The Fall of Jerusalem
Study note
The siege of Jerusalem lasted about eighteen months, from January 588 BC to July 586 BC. The Babylonian army surrounded the city, cutting off all food supplies, until the people inside were starving. When the walls were finally breached, the Babylonian officials entered the city and set up their authority at the Middle Gate. The officials listed here held high positions in the Babylonian government and military.
1 Here is how Jerusalem was captured. In the ninth year of King Zedekiah of Judah, in the tenth month, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon marched against Jerusalem with his entire army. He surrounded the city. 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.
2 On the ninth day of the fourth month of Zedekiah's eleventh year, the city wall was broken through. And in the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, the ninth day of the month, the city was broken up.
3 All the officials of the king of Babylon came in and sat down at the Middle Gate. They were Nergal-Sharezer, Samgar-Nebo, Sarsechim the chief officer, and Nergal-Sharezer the high official. All the other officers of the king of Babylon were there too. And all the princes of the king of Babylon came in, and sat in the middle gate, even Nergal-sharezer, Samgar-nebo, Sarsechim, Rab-saris, Nergal-sharezer, Rab-mag, with all the residue of the princes of the king of Babylon.
Zedekiah's Capture and Punishment
Study note
When Zedekiah saw the Babylonian officials in the city, he and his soldiers tried to escape at night through the king's garden between the two city walls. But the Babylonian army caught up with him on the plains of Jericho. He was brought before Nebuchadnezzar at his headquarters in Riblah, a city in modern-day Syria. There, Nebuchadnezzar executed Zedekiah's sons and the nobles of Judah in front of him, and then put out Zedekiah's eyes. The last thing Zedekiah ever saw was the death of his own sons. The poorest people were left behind and given farmland to work.
4 When King Zedekiah of Judah and all his soldiers saw this, they fled. They left the city at night through the king's garden, out a gate between the two walls, and headed toward the Jordan Valley. 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.
5 But the Babylonian army chased them and caught Zedekiah in the plains near Jericho. They grabbed him and took him to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon at Riblah, in the land of Hamath. There Nebuchadnezzar judged him. 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.
6 There at Riblah, the king of Babylon killed Zedekiah's sons before him. He also killed all the nobles of Judah. 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.
7 Then he blinded Zedekiah and put him in bronze chains to take him to Babylon. Moreover he put out Zedekiah's eyes, and bound him with chains, to carry him to Babylon.
8 The Babylonians burned the royal palace and the people's homes. They also tore down Jerusalem's walls. And the Chaldeans burned the king's house, and the houses of the people, with fire, and brake down the walls of Jerusalem.
9 Nebuzaradan led the guard unit. He took the rest of the people in the city as captives to Babylon. He also took those who had given up to him. Then Nebuzar-adan 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.
10 But Nebuzaradan left behind in the land of Judah the poorest people, who owned nothing. He gave them vineyards and fields at that time. But Nebuzar-adan 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.
Jeremiah Is Set Free
Study note
Nebuchadnezzar had given specific orders to take care of Jeremiah. This was likely because Jeremiah's message to surrender had been helpful to the Babylonian cause. The captain of the guard, Nebuzaradan, along with other high officials, took Jeremiah out of the prison courtyard and placed him in the care of Gedaliah, who would become the governor of the remaining people. Jeremiah was allowed to live freely among his own people.
11 King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon gave orders about Jeremiah. He sent them through Nebuzaradan, the head of the guard. Now Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon gave charge concerning Jeremiah to Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard, saying,
12 "Find him, take good care of him, and don't harm him. Give him whatever he asks for." Take him, and look well to him, and do him no harm; but do unto him even as he shall say unto thee.
13 So Nebuzaradan the head of the guard sent for Jeremiah. With him were Nebushazban the chief officer and Nergal-Sharezer the high leader. All the other officers of Babylon's king were there too. So Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard sent, and Nebushasban, Rab-saris, and Nergal-sharezer, Rab-mag, and all the king of Babylon's princes;
14 sent men to get Jeremiah from the courtyard of the guard. They handed him over to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, to take him home. So Jeremiah stayed among his own people. Even 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.
God's Promise to Ebed-Melech
Study note
While Jeremiah was still in the courtyard prison before Jerusalem fell, God gave him a special message for Ebed-Melech, the Ethiopian official who had rescued Jeremiah from the cistern. God promised that even though disaster was coming to Jerusalem, Ebed-Melech would be kept safe. His life would be spared because he had put his trust in God. This is a powerful example of how God rewards faithfulness and courage, even in the life of a foreign official.
15 While Jeremiah had been locked up in the courtyard of the guard, the Lord had given him this message: Now the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah, while he was shut up in the court of the prison, saying,
16 "Go tell Ebed-Melek the Ethiopian, 'The Lord of Armies, the God of Israel, says: I am about to make my words against this city come true — words of disaster, not good. You will see it happen with your own eyes that very day.'" Go and speak to Ebed-melech 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.
17 "'But I will rescue you on that day,' says the Lord. 'You will not be handed over to the people you are afraid of.'" But 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.
18 "'I will surely save you. You will not be killed in battle, because you will escape with your life. This is because you trusted in me,' says the Lord." For 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.