Jeremiah 39

The Fall of Jerusalem

1 In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched against Jerusalem with his entire army and laid siege to it.

2 In the eleventh year of Zedekiah, on the ninth day of the fourth month, the city wall was broken through.

3 Then all the officers of the king of Babylon came and sat in the Middle Gate, Nergal-sharezer of Samgar, Nebo-sarsekim the chief officer, Nergal-sharezer a high official, and all the rest of the officials of the king of Babylon.

4 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 headed toward the Arabah.

5 But the Chaldean army pursued them and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho. They captured him and took him to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon at Riblah in the land of Hamath, where he passed sentence on him.

6 There at Riblah the king of Babylon slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes. He also killed all the officials of Judah.

7 Then he put out Zedekiah’s eyes and bound him with bronze shackles to take him to Babylon.

Jeremiah Delivered

8 The Chaldeans burned down the king’s palace and the houses of the people and tore down the walls of Jerusalem.

9 Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, carried into exile to Babylon the people who remained in the city, those who had defected to him, and the rest of the people who were left.

10 But Nebuzaradan left behind some of the poor people, who owned nothing, and gave them vineyards and fields at that time.

The LORD Protects Jeremiah

11 Now Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon gave orders about Jeremiah through Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, saying,

12 “Take him and look after him. Do not harm him, but do for him whatever he asks.”

13 So Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, Nebushazban the chief officer, Nergal-sharezer the high official, and all the officers of the king of Babylon

14 Sent and took Jeremiah out of the courtyard of the guard. They turned him over to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, to take him home. So he remained among his own people.

Ebed-melek Rewarded

15 While Jeremiah was still confined in the courtyard of the guard, the word of the LORD came to him, saying,

16 “Go and tell Ebed-Melek the Ethiopian, ‘This is what the LORD of armies, the God of Israel, says: I am about to bring My words against this city for disaster, not for good, and they will happen before your eyes on that day.’”

17 “‘But I will rescue you on that day,’ declares the LORD, ‘and you will not be handed over to the men you fear.’”

18 “‘For I will surely deliver you, and you will not fall by the sword. You will escape with your life, because you have trusted in Me,’ declares the LORD.”