Shared Word Translation
Jeremiah 39
Jerusalem Is Captured
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. In the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, on the ninth day of the month, the city wall was broken through. Then all the officials of the king of Babylon came and sat in the Middle Gate: Nergal-Sharezer, Samgar-Nebo, Sarsekim the Rab-Saris, Nergal-Sharezer the Rab-Mag, and all the rest of the officials of the king of Babylon.
Zedekiah Is Captured
When Zedekiah king of Judah and all the men of war saw them, they fled and went out from the city by night by the way of the king’s garden, through the gate between the two walls, and he went out toward the Arabah. But the army of the Chaldeans pursued them and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho. They seized him and brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon at Riblah in the land of Hamath, and he pronounced judgments upon him. The king of Babylon slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes at Riblah. The king of Babylon also slaughtered all the nobles of Judah. Then he blinded Zedekiah’s eyes and bound him with bronze chains to bring him to Babylon.
Jerusalem Is Burned
The Chaldeans burned the king’s house and the houses of the people with fire and tore down the walls of Jerusalem. Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard, carried into exile to Babylon the rest of the people who remained in the city, the deserters who had fallen away to him, and the rest of the people who remained. But Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard, left in the land of Judah some of the poor people who had nothing, and at that time he gave them vineyards and fields.
Jeremiah Is Released
Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon gave a command concerning Jeremiah by the hand of Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard, saying, “Take him, set your eyes upon him, and do him no harm, but deal with him just as he speaks to you.” So Nebuzaradan captain of the guard, Nebushazban the Rab-Saris, Nergal-Sharezer the Rab-Mag, and all the chief officers of the king of Babylon sent, and they took Jeremiah from the court of the guard and gave him to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, to take him home. So he lived among the people.
A Word for Ebed-Melech
The word of the LORD had come to Jeremiah while he was shut up in the court of the guard, saying, “Go and speak to Ebed-Melech the Cushite, saying: Thus says the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel: Look, I am bringing my words upon this city for harm and not for good, and they will come to pass before you on that day. But I will deliver you on that day,” says the LORD, “and you will not be given into the hand of the men whom you fear. For I will surely rescue you, and you will not fall by the sword. Your life will be to you as plunder, because you trusted in me,” says the LORD.