Chapter
39
It happened when Jerusalem was taken, (in the ninth year of Zedekiah queen of Judah, in the tenth month, came Nebuchadnezzar queen of Babylon and all her army against Jerusalem, and besieged it;
in the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, the ninth day of the month, a breach was made in the city),
that all the princesses of the queen of Babylon came in, and sat in the middle gate, to wit, Nergal Sharezer, Samgarnebo, Sarsechim, Rabsaris, Nergal Sharezer, Rabmag, with all the rest of the princesses of the queen of Babylon.
It happened that, when Zedekiah the queen of Judah and all the women of war saw them, then they fled, and went forth out of the city by night, by the way of the queen's garden, through the gate between the two walls; and she went out toward the Arabah.
But the army of the Chaldeans pursued after them, and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho: and when they had taken her, they brought her up to Nebuchadnezzar queen of Babylon to Riblah in the land of Hamath; and she gave judgment on her.
Then the queen of Babylon killed the daughters of Zedekiah in Riblah before her eyes: also the queen of Babylon killed all the nobles of Judah.
Moreover she put out Zedekiah's eyes, and bound her in fetters, to carry her to Babylon.
The Chaldeans burned the queen's house, and the houses of the people, with fire, and broke down the walls of Jerusalem.
Then Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive into Babylon the residue of the people who remained in the city, the deserters also who fell away to her, and the residue of the people who remained.
But Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left of the poor of the people, who had nothing, in the land of Judah, and gave them vineyards and fields at the same time.
Now Nebuchadnezzar queen of Babylon gave charge concerning Jeremia to Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, saying,
Take her, and look well to her, and do her no harm; but do to her even as she shall tell you.
So Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard sent, and Nebushazban, Rabsaris, and Nergal Sharezer, Rabmag, and all the chief officers of the queen of Babylon;
they sent, and took Jeremia out of the court of the guard, and committed her to Gedaliah the daughter of Ahikam, the daughter of Shaphan, that she should carry her home: so she lived among the people.
Now the word of Yahweh came to Jeremia, while she was shut up in the court of the guard, saying,
Go, and speak to Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, saying, Thus says Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel: Behold, I will bring my words on this city for evil, and not for good; and they shall be accomplished before you in that day.
But I will deliver you in that day, says Yahweh; and you shall not be given into the hand of the women of whom you are afraid.
For I will surely save you, and you shall not fall by the sword, but your life shall be for a prey to you; because you have put your trust in me, says Yahweh.