The Walls of Jerusalem Torn Down

1[†]Now when Jerusalem was captured [†]in the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and all his military force came to Jerusalem and laid siege to it; 2in the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, in the ninth day of the month, the city was breached. 3Then all the officials of the king of Babylon came in and sat down at the Middle Gate: Nergal-sar-ezer, Samgar-nebu, Sar-sekim the [†]Rab-saris, Nergal-sar-ezer the [†]Rab-mag, and all the rest of the officials of the king of Babylon. 4Now it happened that when Zedekiah the king of Judah and all the men of war saw them, they fled and went out of the city at night by way of the king’s garden through the gate between the two walls; and he went out toward the [†]Arabah. 5But the military force of the Chaldeans pursued them and overtook Zedekiah in the [†]plains of Jericho; and they took him and brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon at Riblah in the land of Hamath, and he spoke judgment on him. 6Then the king of Babylon slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes at Riblah; the king of Babylon also slaughtered all the nobles of Judah. 7He then blinded Zedekiah’s eyes and bound him in fetters of bronze to bring him to Babylon. 8The Chaldeans also burned with fire the house of the king and the houses of the people, and they tore down the walls of Jerusalem. 9And as for the rest of the people who remained in the city, the [†]defectors who had gone over to him and the rest of the people who remained, Nebuzaradan the captain of the bodyguard took them away into exile in Babylon. 10But some of the poorest people who had nothing, Nebuzaradan the captain of the bodyguard had them remain in the land of Judah and gave them vineyards and fields [†]at that time.

Jeremiah Delivered

11Now Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon gave a command about Jeremiah through Nebuzaradan the captain of the bodyguard, saying, 12“Take him and set your eyes to look after him and do nothing harmful to him, but rather deal with him just as he speaks to you.” 13So Nebuzaradan the captain of the bodyguard sent word, along with Nebushazban the [†]Rab-saris and Nergal-sar-ezer the [†]Rab-mag and all the leading officers of the king of Babylon; 14they even sent and took Jeremiah out of the court of the guard and gave him over to Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, to take him home. So he stayed among the people.

15Now the word of Yahweh had come to Jeremiah while he was confined in the court of the guard, saying, 16“Go and speak to Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, saying, ‘Thus says Yahweh of hosts, the God of Israel, “Behold, I am about to bring My words on this city for [†]calamity and not for [†]prosperity; and they will take place before you on that day. 17But I will deliver you on that day,” declares Yahweh, “and you will not be given into the hand of the men of whom you are terrified. 18For I will certainly provide you escape, and you will not fall by the sword; but you will have your own life as spoil because you have trusted in Me,” declares Yahweh.’”