4When King Zedekiah of Judah and all the fighting men saw them, they fled. They left the city at night by way of the king’s garden39:4 Neh 3:15 through the city gate between the two walls. They left along the route to the Arabah.39:4 Dt 2:8; 2Sm 4:7

5However, the Chaldean army pursued them and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho. They arrested him and brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar, Babylon’s king, at Riblah in the land of Hamath. The king passed sentence on him there.39:5 Jr 32:4–5; 34:3

6At Riblah the king of Babylon slaughtered Zedekiah’s sons before his eyes, and he also slaughtered all Judah’s nobles.

7Then he blinded Zedekiah and put him in bronze chains to take him to Babylon.39:7 Ezk 12:8–13

8The Chaldeans next burned down the king’s palace and the people’s houses and tore down the walls of Jerusalem.39:8 2Kg 25:9

9Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guards,39:9 2Kg 25:8–20; Jr 52:12–30; Dn 2:14 deported the rest of the people to Babylon — those who had remained in the city and those deserters who had defected to him along with the rest of the people who remained.

10However, Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guards, left in the land of Judah some of the poor people who owned nothing, and he gave them vineyards and fields at that time.39:8–10 2Kg 25:9–12; Jr 52:13–16

15Now the word of the Lord had come to Jeremiah when he was confined in the guard’s courtyard:39:15 Jr 33:1

16“Go tell Ebed-melech the Cushite,39:16 Jr 38:1–13 ‘This is what the Lord of Armies, the God of Israel, says: I am about to fulfill my words for disaster and not for good against this city. They will take place before your eyes on that day.

17But I will rescue you on that day — this is the Lord’s declaration — and you will not be handed over to the men you dread.

18Indeed, I will certainly deliver you so that you do not fall by the sword. Because you have trusted in me, you will retain your life like the spoils of war.39:18 Jr 21:9; 38:2; 45:5 This is the Lord’s declaration.’”