Jeremiah Warns Zedekiah

1  וַיִּ֨מְלָךְ־ (Reigned) מֶ֔לֶךְ (and king) צִדְקִיָּ֖הוּ (Zedekiah) בֶּן־ (son) יֹֽאשִׁיָּ֑הוּ (of Josiah) תַּ֗חַת (in place) כָּנְיָ֙הוּ֙ (of Coniah) בֶּן־ (son) יְה֣וֹיָקִ֔ים (of Jehoiakim), אֲשֶׁ֥ר (whom) הִמְלִ֛יךְ (made king) נְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּ֥ר (Nebuchadnezzar) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (king) בָּבֶ֖ל (of Babylon) בְּאֶ֥רֶץ (in the land) יְהוּדָֽה׃ (of Judah). 2  וְלֹ֥א (And not) שָׁמַ֛ע (he did listen) ה֥וּא (he), וַעֲבָדָ֖יו (and his servants), וְעַ֣ם (and the people) הָאָ֑רֶץ (of the land), אֶל־ (to) דִּבְרֵ֣י (the words) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH), אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) דִּבֶּ֔ר (He spoke) בְּיַ֖ד (by the hand) יִרְמְיָ֥הוּ (of Jeremiah) הַנָּבִֽיא׃ (the prophet).

3  וַיִּשְׁלַח֩ (Sent) הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ (king) צִדְקִיָּ֜הוּ (and Zedekiah) אֶת־ (the) יְהוּכַ֣ל (Jehucal) בֶּן־ (son) שֶֽׁלֶמְיָ֗ה (of Shelemiah) וְאֶת־ (and) צְפַנְיָ֤הוּ (Zephaniah) בֶן־ (son) מַֽעֲשֵׂיָה֙ (of Maaseiah) הַכֹּהֵ֔ן (the priest) אֶל־ (to) יִרְמְיָ֥הוּ (Jeremiah), הַנָּבִ֖יא (the prophet) לֵאמֹ֑ר (saying), הִתְפַּלֶּל־ (Make prayer) נָ֣א (we ask) בַעֲדֵ֔נוּ (for us) אֶל־ (to) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ׃ (our God).

4  וְיִרְמְיָ֕הוּ (And Jeremiah) בָּ֥א (was coming) וְיֹצֵ֖א (and going) בְּת֣וֹךְ (in the midst) הָעָ֑ם (of the people), וְלֹֽא־ (and they had not) נָתְנ֥וּ (put) אֹת֖וֹ (him) בֵּ֥ית (in the house). הַכְּלִיא׃ (Of imprisonment). 5  וְחֵ֥יל (And the army) פַּרְעֹ֖ה (of Pharaoh) יָצָ֣א (had come up) מִמִּצְרָ֑יִם (from Egypt) וַיִּשְׁמְע֨וּ (heard) הַכַּשְׂדִּ֜ים (and the Chaldeans) הַצָּרִ֤ים (laying siege) עַל־ (on) יְרוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙ (Jerusalem) אֶת־ (-) שִׁמְעָ֔ם (news of them) וַיֵּ֣עָל֔וּ (and they went up) מֵעַ֖ל (from) יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃פ (Jerusalem).

6  וַֽיְהִי֙ (Came) דְּבַר־ (and the word) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH) אֶל־ (to) יִרְמְיָ֥הוּ (Jeremiah), הַנָּבִ֖יא (the prophet) לֵאמֹֽר׃ (saying), 7  כֹּֽה־ (Thus) אָמַ֤ר (says) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH), אֱלֹהֵ֣י (the God) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel); כֹּ֤ה (thus) תֹֽאמְרוּ֙ (you⁺ will say) אֶל־ (to) מֶ֣לֶךְ (the king) יְהוּדָ֔ה (of Judah), הַשֹּׁלֵ֧חַ (the one sending) אֶתְכֶ֛ם (you⁺) אֵלַ֖י (to Me) לְדָרְשֵׁ֑נִי (to inquire of Me) הִנֵּ֣ה׀ (Behold), חֵ֣יל (the army), פַּרְעֹ֗ה (of Pharaoh) הַיֹּצֵ֤א (which has come up) לָכֶם֙ (you⁺) לְעֶזְרָ֔ה (to help) שָׁ֥ב (will return) לְאַרְצ֖וֹ (to its own land) מִצְרָֽיִם׃ (to Egypt). 8  וְשָׁ֙בוּ֙ (Will return again), הַכַּשְׂדִּ֔ים (and the Chaldeans) וְנִלְחֲמ֖וּ (and will make war) עַל־ (against) הָעִ֣יר (city), הַזֹּ֑את (this) וּלְכָדֻ֖הָ (and they will capture it) וּשְׂרָפֻ֥הָ (and burn it) בָאֵֽשׁ׃ס (with the fire).

9  כֹּ֣ה׀ (Thus) אָמַ֣ר (says) יְהוָ֗ה (YHWH); אַל־ (do not) תַּשִּׁ֤אוּ (deceive) נַפְשֹֽׁתֵיכֶם֙ (yourselves), לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), הָלֹ֛ךְ (Departing) יֵלְכ֥וּ (depart) מֵעָלֵ֖ינוּ (from us) הַכַּשְׂדִּ֑ים (The Chaldeans) כִּי־ (for) לֹ֖א (they will not) יֵלֵֽכוּ׃ (will depart). 10  כִּ֣י (For) אִם־ (if) הִכִּיתֶ֞ם (you⁺ were to strike) כָּל־ (all) חֵ֤יל (the force) כַּשְׂדִּים֙ (of the Chaldeans) הַנִּלְחָמִ֣ים (who are fighting) אִתְּכֶ֔ם (against you⁺) וְנִ֨שְׁאֲרוּ (and there remained) בָ֔ם (among them) אֲנָשִׁ֖ים (men) מְדֻקָּרִ֑ים (only wounded) אִ֤ישׁ (each man) בְּאָהֳלוֹ֙ (in his tent), יָק֔וּמוּ (then they would rise up) וְשָֽׂרְפ֛וּ (and burn) אֶת־ (-) הָעִ֥יר (city) הַזֹּ֖את (this) בָּאֵֽשׁ׃ (with fire).

Jeremiah Imprisoned

11  וְהָיָ֗ה (And it came to pass), בְּהֵֽעָלוֹת֙ (in the going up of) חֵ֣יל (the army) הַכַּשְׂדִּ֔ים (of the Chaldeans) מֵעַ֖ל (from) יְרֽוּשָׁלִָ֑ם (Jerusalem) מִפְּנֵ֖י (for fear) חֵ֥יל (of the army), פַּרְעֹֽה׃ס (of Pharaoh). 12  וַיֵּצֵ֤א (That went forth) יִרְמְיָ֙הוּ֙ (Jeremiah) מִיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם (from Jerusalem) לָלֶ֖כֶת (to go into) אֶ֣רֶץ (the land) בִּנְיָמִ֑ן (of Benjamin), לַחֲלִ֥ק (to divide) מִשָּׁ֖ם (from there) בְּת֥וֹךְ (in the midst) הָעָֽם׃ (of the people). 13  וַיְהִי־ (And it came to pass) ה֞וּא (when he was) בְּשַׁ֣עַר (in the Gate) בִּנְיָמִ֗ן (of Benjamin), וְשָׁם֙ (that was there), בַּ֣עַל (a captain) פְּקִדֻ֔ת (of the guard) וּשְׁמוֹ֙ (and his name was) יִרְאִיָּ֔יה (Irijah), בֶּן־ (son) שֶֽׁלֶמְיָ֖ה (of Shelemiah), בֶּן־ (son) חֲנַנְיָ֑ה (of Hananiah); וַיִּתְפֹּ֞שׂ (and he seized) אֶֽת־ (-) יִרְמְיָ֤הוּ (Jeremiah) הַנָּבִיא֙ (the prophet), לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), אֶל־ (To) הַכַּשְׂדִּ֖ים (the Chaldeans) אַתָּ֥ה (you) נֹפֵֽל׃ (are falling away).

14  וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (Said) יִרְמְיָ֜הוּ (and Jeremiah), שֶׁ֗קֶר (Falsehood); אֵינֶ֤נִּי (I am not) נֹפֵל֙ (falling away) עַל־ (to) הַכַּשְׂדִּ֔ים (the Chaldeans).

וְלֹ֥א (And not) שָׁמַ֖ע (he would listen) אֵלָ֑יו (to him) וַיִּתְפֹּ֤שׂ (seized) יִרְאִיָּיה֙ (and Irijah) בְּיִרְמְיָ֔הוּ (Jeremiah), וַיְבִאֵ֖הוּ (and brought him) אֶל־ (to) הַשָּׂרִֽים׃ (the princes).

15  וַיִּקְצְפ֧וּ (Were angry) הַשָּׂרִ֛ים (and the princes) עַֽל־ (at) יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ (Jeremiah), וְהִכּ֣וּ (and they struck) אֹת֑וֹ (him) וְנָתְנ֨וּ (and put) אוֹת֜וֹ (him) בֵּ֣ית (in the house) הָאֵס֗וּר (of bond) בֵּ֚ית (in the house) יְהוֹנָתָ֣ן (of Jonathan) הַסֹּפֵ֔ר (the scribe); כִּֽי־ (for) אֹת֥וֹ (-) עָשׂ֖וּ (they had made it) לְבֵ֥ית (into a house) הַכֶּֽלֶא׃ (of restraint).

16  כִּ֣י (When) בָ֧א (came) יִרְמְיָ֛הוּ (Jeremiah) אֶל־ (into) בֵּ֥ית (the house) הַבּ֖וֹר (of the dungeon), וְאֶל־ (and into) הַֽחֲנֻ֑יוֹת (the cells), וַיֵּֽשֶׁב־ (dwelt) שָׁ֥ם (there) יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ (then Jeremiah) יָמִ֥ים (days); רַבִּֽים׃פ (many).

17  וַיִּשְׁלַח֩ (And sent), הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ (the king) צִדְקִיָּ֜הוּ (Zedekiah) וַיִּקָּחֵ֗הוּ (and took him out) וַיִּשְׁאָלֵ֨הוּ (asked him) הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ (and the king) בְּבֵיתוֹ֙ (in his house), בַּסֵּ֔תֶר (in secret) וַיֹּ֕אמֶר (and said), הֲיֵ֥שׁ (Is there) דָּבָ֖ר (a word) מֵאֵ֣ת (from) יְהוָ֑ה (YHWH)?

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (Said), יִרְמְיָ֙הוּ֙ (and Jeremiah) יֵ֔שׁ (There is); וַיֹּ֕אמֶר (and he said) בְּיַ֥ד (Into the hand) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (of the king) בָּבֶ֖ל (of Babylon) תִּנָּתֵֽן׃ס (you will be given).

18  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (Said) יִרְמְיָ֔הוּ (and Jeremiah) אֶל־ (to) הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (king) צִדְקִיָּ֑הוּ (Zedekiah), מֶה֩ (What) חָטָ֨אתִֽי (wrong have I done) לְךָ֤ (against you) וְלַעֲבָדֶ֙יךָ֙ (and against your servants), וְלָעָ֣ם (and against the people), הַזֶּ֔ה (this) כִּֽי־ (that) נְתַתֶּ֥ם (you⁺ have put) אוֹתִ֖י (me) אֶל־ (into) בֵּ֥ית (the house) הַכֶּֽלֶא׃ (of restraint)? 19  וְאַיּוֹ (Where indeed are) נְבִ֣יאֵיכֶ֔ם (your⁺ prophets) אֲשֶׁר־ (who) נִבְּא֥וּ (prophesied) לָכֶ֖ם (to you⁺) לֵאמֹ֑ר (saying), לֹֽא־ (Not) יָבֹ֤א (will come) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (the king) בָּבֶל֙ (of Babylon) עֲלֵיכֶ֔ם (against you⁺) וְעַ֖ל (or against) הָאָ֥רֶץ (land) הַזֹּֽאת׃ (this)? 20  וְעַתָּ֕ה (And now), שְֽׁמַֽע־ (listen) נָ֖א (please), אֲדֹנִ֣י (O my lord) הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ (the king); תִּפָּל־ (be accepted) נָ֤א (please), תְחִנָּתִי֙ (let my petition), לְפָנֶ֔יךָ (before you) וְאַל־ (and do not) תְּשִׁבֵ֗נִי (make me return) בֵּ֚ית (to the house) יְהוֹנָתָ֣ן (of Jonathan) הַסֹּפֵ֔ר (the scribe), וְלֹ֥א (that not) אָמ֖וּת (I should die) שָֽׁם׃ (there).

21  וַיְצַוֶּ֞ה (Ordered) הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ (and king) צִדְקִיָּ֗הוּ (the Zedekiah) וַיַּפְקִ֣דוּ (that they should commit) אֶֽת־ (-) יִרְמְיָהוּ֮ (Jeremiah) בַּחֲצַ֣ר (to the court) הַמַּטָּרָה֒ (of the guard), וְנָתֹן֩ (and give) ל֨וֹ (to him) כִכַּר־ (a piece) לֶ֤חֶם (of bread) לַיּוֹם֙ (day by day) מִח֣וּץ (the street), הָאֹפִ֔ים (of the bakers) עַד־ (until) תֹּ֥ם (was finished). כָּל־ (All) הַלֶּ֖חֶם (the bread) מִן־ (out of), הָעִ֑יר (in the city) וַיֵּ֣שֶׁב (dwelt) יִרְמְיָ֔הוּ (Thus Jeremiah) בַּחֲצַ֖ר (in the court) הַמַּטָּרָֽה׃ (of the guard).