THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET
JEREMIAH

Jeremiah 39 ©

Jerusalem is taken by the Chaldeans, v. 1, etc. Zedekiah is taken prisoner, and his eyes put out, his sons and all the nobles of Judah are slain, the city is burnt, the most important ones of the people are carried away captive, 5. Nebuchadrezzar’s charge concerning Jeremiah, 11. Whereupon he is released out of prison, 13. God’s promise to Ebed-melech, 15, etc.

1

IN the nintha year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, came Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon and all his army 1against Jerusalem, and they besieged it.

2

And in the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, the ninth day of the month, the city was 2broken up.

3

And all the princes of the king of Babylon came in, and 3sat in the 4middle gate, even Nergal-sharezer, 5Samgar-nebo, Sarsechim, 6Rab-saris, Nergal-sharezer, 7Rab-mag, with all the 8residue of the princes of the king of Babylon.

4

¶And it came to pass, that when Zedekiah the king of Judah saw them, and all the men of war, then they fled, and went forth out of the city by night, by the way 9of the king’s garden, by the 10gate betwixt the two walls: and 11he went out the way of the 12plain.

5

But the Chaldeans' army pursued after them, and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho: and when they had 13taken him, they brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to 14Riblah in the land of Hamath, where he gave 15judgment upon him.

6

Then the king of Babylon 16slew the sons of Zedekiah in Riblah before his eyes: also the king of Babylon slew all the 17nobles of Judah.

7

Moreover he 18put out Zedekiah's eyes, and bound him with chains, to carry him to Babylon.

8

¶And the Chaldeans burned the king's house, and the 19houses of the people, with fire, and brake down the walls of Jerusalem.

9

Then Nebuzar-adan the captain of the 20guard carried away captive into Babylon the remnant of the people that remained in the city, and those that fell away, that fell to 21him, with the rest of the people that remained.

10

But Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard left of the poor of the people, which had nothing, in the land of Judah, and 22gave them vineyards and fields at the same time.

11

¶Now Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon gave charge concerning 23Jeremiah 24to Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard, saying,

12

Take him, and 25look well to him, and do him no harm; but do unto him even as he shall 26say unto thee.

13

So Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard sent, and Nebushasban, 27Rab-saris, and Nergal-sharezer, Rab-mag, and all the king of Babylon's princes;

14

Even they sent, and took Jeremiah out of the 28court of the prison, and committed him unto 29Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, that he should carry him home: so he 30dwelt among the people.

15

¶Now the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah, while he was shut up in the court of the prison, saying,

16

Go and speak to Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will 31bring my words upon this city for evil, and not for good; and they shall be accomplished in that day 32before thee.

17

But I will deliver thee in that day, saith the LORD: and thou shalt not be given into the hand of the men of whom thou art afraid.

18

For I will 33surely deliver thee, and thou shalt not fall by the sword, but thy 34life shall be for a prey unto thee: because thou hast put thy 35trust in me, saith the LORD.