Fluent Translation · Read & Reflect
Jeremiah 39
Jerusalem falls
In the tenth month of the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and his whole army came against Jerusalem and besieged it. In Zedekiah's eleventh year, on the ninth day of the fourth month, the city wall was breached. All the officers of the king of Babylon entered and took their seats at the Middle Gate: Nergal-sharezer, Samgar-nebo, Sarsekim the chief court officer, Nergal-sharezer the Rab-mag, and all the rest of the king of Babylon's officers.
Zedekiah captured
When Zedekiah king of Judah and all the soldiers saw them, they fled. They left the city at night by way of the king's garden, through the gate between the two walls, and the king headed toward the Arabah. The Chaldean army pursued them and overtook Zedekiah on the plains of Jericho. They captured him and brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon at Riblah in the land of Hamath, where he pronounced sentence on him. At Riblah the king of Babylon slaughtered Zedekiah's sons before his eyes. The king of Babylon also slaughtered all the nobles of Judah. Then he blinded Zedekiah and bound him in bronze shackles to take him to Babylon.
Destruction and release
The Chaldeans burned the royal palace and the people's houses and tore down Jerusalem's walls. Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard, exiled to Babylon the people remaining in the city, the deserters who had gone over to him, and the rest of the remaining people. But Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard, left some of the poorest people, who owned nothing, in the land of Judah. That day he gave them vineyards and fields.
Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon gave Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard, these orders about Jeremiah: “Take him and look after him. Do him no harm. Do whatever he asks of you.” So Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard, Nebushazban the chief court officer, Nergal-sharezer the Rab-mag, and all the king of Babylon's senior officers sent for Jeremiah and took him out of the guard courtyard. They handed him over to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, to take him home. So he lived among the people.
A promise to Ebed-melech
While Jeremiah was still confined in the guard courtyard, the word of the LORD had come to him: “Go and tell Ebed-melech the Cushite: ‘The LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, says: I am bringing my words against this city to fulfillment for harm, not for good. On that day you will see it happen. But I will rescue you on that day, declares the LORD. You will not be handed over to the men you fear. I will certainly deliver you. You will not fall by the sword; your own life will be your plunder, because you trusted in me, declares the LORD.’”