1( in the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah , in the tenth month , came Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon and all his army against Jerusalem , and besieged it ; 2in the eleventh year of Zedekiah , in the fourth month , the ninth day of the month , a breach was made in the city ), 3that all the princes of the king of Babylon came in , and sat in the middle gate , to wit , Nergal-sharezer , Samgar-nebo , Sarsechim , Rab-saris , Nergal-sharezer , Rab-mag , with all the rest of the princes of the king of Babylon. 4And it came to pass that , when Zedekiah the king of Judah and all the men of war saw them , then they fled , and went forth out of the city by night , by the way of the king ’s garden , through the gate betwixt the two walls ; and he went out toward the Arabah . 5But the army of the Chaldeans pursued after them , and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho : and when they had taken him , they brought him up to Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon to Riblah in the land of Hamath ; and he gave judgment upon him . 6Then the king of Babylon slew the sons of Zedekiah in Riblah before his eyes : also the king of Babylon slew all the nobles of Judah . 7Moreover he put out Zedekiah ’s eyes , and bound him in fetters , to carry him to Babylon. 8And the Chaldeans burned the king ’s house , and the houses of the people , with fire, and brake down the walls of Jerusalem . 9Then Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive into Babylon the residue of the people that remained in the city , the deserters also that fell away to him , and the residue of the people that remained . 10But Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left of the poor of the people , that had nothing , in the land of Judah , and gave them vineyards and fields at the same time .
Jeremiah's Release
11Now Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon gave charge concerning Jeremiah to Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard , saying, 12Take him , and look well to him , and do him no harm ; but do unto him even as he shall say unto thee . 13So Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard sent , and Nebushazban, Rab-saris , and Nergal-sharezer , Rab-mag , and all the chief officers of the king of Babylon; 14they sent , and took Jeremiah out of the court of the guard , and committed him unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan , that he should carry him home . So he dwelt among the people .
The Fate of the People
15Now the word of Jehovah came unto Jeremiah , while he was shut up in the court of the guard , saying , 16Go , and speak to Ebed-melech the Ethiopian , saying , Thus saith Jehovah of hosts , the God of Israel : Behold , I will bring my words upon this city for evil , and not for good ; and they shall be accomplished before thee in that day . 17But I will deliver thee in that day , saith Jehovah ; and thou shalt not be given into the hand of the men of whom thou art afraid . 18For I will surely save thee, and thou shalt not fall by the sword , but thy life shall be for a prey unto thee; because thou hast put thy trust in me , saith Jehovah .