Jeremiah 39

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

1Zedekiah was the king of Judah. In his ninth year as king, in the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar came. He was the king of Babylon, and he brought his whole army to Jerusalem. They circled the city so no one could go in or out.

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

2It was now Zedekiah's eleventh year as king. On the ninth day of the fourth month, the army broke through the city wall.

3And all the princes of the king of Babylon came in, and sat in the middle gate, even Nergalsharezer, Samgarnebo, Sarsechim, Rabsaris, Nergalsharezer, Rabmag, with all the residue of the princes of the king of Babylon.

3Then all the important men who served the king of Babylon came into the city. They sat down in the Middle Gate. They were Nergal-sharezer, Samgar-nebo, Sarsechim, Rabsaris, Nergal-sharezer, Rabmag, and the other leaders from Babylon.

NoteRabsaris and Rabmag are not names. They are job titles for high officers who served the king of Babylon.

4And 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 of the king’s garden, by the gate betwixt the two walls: and he went out the way of the plain.

4King Zedekiah and his soldiers saw them and ran away. They left the city at night through the king's garden. They went out the gate between the two walls. Then they took the road toward the flat open land.

5But the Chaldeans’ army pursued after them, and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho: and when they had taken him, they brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to Riblah in the land of Hamath, where he gave judgment upon him.

5But the army of Babylon chased them. They caught Zedekiah on the flat land near the town of Jericho. They brought him to King Nebuchadnezzar at Riblah, in the land of Hamath. There the king decided what would happen to him.

6Then the king of Babylon slew the sons of Zedekiah in Riblah before his eyes: also the king of Babylon slew all the nobles of Judah.

6At Riblah, the king of Babylon killed Zedekiah's sons while Zedekiah watched. He also killed all the important men of Judah.

7Moreover he put out Zedekiah’s eyes, and bound him with chains, to carry him to Babylon.

7Then he put out Zedekiah's eyes so he could not see. He tied Zedekiah with chains to take him away to Babylon.

8And the Chaldeans burned the king’s house, and the houses of the people, with fire, and brake down the walls of Jerusalem.

8Babylon's soldiers set fire to the king's palace and to the people's houses. They also knocked down the walls of Jerusalem.

9Then Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive into Babylon the remnant of the people that remained in the city, and those that fell away, that fell to him, with the rest of the people that remained.

9Nebuzaradan was the leader of the king's guards. He took the people who were still left in the city away to Babylon. He also took the ones who had given up and joined his side.

10But Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left of the poor of the people, which had nothing, in the land of Judah, and gave them vineyards and fields at the same time.

10But Nebuzaradan let some of the poor people stay in the land of Judah. These were people who owned nothing. He gave them grape fields and farm fields to keep.

11Now Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon gave charge concerning Jeremiah to Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, saying,

11Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, had given orders about Jeremiah. He told them to Nebuzaradan, the leader of his guards.

12Take him, and look well to him, and do him no harm; but do unto him even as he shall say unto thee.

12He said, "Take Jeremiah and take good care of him. Do not let anyone hurt him. Do whatever he asks you to do."

13So Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard sent, and Nebushasban, Rabsaris, and Nergalsharezer, Rabmag, and all the king of Babylon’s princes;

13So Nebuzaradan, the leader of the guards, sent men to get Jeremiah. Nebushasban, Rabsaris, and Nergal-sharezer, Rabmag, sent men too. So did all the other leaders of Babylon's king.

14Even they sent, and took Jeremiah out of the court of the prison, and committed him unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, that he should carry him home: so he dwelt among the people.

14They brought Jeremiah out of the prison yard. They put him in the care of Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam and grandson of Shaphan. Gedaliah was to take him home. So Jeremiah lived among his own people.

15Now the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah, while he was shut up in the court of the prison, saying,

15Earlier, while Jeremiah was still shut up in the prison yard, the LORD had spoken to him. This is what the LORD said.

16Go and speak to Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring my words upon this city for evil, and not for good; and they shall be accomplished in that day before thee.

16"Go and speak to Ebed-melech, the man from Ethiopia. Tell him this: The LORD who leads all the armies of heaven, the God of Israel, says this. I am about to do to this city just what I said. It will bring harm, not good. On that day you will watch it happen."

Note"The LORD who leads all the armies of heaven" is how the old English words "the LORD of hosts" are said today. A host means an army.

17But 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.

17"But on that day I will save you, says the LORD. You will not be handed over to the men you are afraid of."

18For I will surely deliver thee, and thou shalt not fall by the sword, but thy life shall be for a prey unto thee: because thou hast put thy trust in me, saith the LORD.

18"I will surely save you. You will not be killed by a sword. You will get away alive. This is because you trusted me, says the LORD."

NoteThe old words say Ebed-melech's life will be "for a prey" to him. That means he will get away alive, like a soldier carrying home a prize from a battle.