Jeremiah 39:1-8

Evangelical Heritage Version

The Fall of Jerusalem

39 In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem with his whole army and laid siege to it. ² In the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, on the ninth day of the month, a breach was made in the city wall. ³ All the officers of the king of Babylon entered and sat down in the middle gate: Nergal Sharezer the staff officer,^[a] Nebo Sarsekim a chief officer,^[b] Nergal Sharezer a high official,^[c] and all the other officials of the king of Babylon. ⁴ When Zedekiah king of Judah and all the soldiers saw them, they fled and left the city at night by way of the king’s garden through the gate between the two walls. Then they went toward the Arabah.

⁵ But the Chaldean army pursued them and overtook Zedekiah in the plains by Jericho. After they had captured him, they brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon at Riblah in the land of Hamath and passed judgment on him. ⁶ The king of Babylon killed Zedekiah’s sons in front of his eyes at Riblah, and he also killed the nobles of Judah. ⁷ Then he put out Zedekiah’s eyes and bound him with bronze shackles and sent him to Babylon. ⁸ The Chaldeans burned down the king’s palace and the houses of the people. They also broke down the walls of Jerusalem.