanH5018 captainH7227 of the guardH2876, NebushazbanH50216 the RabsarisH7249, Nergal-sharezerH5371 the RabmagH7248, and allH3605 the captainsH7227 of the kingH4428 of BabylonH894 14had JeremiahH3414 broughtH7971H3947 from the courtyardH2691 of the guardH4307, and they turned him overH5414 toH413 GedaliahH1436 sonH1121 of AhikamH296, the sonH1121 of ShaphanH8227, to takeH3318 himH413 homeH1004. So Jeremiah remainedH3427 amongH8432 his own peopleH5971.

15And while Jeremiah had beenH1961 confinedH6113 in the courtyardH2691 of the guardH4307, the wordH1697 of the LORDH3068 had comeH1961 toH413 him: 16“GoH1980 and tellH559 Ebed-melechH5663 the Cushite thatH3569 this is whatH3541H559 the LORDH3068 of HostsH6635, the GodH430 of IsraelH3478H2005, saysH559: ‘I am about to fulfillH935 My wordsH1697 againstH413 thisH2063 cityH5892 for harmH7451 and notH3808 for goodH2896, and on thatH1931 dayH3117 they will be fulfilledH1961 before your eyesH6440. 17But I will deliver youH5337 on thatH1931 dayH3117, declaresH5002 the LORDH3068, and you will notH3808 be deliveredH5414 into the handsH3027 of the menH582 whomH834 youH859 fearH3016H6440. 18ForH3588 I will surely rescue youH4422 so that you do notH3808 fallH5307 by the swordH2719. BecauseH3588 you have trustedH982 in Me, you will escapeH1961 with your lifeH5315 like a spoil of warH7998, declaresH5002 the LORDH3068.’”