1In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and all his army came against Jerusalem and laid siege to it.
2In the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, on the ninth of the month, the city was breached.
3Then all the officials of the king of Babylon came and sat in the Middle Gate: Nergal-sharezer, Samgar-nebo, Sarsechim the Rab-saris, Nergal-sharezer the Rab-mag, and all the rest of the officials of the king of Babylon.
4And it happened, when Zedekiah king of Judah and all the men of war saw them, that they fled and went out from the city by night by way of the king’s garden, through the gate between the two walls; and he went out by way of the Arabah.
5But the army of the Chaldeans pursued after 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 judgment on him.
6The king of Babylon slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah at Riblah before his eyes; the king of Babylon also slaughtered all the nobles of Judah.
7Then he blinded the eyes of Zedekiah and bound him in bronze fetters to bring him to Babylon.
8The Chaldeans burned the king’s house and the houses of the people with fire, and they tore down the walls of Jerusalem.
9And the rest of the people who remained in the city, and the deserters who had fallen away to him, and the rest of the people who remained, Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried into exile to Babylon.
10But some of the poorest people, who had nothing, Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left in the land of Judah, and he gave them vineyards and fields on that day.
11Now Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had given orders concerning Jeremiah through Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, saying:
12“Take him, and set your eyes upon him, and do him no harm at all; but just as he speaks to you, so deal with him.”
13So Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard sent, along with Nebushazban the Rab-saris, and Nergal-sharezer the Rab-mag, and all the chief officers of the king of Babylon;
14they sent and took Jeremiah from the court of the guard and handed him over to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, to take him out to the house; so he dwelt among the people.
15Now the word of Yahweh had come to Jeremiah while he was confined in the court of the guard, saying:
16“Go and speak to Ebed-melech the Cushite, saying, ‘Thus says Yahweh of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I am bringing my words upon this city for disaster and not for good, and they will come to pass before you on that day.
17But I will deliver you on that day, declares Yahweh, and you will not be handed over to the men of whom you are afraid.
18For I will surely rescue you, and you will not fall by the sword; your life will be to you as plunder, because you have trusted in me, declares Yahweh.’”
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