1    ^noteIn the tenth month of the ninth year of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, Nebuchadrezzar advanced with all his army against Jerusalem, and they laid siege to it. 2   In the fourth month of the eleventh year of Zedekiah, on the ninth day of the month, the city was thrown open. 3   All the officers of the king of Babylon came in and took their seats in the middle gate: Nergalsarezer of Simmagir, Nebusarsekim ^note the chief eunuch, ^note Nergalsarezer the commander of the frontier troops, ^note and all the other officers of the king of Babylon. 4   When Zedekiah king of Judah saw them, he and all his armed escort left the city and fled by night by way of the king's garden through the gate called Between the Two Walls. 5   They escaped towards the Arabah, but the Chaldaean army pursued them and overtook Zedekiah in the lowlands of Jericho. The king was seized and brought before Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon at Riblah in the land of Hamath, and he pleaded his case before him. 6   The king of Babylon slew Zedekiah's sons before his eyes at Riblah; he also put to death the nobles of Judah. 7   Then Zedekiah's eyes were put out, and he was bound in fetters of bronze to be brought to Babylon. 8   The Chaldaeans burnt the royal palace and the house of the Lord and the houses ^note of the people, and pulled down the walls of Jerusalem. 9   Nebuzaradan captain of the bodyguard deported to Babylon the rest of the people left in the city, those who had deserted to him and any remaining artisans. ^note 10   At the same time the captain of the guard left behind the weakest class of the people, those who owned nothing at all, and made them vine-dressers and labourers.

11   Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon sent orders about Jeremiah to ^note Nebuzaradan captain of the guard. 12   ‘Take him,’ he said; ‘take special

Events under Jehoiakim and Zedekiah care of him, and do him no harm of any kind, but do for him whatever he says.’ 13   So Nebuzaradan captain of the guard sent Nebushazban the chief eunuch, Nergalsarezer the commander of the frontier troops, and all the chief officers of the king of Babylon, 14   and they fetched Jeremiah from the court of the guard-house and handed him over to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, to take him out to the Residence. So he stayed with his own people.

15   The word of the Lord had come to Jeremiah while he was under arrest in the court of the guard-house: 16   Go and say to Ebed-melech the Cushite, These are the words of the Lord of Hosts the God of Israel: I will make good the words I have spoken against this city, foretelling ruin and not prosperity, and when that day comes you will be there to see it. 17   But I will preserve you on that day, says the Lord, and you shall not be handed over to the men you fear. 18   I will keep you safe and you shall not fall a victim to the sword; because you trusted in me you shall escape, you shall take home your life and nothing more. ^noteThis is the very word of the Lord.

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