And as the evil figs, which cannot be eaten, they are so evil; surely thus saith the Lord, So will I give Zedekiah the king of Judah, and his princes, and the residue of Jerusalem, that remain in this land, and them that dwell in the land of Egypt:

Read full chapter

“‘But like the bad(A) figs, which are so bad they cannot be eaten,’ says the Lord, ‘so will I deal with Zedekiah(B) king of Judah, his officials(C) and the survivors(D) from Jerusalem, whether they remain in this land or live in Egypt.(E)

Read full chapter

43 And it came to pass, that when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking unto all the people all the words of the Lord their God, for which the Lord their God had sent him to them, even all these words,

Then spake Azariah the son of Hoshaiah, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the proud men, saying unto Jeremiah, Thou speakest falsely: the Lord our God hath not sent thee to say, Go not into Egypt to sojourn there:

But Baruch the son of Neriah setteth thee on against us, for to deliver us into the hand of the Chaldeans, that they might put us to death, and carry us away captives into Babylon.

So Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces, and all the people, obeyed not the voice of the Lord, to dwell in the land of Judah.

But Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces, took all the remnant of Judah, that were returned from all nations, whither they had been driven, to dwell in the land of Judah;

Even men, and women, and children, and the king's daughters, and every person that Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had left with Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Jeremiah the prophet, and Baruch the son of Neriah.

So they came into the land of Egypt: for they obeyed not the voice of the Lord: thus came they even to Tahpanhes.

Then came the word of the Lord unto Jeremiah in Tahpanhes, saying,

Take great stones in thine hand, and hide them in the clay in the brickkiln, which is at the entry of Pharaoh's house in Tahpanhes, in the sight of the men of Judah;

10 And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will send and take Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will set his throne upon these stones that I have hid; and he shall spread his royal pavilion over them.

11 And when he cometh, he shall smite the land of Egypt, and deliver such as are for death to death; and such as are for captivity to captivity; and such as are for the sword to the sword.

12 And I will kindle a fire in the houses of the gods of Egypt; and he shall burn them, and carry them away captives: and he shall array himself with the land of Egypt, as a shepherd putteth on his garment; and he shall go forth from thence in peace.

13 He shall break also the images of Bethshemesh, that is in the land of Egypt; and the houses of the gods of the Egyptians shall he burn with fire.

44 The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the Jews which dwell in the land of Egypt, which dwell at Migdol, and at Tahpanhes, and at Noph, and in the country of Pathros, saying,

43 When Jeremiah had finished telling the people all the words of the Lord their God—everything the Lord had sent him to tell them(A) Azariah son of Hoshaiah(B) and Johanan(C) son of Kareah and all the arrogant(D) men said to Jeremiah, “You are lying!(E) The Lord our God has not sent you to say, ‘You must not go to Egypt to settle there.’(F) But Baruch(G) son of Neriah is inciting you against us to hand us over to the Babylonians,[a] so they may kill us or carry us into exile to Babylon.”(H)

So Johanan son of Kareah and all the army officers and all the people(I) disobeyed the Lord’s command(J) to stay in the land of Judah.(K) Instead, Johanan son of Kareah and all the army officers led away all the remnant of Judah who had come back to live in the land of Judah from all the nations where they had been scattered.(L) They also led away all those whom Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard had left with Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan—the men, the women,(M) the children and the king’s daughters. And they took Jeremiah the prophet and Baruch(N) son of Neriah along with them. So they entered Egypt(O) in disobedience to the Lord and went as far as Tahpanhes.(P)

In Tahpanhes(Q) the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: “While the Jews are watching, take some large stones(R) with you and bury them in clay in the brick(S) pavement at the entrance to Pharaoh’s palace(T) in Tahpanhes. 10 Then say to them, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: I will send for my servant(U) Nebuchadnezzar(V) king of Babylon, and I will set his throne(W) over these stones I have buried here; he will spread his royal canopy(X) above them. 11 He will come and attack Egypt,(Y) bringing death(Z) to those destined(AA) for death, captivity to those destined for captivity,(AB) and the sword to those destined for the sword.(AC) 12 He will set fire(AD) to the temples(AE) of the gods(AF) of Egypt; he will burn their temples and take their gods captive.(AG) As a shepherd picks(AH) his garment clean of lice, so he will pick Egypt clean and depart. 13 There in the temple of the sun[b](AI) in Egypt he will demolish the sacred pillars(AJ) and will burn down the temples of the gods of Egypt.’”

Disaster Because of Idolatry

44 This word came to Jeremiah concerning all the Jews living in Lower Egypt(AK)—in Migdol,(AL) Tahpanhes(AM) and Memphis(AN)—and in Upper Egypt:(AO)

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 43:3 Or Chaldeans
  2. Jeremiah 43:13 Or in Heliopolis

One basket had very good figs, even like the figs that are first ripe: and the other basket had very naughty figs, which could not be eaten, they were so bad.

Read full chapter

One basket had very good figs, like those that ripen early;(A) the other basket had very bad(B) figs, so bad they could not be eaten.

Read full chapter

11 Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,

12 Say now to the rebellious house, Know ye not what these things mean? tell them, Behold, the king of Babylon is come to Jerusalem, and hath taken the king thereof, and the princes thereof, and led them with him to Babylon;

13 And hath taken of the king's seed, and made a covenant with him, and hath taken an oath of him: he hath also taken the mighty of the land:

14 That the kingdom might be base, that it might not lift itself up, but that by keeping of his covenant it might stand.

15 But he rebelled against him in sending his ambassadors into Egypt, that they might give him horses and much people. Shall he prosper? shall he escape that doeth such things? or shall he break the covenant, and be delivered?

16 As I live, saith the Lord God, surely in the place where the king dwelleth that made him king, whose oath he despised, and whose covenant he brake, even with him in the midst of Babylon he shall die.

17 Neither shall Pharaoh with his mighty army and great company make for him in the war, by casting up mounts, and building forts, to cut off many persons:

18 Seeing he despised the oath by breaking the covenant, when, lo, he had given his hand, and hath done all these things, he shall not escape.

19 Therefore thus saith the Lord God; As I live, surely mine oath that he hath despised, and my covenant that he hath broken, even it will I recompense upon his own head.

20 And I will spread my net upon him, and he shall be taken in my snare, and I will bring him to Babylon, and will plead with him there for his trespass that he hath trespassed against me.

21 And all his fugitives with all his bands shall fall by the sword, and they that remain shall be scattered toward all winds: and ye shall know that I the Lord have spoken it.

Read full chapter

11 Then the word of the Lord came to me: 12 “Say to this rebellious people, ‘Do you not know what these things mean?(A)’ Say to them: ‘The king of Babylon went to Jerusalem and carried off her king and her nobles,(B) bringing them back with him to Babylon.(C) 13 Then he took a member of the royal family and made a treaty(D) with him, putting him under oath.(E) He also carried away the leading men(F) of the land, 14 so that the kingdom would be brought low,(G) unable to rise again, surviving only by keeping his treaty. 15 But the king rebelled(H) against him by sending his envoys to Egypt(I) to get horses and a large army.(J) Will he succeed? Will he who does such things escape? Will he break the treaty and yet escape?(K)

16 “‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, he shall die(L) in Babylon, in the land of the king who put him on the throne, whose oath he despised and whose treaty he broke.(M) 17 Pharaoh(N) with his mighty army and great horde will be of no help to him in war, when ramps(O) are built and siege works erected to destroy many lives.(P) 18 He despised the oath by breaking the covenant. Because he had given his hand in pledge(Q) and yet did all these things, he shall not escape.

19 “‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: As surely as I live, I will repay him for despising my oath and breaking my covenant.(R) 20 I will spread my net(S) for him, and he will be caught in my snare. I will bring him to Babylon and execute judgment(T) on him there because he was unfaithful(U) to me. 21 All his choice troops will fall by the sword,(V) and the survivors(W) will be scattered to the winds.(X) Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken.(Y)

Read full chapter

12 And the prince that is among them shall bear upon his shoulder in the twilight, and shall go forth: they shall dig through the wall to carry out thereby: he shall cover his face, that he see not the ground with his eyes.

13 My net also will I spread upon him, and he shall be taken in my snare: and I will bring him to Babylon to the land of the Chaldeans; yet shall he not see it, though he shall die there.

14 And I will scatter toward every wind all that are about him to help him, and all his bands; and I will draw out the sword after them.

15 And they shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall scatter them among the nations, and disperse them in the countries.

16 But I will leave a few men of them from the sword, from the famine, and from the pestilence; that they may declare all their abominations among the heathen whither they come; and they shall know that I am the Lord.

Read full chapter

12 “The prince among them will put his things on his shoulder at dusk(A) and leave, and a hole will be dug in the wall for him to go through. He will cover his face so that he cannot see the land.(B) 13 I will spread my net(C) for him, and he will be caught in my snare;(D) I will bring him to Babylonia, the land of the Chaldeans,(E) but he will not see(F) it, and there he will die.(G) 14 I will scatter to the winds all those around him—his staff and all his troops—and I will pursue them with drawn sword.(H)

15 “They will know that I am the Lord, when I disperse them among the nations(I) and scatter them through the countries. 16 But I will spare a few of them from the sword, famine and plague, so that in the nations where they go they may acknowledge all their detestable practices. Then they will know that I am the Lord.(J)

Read full chapter

And he did that which was evil in the eyes of the Lord, according to all that Jehoiakim had done.

For through the anger of the Lord it came to pass in Jerusalem and Judah, till he had cast them out from his presence, that Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.

And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon came, he and all his army, against Jerusalem, and pitched against it, and built forts against it round about.

So the city was besieged unto the eleventh year of king Zedekiah.

And in the fourth month, in the ninth day of the month, the famine was sore in the city, so that there was no bread for the people of the land.

Then the city was broken up, and all the men of war fled, and went forth out of the city by night by the way of the gate between the two walls, which was by the king's garden; (now the Chaldeans were by the city round about:) and they went by the way of the plain.

But the army of the Chaldeans pursued after the king, and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho; and all his army was scattered from him.

Then they took the king, and carried him up unto the king of Babylon to Riblah in the land of Hamath; where he gave judgment upon him.

10 And the king of Babylon slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes: he slew also all the princes of Judah in Riblah.

11 Then he put out the eyes of Zedekiah; and the king of Babylon bound him in chains, and carried him to Babylon, and put him in prison till the day of his death.

Read full chapter

He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, just as Jehoiakim(A) had done. It was because of the Lord’s anger that all this happened to Jerusalem and Judah,(B) and in the end he thrust them from his presence.(C)

Now Zedekiah rebelled(D) against the king of Babylon.

So in the ninth year of Zedekiah’s reign, on the tenth(E) day of the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched against Jerusalem(F) with his whole army. They encamped outside the city and built siege works(G) all around it.(H) The city was kept under siege until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah.

By the ninth day of the fourth month the famine in the city had become so severe that there was no food for the people to eat.(I) Then the city wall was broken through, and the whole army fled.(J) They left the city at night through the gate between the two walls near the king’s garden, though the Babylonians[a] were surrounding the city. They fled toward the Arabah,[b] but the Babylonian[c] army pursued King Zedekiah and overtook him in the plains of Jericho. All his soldiers were separated from him and scattered, and he was captured.(K)

He was taken to the king of Babylon at Riblah(L) in the land of Hamath,(M) where he pronounced sentence on him. 10 There at Riblah the king of Babylon killed the sons(N) of Zedekiah before his eyes; he also killed all the officials of Judah. 11 Then he put out Zedekiah’s eyes, bound him with bronze shackles and took him to Babylon, where he put him in prison till the day of his death.(O)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 52:7 Or Chaldeans; also in verse 17
  2. Jeremiah 52:7 Or the Jordan Valley
  3. Jeremiah 52:8 Or Chaldean; also in verse 14

26 Therefore hear ye the word of the Lord, all Judah that dwell in the land of Egypt; Behold, I have sworn by my great name, saith the Lord, that my name shall no more be named in the mouth of any man of Judah in all the land of Egypt, saying, The Lord God liveth.

27 Behold, I will watch over them for evil, and not for good: and all the men of Judah that are in the land of Egypt shall be consumed by the sword and by the famine, until there be an end of them.

28 Yet a small number that escape the sword shall return out of the land of Egypt into the land of Judah, and all the remnant of Judah, that are gone into the land of Egypt to sojourn there, shall know whose words shall stand, mine, or their's.

29 And this shall be a sign unto you, saith the Lord, that I will punish you in this place, that ye may know that my words shall surely stand against you for evil:

30 Thus saith the Lord; Behold, I will give Pharaohhophra king of Egypt into the hand of his enemies, and into the hand of them that seek his life; as I gave Zedekiah king of Judah into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, his enemy, and that sought his life.

Read full chapter

26 But hear the word of the Lord, all you Jews living in Egypt:(A) ‘I swear(B) by my great name,’ says the Lord, ‘that no one from Judah living anywhere in Egypt will ever again invoke my name or swear, “As surely as the Sovereign(C) Lord lives.”(D) 27 For I am watching(E) over them for harm,(F) not for good; the Jews in Egypt will perish(G) by sword and famine(H) until they are all destroyed.(I) 28 Those who escape the sword(J) and return to the land of Judah from Egypt will be very few.(K) Then the whole remnant(L) of Judah who came to live in Egypt will know whose word will stand(M)—mine or theirs.(N)

29 “‘This will be the sign(O) to you that I will punish(P) you in this place,’ declares the Lord, ‘so that you will know that my threats of harm against you will surely stand.’(Q) 30 This is what the Lord says: ‘I am going to deliver Pharaoh(R) Hophra king of Egypt into the hands of his enemies who want to kill him, just as I gave Zedekiah(S) king of Judah into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the enemy who wanted to kill him.’”(T)

Read full chapter

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

And 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.

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

But 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.

Then 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.

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

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

Then 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.

Read full chapter

And on the ninth day of the fourth(A) month of Zedekiah’s eleventh year, the city wall(B) was broken through.(C) Then all the officials(D) of the king of Babylon came and took seats in the Middle Gate: Nergal-Sharezer of Samgar, Nebo-Sarsekim a chief officer, Nergal-Sharezer a high official and all the other officials of the king of Babylon. When Zedekiah king of Judah 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,(E) and headed toward the Arabah.[a](F)

But the Babylonian[b] army pursued them and overtook Zedekiah(G) in the plains of Jericho. They captured(H) him and took him to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon at Riblah(I) in the land of Hamath, where he pronounced sentence on him. There at Riblah the king of Babylon slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes and also killed all the nobles(J) of Judah. Then he put out Zedekiah’s eyes(K) and bound him with bronze shackles to take him to Babylon.(L)

The Babylonians[c] set fire(M) to the royal palace and the houses of the people and broke down the walls(N) of Jerusalem. Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard carried into exile to Babylon the people who remained in the city, along with those who had gone over to him,(O) and the rest of the people.(P)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 39:4 Or the Jordan Valley
  2. Jeremiah 39:5 Or Chaldean
  3. Jeremiah 39:8 Or Chaldeans

18 But if thou wilt not go forth to the king of Babylon's princes, then shall this city be given into the hand of the Chaldeans, and they shall burn it with fire, and thou shalt not escape out of their hand.

19 And Zedekiah the king said unto Jeremiah, I am afraid of the Jews that are fallen to the Chaldeans, lest they deliver me into their hand, and they mock me.

20 But Jeremiah said, They shall not deliver thee. Obey, I beseech thee, the voice of the Lord, which I speak unto thee: so it shall be well unto thee, and thy soul shall live.

21 But if thou refuse to go forth, this is the word that the Lord hath shewed me:

22 And, behold, all the women that are left in the king of Judah's house shall be brought forth to the king of Babylon's princes, and those women shall say, Thy friends have set thee on, and have prevailed against thee: thy feet are sunk in the mire, and they are turned away back.

23 So they shall bring out all thy wives and thy children to the Chaldeans: and thou shalt not escape out of their hand, but shalt be taken by the hand of the king of Babylon: and thou shalt cause this city to be burned with fire.

Read full chapter

18 But if you will not surrender to the officers of the king of Babylon, this city will be given into the hands(A) of the Babylonians and they will burn(B) it down; you yourself will not escape(C) from them.’”

19 King Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, “I am afraid(D) of the Jews who have gone over(E) to the Babylonians, for the Babylonians may hand me over to them and they will mistreat me.”

20 “They will not hand you over,” Jeremiah replied. “Obey(F) the Lord by doing what I tell you. Then it will go well(G) with you, and your life(H) will be spared. 21 But if you refuse to surrender, this is what the Lord has revealed to me: 22 All the women(I) left in the palace of the king of Judah will be brought out to the officials of the king of Babylon. Those women will say to you:

“‘They misled you and overcame you—
    those trusted friends(J) of yours.
Your feet are sunk in the mud;(K)
    your friends have deserted you.’

23 “All your wives and children(L) will be brought out to the Babylonians. You yourself will not escape(M) from their hands but will be captured(N) by the king of Babylon; and this city will[a] be burned down.”(O)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 38:23 Or and you will cause this city to

17 Then Zedekiah the king sent, and took him out: and the king asked him secretly in his house, and said, Is there any word from the Lord? And Jeremiah said, There is: for, said he, thou shalt be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon.

Read full chapter

17 Then King Zedekiah sent(A) for him and had him brought to the palace, where he asked(B) him privately,(C) “Is there any word from the Lord?”

“Yes,” Jeremiah replied, “you will be delivered(D) into the hands of the king of Babylon.”

Read full chapter

10 For though ye had smitten the whole army of the Chaldeans that fight against you, and there remained but wounded men among them, yet should they rise up every man in his tent, and burn this city with fire.

Read full chapter

10 Even if you were to defeat the entire Babylonian[a] army that is attacking you and only wounded men were left in their tents, they would come out and burn(A) this city down.”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 37:10 Or Chaldean; also in verse 11

17 Therefore thus saith the Lord; Ye have not hearkened unto me, in proclaiming liberty, every one to his brother, and every man to his neighbour: behold, I proclaim a liberty for you, saith the Lord, to the sword, to the pestilence, and to the famine; and I will make you to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth.

18 And I will give the men that have transgressed my covenant, which have not performed the words of the covenant which they had made before me, when they cut the calf in twain, and passed between the parts thereof,

19 The princes of Judah, and the princes of Jerusalem, the eunuchs, and the priests, and all the people of the land, which passed between the parts of the calf;

20 I will even give them into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of them that seek their life: and their dead bodies shall be for meat unto the fowls of the heaven, and to the beasts of the earth.

21 And Zedekiah king of Judah and his princes will I give into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of them that seek their life, and into the hand of the king of Babylon's army, which are gone up from you.

22 Behold, I will command, saith the Lord, and cause them to return to this city; and they shall fight against it, and take it, and burn it with fire: and I will make the cities of Judah a desolation without an inhabitant.

Read full chapter

17 “Therefore this is what the Lord says: You have not obeyed me; you have not proclaimed freedom to your own people. So I now proclaim ‘freedom’ for you,(A) declares the Lord—‘freedom’ to fall by the sword, plague(B) and famine.(C) I will make you abhorrent to all the kingdoms of the earth.(D) 18 Those who have violated my covenant(E) and have not fulfilled the terms of the covenant they made before me, I will treat like the calf they cut in two and then walked between its pieces.(F) 19 The leaders of Judah and Jerusalem, the court officials,(G) the priests and all the people of the land who walked between the pieces of the calf, 20 I will deliver(H) into the hands of their enemies who want to kill them.(I) Their dead bodies will become food for the birds and the wild animals.(J)

21 “I will deliver Zedekiah(K) king of Judah and his officials(L) into the hands of their enemies(M) who want to kill them, to the army of the king of Babylon,(N) which has withdrawn(O) from you. 22 I am going to give the order, declares the Lord, and I will bring them back to this city. They will fight against it, take(P) it and burn(Q) it down. And I will lay waste(R) the towns of Judah so no one can live there.”

Read full chapter

28 Therefore thus saith the Lord; Behold, I will give this city into the hand of the Chaldeans, and into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and he shall take it:

29 And the Chaldeans, that fight against this city, shall come and set fire on this city, and burn it with the houses, upon whose roofs they have offered incense unto Baal, and poured out drink offerings unto other gods, to provoke me to anger.

Read full chapter

28 Therefore this is what the Lord says: I am about to give this city into the hands of the Babylonians and to Nebuchadnezzar(A) king of Babylon, who will capture it.(B) 29 The Babylonians who are attacking this city will come in and set it on fire; they will burn it down,(C) along with the houses(D) where the people aroused my anger by burning incense on the roofs to Baal and by pouring out drink offerings(E) to other gods.(F)

Read full chapter