The Fall of Jerusalem
39 1 In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came with all his army against Jerusalem and laid siege to it. 2 In the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, on the ninth day of the month, the city was breached. 3 Then all the officials of the king of Babylon came in and took their seats 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. a a v3 Rab-saris and Rab-mag were senior titles among Babylonian royal officials. 4 When Zedekiah king of Judah and all the soldiers saw them, they fled, slipping out of the city by night by way of the king's garden, through the gate between the two walls; and he went out toward the Arabah. 5 But the army of the Chaldeans pursued them and overtook Zedekiah in 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 passed sentence on him. 6 The king of Babylon slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah at Riblah before his eyes, and the king of Babylon slaughtered all the nobles of Judah. 7 Then he blinded Zedekiah and bound him in bronze chains to bring him to Babylon.
8 The Chaldeans burned down the king's house and the houses of the people with fire, and they tore down the walls of Jerusalem. 9 Then Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard, took into exile in Babylon the rest of the people left in the city, those who had defected to him, and the rest of the people who remained. 10 But Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard, left in the land of Judah some of the poorest people, who owned nothing, and gave them vineyards and fields at that time.
11 Now Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had given orders concerning Jeremiah through Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard, saying, 12 "Take him and look after him; do him no harm, but do whatever he asks."
13 So Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard sent word, along with Nebushazban the Rab-saris, Nergal-Sharezer the Rab-mag, and all the chief officers of the king of Babylon; 14 they brought Jeremiah out of the courtyard of the guard and handed him over to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, to take him home. So he lived among the people.
15 Now the word of our Father had come to Jeremiah while he was confined in the courtyard of the guard, saying:
16 "Go and say to Ebed-Melech the Cushite: This is what the Father of heaven's armies, the Father of Israel, says: I am about to carry out my words against this city for harm and not for good, and they will come true before you on that day." 17 "But I will rescue you on that day, declares our Father, and you will not be handed over to the men you dread." 18 "For I will surely deliver you, and you will not fall by the sword; your life will be your prize of war, because you have trusted in me, declares our Father."