39This is how Jerusalem was captured: In the tenth month of the ninth year of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and all his army came to Jerusalem and laid siege to it.H8671H8141H6667H4428H3063H6224H2320H935H5019H4428H894H2428H3389H66962On the ninth day of the fourth month, in the eleventh year of the reign of Zedekiah, the wall of the city was breached.H6249H6240H8141H6667H7243H2320H8672H2320H5892H12343All the officials of the king of Babylon came and sat in the Middle Gate, including Nergal-sarri-usur, governor of Sinmagir, Nabu-sarrussu-ukin the high official, Nergal-sarri-user, the chief official, and all the rest of the officials of the king of Babylon.H8269H4428H894H935H3427H8432H8179H5371H5562H8310H7249H5371H7248H7611H8269H4428H8944When Zedekiah king of Judah and all the soldiers saw them, they fled and went out of the city at night by way of the king's garden through the gate between the two walls. Then he went out on the road toward the Arabah.H6667H4428H3063H7200H582H4421H1272H3318H5892H3915H1870H4428H1588H8179H2346H3318H1870H61605The Chaldean army pursued them and overtook Zedekiah on the plains of Jericho. When they seized him they brought him to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon at Riblah in the land of Hamath, and he passed judgment on him.H3778H2428H7291H310H5381H6667H6160H3405H3947H5927H5019H4428H894H7247H776H2574H1696H49416At Riblah, the king of Babylon executed Zedekiah's sons right before his eyes. He also executed all the nobles of Judah.H4428H894H7819H1121H6667H7247H5869H4428H894H7819H2715H30637Then he put out Zedekiah's eyes and bound him with bronze fetters to take him to Babylon.H5786H6667H5869H631H5178H935H8948The Chaldeans burned the palace and the houses of the people with fire, and they broke down the walls of Jerusalem.H3778H8313H4428H1004H1004H5971H784H5422H2346H33899Nebuzaradan, the captain of the Babylonian guard, took into exile in Babylon the rest of the people who remained in the city, those who had deserted to Nebuchadnezzar, and the rest of the people who remained.H5018H7227H2876H1540H894H3499H5971H7604H5892H5307H5307H3499H5971H760410Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left in the land of Judah some of the poor people who did not have anything, and he gave them vineyards and fields on that day.H5018H7227H2876H7604H1800H5971H3972H776H3063H5414H3754H3010H3117
Jeremiah’s Release from Prison
11Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon gave orders concerning Jeremiah through Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard:H5019H4428H894H6680H3414H3027H5018H7227H2876H55912"Take him, look after him, and don't do anything to harm him. Rather, do for him whatever he tells you."H3947H5869H7760H6213H3972H7451H6213H169613So Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, Nebushazban, the high official, Nergal-sar-ezer, the chief official, and all the officials of the king of Babylon sent for Jeremiah.H5018H7227H2876H7971H5021H7249H5371H7248H4428H894H722714They sent for Jeremiah and took him from the courtyard of the guard. They handed him over to Ahikam's son Gedaliah, the grandson of Shaphan, to take him home. So he remained among the people.H7971H3947H3414H2691H4307H5414H1436H1121H296H1121H8227H3318H1004H3427H8432H5971
Ebed-melech Rewarded
15The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah while he was confined in the courtyard of the guard:H1697H3068H3414H6113H2691H4307H55916"Go and speak to Ebed-melech the Ethiopian: 'This is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, the God of Israel, says: "Look, I'm going to fulfill my promise against this city for disaster rather than for good, and on that day it will happen before your eyes.H1980H559H5663H3569H559H559H3068H6635H430H3478H935H1697H5892H7451H2896H3117H644017But I'll deliver you on that day," declares the Lord. "You won't be given into the hands of the men you fear.H5337H3117H5002H3068H5414H3027H582H6440H301618For I'll surely deliver you, and you won't fall by the sword. Your life will be spared because you trusted me," declares the Lord.'"3917H4422H4422H5307H2719H5315H7998H982H5002H3068
