A Prophecy against Zedekiah

1  הַדָּבָ֛ר (The word) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) הָיָ֥ה (came) אֶֽל־ (to) יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ (Jeremiah) מֵאֵ֣ת (from) יְהוָ֑ה (YHWH), וּנְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּ֣ר (when Nebuchadnezzar) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (king) בָּבֶ֣ל׀ (of Babylon), וְכָל־ (and all) חֵיל֡וֹ (his army), וְכָל־ (and all) מַמְלְכ֣וֹת (the kingdoms) אֶרֶץ֩ (of the earth) מֶמְשֶׁ֨לֶת (under the dominion) יָד֜וֹ (of his hand) וְכָל־ (and all) הָעַמִּ֗ים (the people), נִלְחָמִ֧ים (fought) עַל־ (against) יְרוּשָׁלִַ֛ם (Jerusalem), וְעַל־ (and against) כָּל־ (all) עָרֶ֖יהָ (its cities) לֵאמֹֽר׃ (saying), 2  כֹּֽה־ (thus) אָמַ֤ר (says) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH), אֱלֹהֵ֣י (the God) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel); הָלֹךְ֙ (Go) וְאָ֣מַרְתָּ֔ (and speak) אֶל־ (to) צִדְקִיָּ֖הוּ (Zedekiah) מֶ֣לֶךְ (king) יְהוּדָ֑ה (of Judah), וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ (and say) אֵלָ֗יו (to him) כֹּ֚ה (thus) אָמַ֣ר (says) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH); הִנְנִ֨י (Behold, I) נֹתֵ֜ן (am giving) אֶת־ (-) הָעִ֤יר (city) הַזֹּאת֙ (this) בְּיַ֣ד (into the hand) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (of the king) בָּבֶ֔ל (of Babylon), וּשְׂרָפָ֖הּ (and he will burn it) בָּאֵֽשׁ׃ (with the fire). 3  וְאַתָּ֗ה (And you) לֹ֚א (not) תִמָּלֵט֙ (will escape) מִיָּד֔וֹ (from his hand), כִּ֚י (but) תָּפֹ֣שׂ (you will be captured) תִּתָּפֵ֔שׂ (being captured), וּבְיָד֖וֹ (into his hand); תִּנָּתֵ֑ן (and given) וְֽ֠עֵינֶיךָ (and your eyes) אֶת־ (-) עֵינֵ֨י (the eyes) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (of the king) בָּבֶ֜ל (of Babylon), תִּרְאֶ֗ינָה (will see) וּפִ֛יהוּ (face) אֶת־ (to) פִּ֥יךָ (face), יְדַבֵּ֖ר (and he will speak with you) וּבָבֶ֥ל (to Babylon) תָּבֽוֹא׃ (and you will go).

4  אַ֚ךְ (Yet) שְׁמַ֣ע (hear) דְּבַר־ (the word) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH), צִדְקִיָּ֖הוּ (O Zedekiah) מֶ֣לֶךְ (king) יְהוּדָ֑ה (of Judah); כֹּֽה־ (thus) אָמַ֤ר (says) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) עָלֶ֔יךָ (concerning you) לֹ֥א (not) תָמ֖וּת (you will die) בֶּחָֽרֶב׃ (by the sword). 5  בְּשָׁל֣וֹם (In peace); תָּמ֗וּת (you will die) וּֽכְמִשְׂרְפ֣וֹת (and with the burnings of) אֲ֠בוֹתֶיךָ (your fathers), הַמְּלָכִ֨ים (kings) הָרִֽאשֹׁנִ֜ים (the former) אֲשֶׁר־ (who) הָי֣וּ (were) לְפָנֶ֗יךָ (before you) כֵּ֚ן (so) יִשְׂרְפוּ־ (they will burn) לָ֔ךְ (for you) וְה֥וֹי (Alas) אָד֖וֹן (O lord)! יִסְפְּדוּ־ (And will they lament) לָ֑ךְ (for you) כִּֽי־ (for) דָבָ֥ר (the word), אֲנִֽי־ (I) דִבַּ֖רְתִּי (have spoken) נְאֻם־ (a declaration) יְהוָֽה׃ס (of YHWH).

6  וַיְדַבֵּר֙ (And spoke) יִרְמְיָ֣הוּ (Jeremiah) הַנָּבִ֔יא (the prophet) אֶל־ (to) צִדְקִיָּ֖הוּ (Zedekiah) מֶ֣לֶךְ (king) יְהוּדָ֑ה (of Judah) אֵ֛ת (-) כָּל־ (all) הַדְּבָרִ֥ים (the words) הָאֵ֖לֶּה (these) בִּירוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ (in Jerusalem), 7  וְחֵ֣יל (and the army) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (of the king) בָּבֶ֗ל (of Babylon) נִלְחָמִים֙ (was fighting) עַל־ (against) יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם (Jerusalem), וְעַ֛ל (and against) כָּל־ (all) עָרֵ֥י (the cities) יְהוּדָ֖ה (of Judah) הַנּֽוֹתָר֑וֹת (that were left), אֶל־ (against) לָכִישׁ֙ (Lachish), וְאֶל־ (and against) עֲזֵקָ֔ה (Azekah), כִּ֣י (for) הֵ֗נָּה (these) נִשְׁאֲר֛וּ (remained) בְּעָרֵ֥י (among the cities) יְהוּדָ֖ה (of Judah). עָרֵ֥י (Cities) מִבְצָֽר׃פ (fortified).

Freedom for Hebrew Slaves

8  הַדָּבָ֛ר (The word) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) הָיָ֥ה (came) אֶֽל־ (to) יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ (Jeremiah) מֵאֵ֣ת (from) יְהוָ֑ה (YHWH) אַחֲרֵ֡י (after) כְּרֹת֩ (had cut) הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ (King) צִדְקִיָּ֜הוּ (Zedekiah) בְּרִ֗ית (a covenant) אֶת־ (with) כָּל־ (all) הָעָם֙ (the people) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (who were) בִּירֽוּשָׁלִַ֔ם (at Jerusalem), לִקְרֹ֥א (to proclaim) לָהֶ֖ם (to them) דְּרֽוֹר׃ (liberty). 9  לְ֠שַׁלַּח (Should send forth) אִ֣ישׁ (that each man) אֶת־ (-) עַבְדּ֞וֹ (his manservant), וְאִ֧ישׁ (and) אֶת־ (-) שִׁפְחָת֛וֹ (his maidservant), הָעִבְרִ֥י (a Hebrew) וְהָעִבְרִיָּ֖ה (or a Hebrewess), חָפְשִׁ֑ים (free); לְבִלְתִּ֧י (that none) עֲבָד־ (should lay service) בָּ֛ם (of them) בִּיהוּדִ֥י (on a Jew) אָחִ֖יהוּ (his fellow) אִֽישׁ׃ (man). 10  וַיִּשְׁמְעוּ֩ (And they agreed) כָל־ (all) הַשָּׂרִ֨ים (the princes), וְכָל־ (and all) הָעָ֜ם (the people), אֲשֶׁר־ (who) בָּ֣אוּ (had come) בַבְּרִ֗ית (into this covenant), לְ֠שַׁלַּח (to send forth) אִ֣ישׁ (each man) אֶת־ (-) עַבְדּ֞וֹ (his manservant), וְאִ֤ישׁ (and) אֶת־ (-) שִׁפְחָתוֹ֙ (his maidservant), חָפְשִׁ֔ים (free), לְבִלְתִּ֥י (so as not) עֲבָד־ (to lay service) בָּ֖ם (on them) ע֑וֹד (anymore), וַֽיִּשְׁמְע֖וּ (and they agreed), וַיְשַׁלֵּֽחוּ׃ (and sent them forth). 11  וַיָּשׁ֙וּבוּ֙ (And they turned around), אַחֲרֵי־ (after) כֵ֔ן (thus) וַיָּשִׁ֗בוּ (and made return), אֶת־ (-) הָֽעֲבָדִים֙ (the menservants) וְאֶת־ (and) הַשְּׁפָח֔וֹת (the maidservants), אֲשֶׁ֥ר (whom) שִׁלְּח֖וּ (they had sent forth) חָפְשִׁ֑ים (free), וַיַּכְבִּישׁוּם (and they subjected them) לַעֲבָדִ֖ים (as menservants) וְלִשְׁפָחֽוֹת׃ס (and as maidservants).

12  וַיְהִ֤י (Came) דְבַר־ (and the word) יְהוָה֙ (of YHWH) אֶֽל־ (to) יִרְמְיָ֔הוּ (Jeremiah) מֵאֵ֥ת (from) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH), לֵאמֹֽר׃ (saying), 13  כֹּֽה־ (Thus) אָמַ֥ר (says) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH), אֱלֹהֵ֣י (the God) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (of Israel); אָנֹכִ֗י (I) כָּרַ֤תִּֽי (cut) בְרִית֙ (a covenant) אֶת־ (with) אֲב֣וֹתֵיכֶ֔ם (your⁺ fathers) בְּי֨וֹם (in the day) הוֹצִאִ֤י (that I brought) אוֹתָם֙ (them) מֵאֶ֣רֶץ (from the land) מִצְרַ֔יִם (of Egypt), מִבֵּ֥ית (from the house) עֲבָדִ֖ים (of slaves), לֵאמֹֽר׃ (saying), 14  מִקֵּ֣ץ (at the end) שֶׁ֣בַע (of seven) שָׁנִ֡ים (years) תְּֽשַׁלְּח֡וּ (you⁺ will send forth) אִישׁ֩ (each man) אֶת־ (-) אָחִ֨יו (his brother) הָעִבְרִ֜י (the Hebrew), אֲשֶֽׁר־ (who) יִמָּכֵ֣ר (has been sold) לְךָ֗ (to him) וַעֲבָֽדְךָ֙ (when he has served you) שֵׁ֣שׁ (six) שָׁנִ֔ים (years), וְשִׁלַּחְתּ֥וֹ (then you will send him forth) חָפְשִׁ֖י (free) מֵֽעִמָּ֑ךְ (from you) וְלֹֽא־ (did not) שָׁמְע֤וּ (listen) אֲבֽוֹתֵיכֶם֙ (your⁺ fathers) אֵלַ֔י (to Me) וְלֹ֥א (and not) הִטּ֖וּ (did they incline) אֶת־ (-) אָזְנָֽם׃ (their ear).

15  וַתָּשֻׁ֨בוּ (Turned), אַתֶּ֜ם (and you⁺) הַיּ֗וֹם (this day) וַתַּעֲשׂ֤וּ (and did) אֶת־ (-) הַיָּשָׁר֙ (right) בְּעֵינַ֔י (in My eyes), לִקְרֹ֥א (proclaiming) דְר֖וֹר (liberty) אִ֣ישׁ (each man) לְרֵעֵ֑הוּ (to his neighbor); וַתִּכְרְת֤וּ (and you⁺ cut) בְרִית֙ (a covenant) לְפָנַ֔י (before Me) בַּבַּ֕יִת (in the house) אֲשֶׁר־ (which) נִקְרָ֥א (is called) שְׁמִ֖י (My name) עָלָֽיו׃ (upon). 16  וַתָּשֻׁ֙בוּ֙ (And you⁺ turned back) וַתְּחַלְּל֣וּ (and profaned) אֶת־ (-) שְׁמִ֔י (My name), וַתָּשִׁ֗בוּ (you⁺ made return), אִ֤ישׁ (and each man) אֶת־ (-) עַבְדּוֹ֙ (his manservant), וְאִ֣ישׁ (and) אֶת־ (-) שִׁפְחָת֔וֹ (his maidservant), אֲשֶׁר־ (whom) שִׁלַּחְתֶּ֥ם (he had sent forth) חָפְשִׁ֖ים (free) לְנַפְשָׁ֑ם (according to their soul), וַתִּכְבְּשׁ֣וּ (and subjected) אֹתָ֔ם (them) לִֽהְי֣וֹת (to become) לָכֶ֔ם (for you⁺) לַעֲבָדִ֖ים (as menservants) וְלִשְׁפָחֽוֹת׃ס (and maidservants).

17  לָכֵן֮ (Therefore) כֹּה־ (thus) אָמַ֣ר (says) יְהוָה֒ (YHWH); אַתֶּם֙ (You⁺) לֹֽא־ (not) שְׁמַעְתֶּ֣ם (have listened) אֵלַ֔י (to Me) לִקְרֹ֣א (in proclaiming) דְר֔וֹר (liberty), אִ֥ישׁ (each man) לְאָחִ֖יו (to his brother), וְאִ֣ישׁ (and each man) לְרֵעֵ֑הוּ (to his neighbor). הִנְנִ֣י (Behold, I) קֹרֵא֩ (am proclaiming) לָכֶ֨ם (to you⁺) דְּר֜וֹר (liberty) נְאֻם־ (a declaration) יְהוָ֗ה (of YHWH), אֶל־ (to) הַחֶ֙רֶב֙ (the sword), אֶל־ (to) הַדֶּ֣בֶר (the pestilence), וְאֶל־ (and to) הָרָעָ֔ב (the famine); וְנָתַתִּ֤י (and I will give) אֶתְכֶם֙ (have) לִזְוָעָה (to trouble) לְכֹ֖ל (among all) מַמְלְכ֥וֹת (the kingdoms) הָאָֽרֶץ׃ (of the earth).

18  וְנָתַתִּ֣י (And I will give) אֶת־ (-) הָאֲנָשִׁ֗ים (the men) הָעֹֽבְרִים֙ (having transgressed) אֶת־ (-) בְּרִתִ֔י (My covenant), אֲשֶׁ֤ר (who) לֹֽא־ (not) הֵקִ֙ימוּ֙ (have made stand) אֶת־ (-) דִּבְרֵ֣י (the words) הַבְּרִ֔ית (of the covenant) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) כָּרְת֖וּ (they cut) לְפָנָ֑י (before Me) הָעֵ֙גֶל֙ (the calf) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (when) כָּרְת֣וּ (they cut) לִשְׁנַ֔יִם (in two), וַיַּעַבְר֖וּ (and passed) בֵּ֥ין (between) בְּתָרָֽיו׃ (the parts of it). 19  שָׂרֵ֨י (The princes) יְהוּדָ֜ה (of Judah), וְשָׂרֵ֣י (and the princes) יְרוּשָׁלִַ֗ם (of Jerusalem), הַסָּֽרִסִים֙ (the eunuchs), וְהַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים (and the priests), וְכֹ֖ל (and all) עַ֣ם (the people) הָאָ֑רֶץ (of the land), הָעֹ֣בְרִ֔ים (those passing) בֵּ֖ין (between) בִּתְרֵ֥י (the parts) הָעֵֽגֶל׃ (of the calf); 20  וְנָתַתִּ֤י (and I will give) אוֹתָם֙ (them) בְּיַ֣ד (into the hand) אֹֽיְבֵיהֶ֔ם (of their enemies), וּבְיַ֖ד (and into the hand) מְבַקְשֵׁ֣י (of those seeking) נַפְשָׁ֑ם (their soul). וְהָיְתָ֤ה (Will be) נִבְלָתָם֙ (and their corpses) לְמַֽאֲכָ֔ל (as meat) לְע֥וֹף (for the birds) הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם (of the heavens), וּלְבֶהֱמַ֥ת (and for the beasts) הָאָֽרֶץ׃ (of the earth). 21  וְאֶת־ (And) צִדְקִיָּ֨הוּ (Zedekiah) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (king) יְהוּדָ֜ה (of Judah) וְאֶת־ (and) שָׂרָ֗יו (his princes) אֶתֵּן֙ (I will give) בְּיַ֣ד (into the hand) אֹֽיְבֵיהֶ֔ם (of their enemies), וּבְיַ֖ד (and into the hand) מְבַקְשֵׁ֣י (of those seeking) נַפְשָׁ֑ם (their soul), וּבְיַד (and into the hand) חֵ֚יל (of the army), מֶ֣לֶךְ (of the king) בָּבֶ֔ל (of Babylon) הָעֹלִ֖ים (that has gone up) מֵעֲלֵיכֶֽם׃ (from upon you⁺).

22  הִנְנִ֨י (Behold, I) מְצַוֶּ֜ה (am giving the command), נְאֻם־ (a declaration) יְהוָ֗ה (of YHWH), וַהֲשִׁ֨בֹתִ֜ים (and I will cause them to return) אֶל־ (to) הָעִ֤יר (city); הַזֹּאת֙ (this) וְנִלְחֲמ֣וּ (and they will make war) עָלֶ֔יהָ (against it) וּלְכָד֖וּהָ (and will take it) וּשְׂרָפֻ֣הָ (and will burn it) בָאֵ֑שׁ (with fire); וְאֶת־ (and) עָרֵ֧י (the cities) יְהוּדָ֛ה (of Judah) אֶתֵּ֥ן (I will make) שְׁמָמָ֖ה (a desolation) מֵאֵ֥ין (without) יֹשֵֽׁב׃פ (inhabitant).