[1] And it came about, that when Jerusalem was taken, (in the ninth year of
Zedekiah, king of Judah, in the tenth month, Nebuchadrezzar, king of
Babylon, with all his army, came against Jerusalem, shutting it in on every
side; [2] In the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, on the
ninth day of the month, the town was broken into:) [3] All the captains of
the king of Babylon came in and took their places in the middle doorway of
the town, Nergal-shar-ezer, ruler of Sin-magir, the Rabmag, and
Nebushazban, the Rab-saris, and all the captains of the king of Babylon.
[4] And when Zedekiah, king of Judah, and all the men of war saw it, they
went in flight from the town by night, by the way of the king's garden,
through the doorway between the two walls: and they went out by the Arabah.
[5] But the Chaldaean army went after them and overtook Zedekiah in the
lowlands of Jericho: and they made him a prisoner and took him up to
Nebuchadrezzar, king of Babylon, to Riblah in the land of Hamath, to be
judged by him. [6] Then the king of Babylon put the sons of Zedekiah to
death before his eyes in Riblah: and the king of Babylon put to death all
the great men of Judah. [7] And more than this, he put out Zedekiah's eyes,
and had him put in chains to take him away to Babylon. [8] And the
Chaldaeans put the king's house on fire, as well as the houses of the
people, and had the walls of Jerusalem broken down. [9] Then Nebuzaradan,
the captain of the armed men, took away to Babylon as prisoners, all the
rest of the workmen who were still in the town, as well as those who had
given themselves up to him, and all the rest of the people. [10] But
Nebuzaradan, the captain of the armed men, let the poorest of the people,
who had nothing whatever, go on living in the land of Judah, and gave them
vine-gardens and fields at the same time. [11] Now Nebuchadrezzar, king of
Babylon, gave orders about Jeremiah to Nebuzaradan, the captain of the
armed men, saying, [12] Take him and keep an eye on him and see that no
evil comes to him; but do with him whatever he says to you. [13] So
Nebuzaradan, the captain of the armed men, sent Nebushazban, the Rab-saris,
and Nergal-shar-ezer, the Rabmag, and all the chief captains of the king of
Babylon, [14] And they sent and took Jeremiah out of the place of the
watchmen, and gave him into the care of Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam, the
son of Shaphan, to take him to his house: so he was living among the
people. [15] Now the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah while he was shut up
in the place of the armed watchmen, saying, [16] Go and say to Ebed-melech
the Ethiopian, This is what the Lord of armies, the God of Israel, has
said: See, my words will come true for this town, for evil and not for
good: they will come about before your eyes on that day. [17] But I will
keep you safe on that day, says the Lord: you will not be given into the
hands of the men you are fearing. [18] For I will certainly let you go
free, and you will not be put to the sword, but your life will be given to
you out of the hands of your attackers: because you have put your faith in
me, says the Lord.
