1When Jerusalem was captured (in the ninth year of Zedekiah, Judah’s king, in the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar, Babylon’s king, and all his army came against Jerusalem and surrounded it in a siege.
2In Zedekiah's eleventh year, on the ninth day of the fourth month, a break was made in the city wall).
3all the officials of the king of Babylon entered and sat in the Middle Gate. These included Nergal Sharezer, Samgarnebo, Sarsechim, Rabsaris, and Nergal Sharezer, Rabmag, along with all the other officials of the king of Babylon.
4When Zedekiah, Judah’s king, and all the soldiers saw them, they fled. They left the city at night by way of the king’s garden, through the gate between the two walls, and headed toward the Arabah.
5But the Chaldean army chased them and caught Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho. They captured him and brought him to Nebuchadnezzar, Babylon’s king, at Riblah in the land of Hamath, where he was sentenced.
6Then the king of Babylon killed Zedekiah’s sons in Riblah right before his eyes. The king of Babylon also killed all the important people of Judah.
7Furthermore, he put out Zedekiah’s eyes and bound him with chains to take him to Babylon.
8The Chaldeans burned the king’s palace and the people’s houses with fire, and they tore down Jerusalem’s walls.
9Then Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, took the remaining people in the city as captives to Babylon. This included the deserters who had joined him, and the rest of the people who were left.
10But Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, left some of the poorest people in the land of Judah who had nothing, and he gave them vineyards and fields at that same time.
11Now King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon gave orders to Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, concerning Jeremiah, saying,
12“Take him, and take good care of him. Do not harm him, but do for him whatever he tells you.”
13So Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, along with Nebushazban, Rabsaris, and Nergal Sharezer, Rabmag, and all the chief officers of the king of Babylon, sent men.
14They sent and took Jeremiah from the courtyard of the guard and handed him over to Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, to take him home. So Jeremiah lived among the people.
15Now the word of Yahweh came to Jeremiah while he was confined in the guard’s courtyard, saying,
16“Go and tell Ebedmelech the Ethiopian that Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘Look, I am bringing my words of disaster, not good things, upon this city, and they will happen before you on that day.
17But I will rescue you on that day,’ says Yahweh, ‘and you will not be handed over to the people you fear.
18I will certainly rescue you. You will not die by the sword, but you will escape with your life because you trusted in me, says Yahweh.'