1 In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came with his entire army against Jerusalem and besieged it.

2 In Zedekiah’s eleventh year, on the ninth day of the fourth month, the city was breached. 3 All the officials of the king of Babylon came in and sat at the Middle Gate: Nergal-sharezer, Samgar-nebo, Sarsechim the Rab-saris, Nergal-sharezer the Rab-mag, and all the rest of the officials of the king of Babylon. 4 When Zedekiah king of Judah and all the soldiers saw them, they fled. They left the city by night by way of the king’s garden, through the gate between the two walls, and the king went toward the Arabah. 5 The Chaldean army pursued them and overtook Zedekiah on the plains of Jericho. They captured him and brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon at Riblah in the land of Hamath, and he pronounced judgment on him. 6 The king of Babylon slaughtered Zedekiah’s sons before his eyes at Riblah. The king of Babylon also slaughtered all the nobles of Judah. 7 He put out Zedekiah’s eyes and bound him with bronze shackles to take him to Babylon. 8 The Chaldeans burned the king’s house and the houses of the people with fire and tore down the walls of Jerusalem. 9 Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard took into exile to Babylon the rest of the people who remained in the city, the deserters who had deserted to him, and the rest of the people who remained. 10 But Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left in the land of Judah some of the poor people who had nothing. On that day he gave them vineyards and fields. 11 Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon gave Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard these orders concerning Jeremiah: 12 “Take him and look after him. Do him no harm, but do for him whatever he tells you.” 13 So Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, Nebushazban the Rab-saris, Nergal-sharezer the Rab-mag, and all the chief officers of the king of Babylon sent orders. 14 They had Jeremiah brought out of the courtyard of the guard and entrusted him to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, to take him home. So he lived among the people.

15 The word of the LORD had come to Jeremiah while he was confined in the courtyard of the guard: 16 “Go and say to Ebed-melech the Cushite, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Look, I am bringing my words upon this city for disaster, not for good. They will be fulfilled before you on that day. 17 But I will deliver you on that day, declares the LORD. You will not be given into the hand of the men you fear. 18 For I will surely rescue you. You will not fall by the sword, but you will have your life as plunder, because you have trusted in me, declares the LORD.’ ”