Nebuchadnezzar Besieges Jerusalem
(2 Chronicles 36:15–21; Jeremiah 39:1–10)

1  וַיְהִי֩ (And it came to pass) בִשְׁנַ֨ת (in year) הַתְּשִׁיעִ֜ית (the ninth) לְמָלְכ֗וֹ (of his reign), בַּחֹ֣דֶשׁ (in the month) הָעֲשִׂירִי֮ (tenth), בֶּעָשׂ֣וֹר (on the tenth) לַחֹדֶשׁ֒ (of the month), בָּ֠א (that came) נְבֻכַדְנֶאצַּ֨ר (Nebuchadnezzar) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (king) בָּבֶ֜ל (of Babylon), ה֧וּא (he) וְכָל־ (and all) חֵיל֛וֹ (his army), עַל־ (against) יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם (Jerusalem) וַיִּ֣חַן (and encamped) עָלֶ֑יהָ (against it). וַיִּבְנ֥וּ (And they built) עָלֶ֖יהָ (against it) דָּיֵ֥ק (a siege wall) סָבִֽיב׃ (all around). 2  וַתָּבֹ֥א (And came) הָעִ֖יר (the city) בַּמָּצ֑וֹר (under siege) עַ֚ד (until) עַשְׁתֵּ֣י (the one) עֶשְׂרֵ֣ה (and tenth) שָׁנָ֔ה (year) לַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (of King) צִדְקִיָּֽהוּ׃ (Zedekiah).

3  בְּתִשְׁעָ֣ה (On the ninth) לַחֹ֔דֶשׁ (of the month), וַיֶּחֱזַ֥ק (and had become so severe) הָרָעָ֖ב (the famine) בָּעִ֑יר (in the city), וְלֹא־ (and not) הָ֥יָה (there was) לֶ֖חֶם (bread) לְעַ֥ם (for the people) הָאָֽרֶץ׃ (of the land). 4  וַתִּבָּקַ֣ע (And was breached) הָעִ֗יר (the city) וְכָל־ (and all) אַנְשֵׁ֨י (the men) הַמִּלְחָמָ֤ה׀ (of war) הַלַּ֙יְלָה֙ (fled by night) דֶּ֜רֶךְ (by way) שַׁ֣עַר׀ (of the gate) בֵּ֣ין (between) הַחֹמֹתַ֗יִם (the two walls), אֲשֶׁר֙ (which was) עַל־ (by) גַּ֣ן (garden) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (of the king). וְכַשְׂדִּ֥ים (And the Chaldeans) עַל־ (were against) הָעִ֖יר (the city) סָבִ֑יב (all around).

וַיֵּ֖לֶךְ (And he went) דֶּ֥רֶךְ (by way) הָעֲרָבָֽה׃ (of the Arabah). 5  וַיִּרְדְּפ֤וּ (And pursued) חֵיל־ (the army) כַּשְׂדִּים֙ (of the Chaldeans) אַחַ֣ר (after) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (the king), וַיַּשִּׂ֥גוּ (and they overtook) אֹת֖וֹ (him) בְּעַרְב֣וֹת (in the plains) יְרֵח֑וֹ (of Jericho), וְכָל־ (and all) חֵיל֔וֹ (his army) נָפֹ֖צוּ (was scattered) מֵעָלָֽיו׃ (from him). 6  וַֽיִּתְפְּשׂוּ֙ (And they took) אֶת־ (-) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (the king) וַיַּעֲל֥וּ (and brought up) אֹת֛וֹ (him) אֶל־ (to) מֶ֥לֶךְ (the king) בָּבֶ֖ל (of Babylon) רִבְלָ֑תָה (at Riblah), וַיְדַבְּר֥וּ (and they pronounced) אִתּ֖וֹ (on him) מִשְׁפָּֽט׃ (judgment). 7  וְאֶת־ (And) בְּנֵי֙ (the sons) צִדְקִיָּ֔הוּ (of Zedekiah) שָׁחֲט֖וּ (they killed) לְעֵינָ֑יו (before his eyes), וְאֶת־ (and) עֵינֵ֤י (the eyes) צִדְקִיָּ֙הוּ֙ (of Zedekiah) עִוֵּ֔ר (he put out), וַיַּאַסְרֵ֙הוּ֙ (and he bound him) בַֽנְחֻשְׁתַּ֔יִם (with bronze fetters) וַיְבִאֵ֖הוּ (and took him) בָּבֶֽל׃ס (to Babylon).

The Temple Destroyed
(Jeremiah 52:12–23)

8  וּבַחֹ֤דֶשׁ (And in the month) הַֽחֲמִישִׁי֙ (fifth) בְּשִׁבְעָ֣ה (on the seventh) לַחֹ֔דֶשׁ (of the month), הִ֗יא (it was) שְׁנַת֙ (the year) תְּשַֽׁע־ (nine) עֶשְׂרֵ֣ה (and tenth) שָׁנָ֔ה (year) לַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (of King) נְבֻכַדְנֶאצַּ֣ר (Nebuchadnezzar) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (king) בָּבֶ֑ל (of Babylon)), בָּ֞א (came) נְבוּזַרְאֲדָ֧ן (Nebuzaradan) רַב־ (the captain) טַבָּחִ֛ים (of the guards), עֶ֥בֶד (a servant) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (of the king) בָּבֶ֖ל (of Babylon), יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ (to Jerusalem). 9  וַיִּשְׂרֹ֥ף (And he burned) אֶת־ (-) בֵּית־ (the house) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH), וְאֶת־ (and) בֵּ֣ית (the house) הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ (of the king), וְאֵ֨ת (and) כָּל־ (all) בָּתֵּ֧י (the houses) יְרוּשָׁלִַ֛ם (of Jerusalem)— וְאֶת־ (and) כָּל־ (every) בֵּ֥ית (house) גָּד֖וֹל (great) שָׂרַ֥ף (he burned) בָּאֵֽשׁ׃ (with the fire). 10  וְאֶת־ (And) חוֹמֹ֥ת (the walls) יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם (of Jerusalem) סָבִ֑יב (all around). נָֽתְצוּ֙ (Broke down) כָּל־ (all) חֵ֣יל (the army) כַּשְׂדִּ֔ים (of the Chaldeans), אֲשֶׁ֖ר (who were with) רַב־ (the captain) טַבָּחִֽים׃ (of the guards).

11  וְאֵת֩ (And) יֶ֨תֶר (the rest) הָעָ֜ם (of the people) הַנִּשְׁאָרִ֣ים (remaining) בָּעִ֗יר (in the city), וְאֶת־ (and) הַנֹּֽפְלִים֙ (and the fallen ones) אֲשֶׁ֤ר (who) נָפְלוּ֙ (had fallen) עַל־ (to) הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ (the king) בָּבֶ֔ל (of Babylon), וְאֵ֖ת (and) יֶ֣תֶר (the rest) הֶהָמ֑וֹן (of the multitude), הֶגְלָ֕ה (carry away) נְבוּזַרְאֲדָ֖ן (Nebuzaradan) רַב־ (the captain) טַבָּחִֽים׃ (of the guards). 12  וּמִדַּלַּ֣ת (And some of the poor) הָאָ֔רֶץ (of the land) הִשְׁאִ֖יר (left behind) רַב־ (the captain) טַבָּחִ֑ים (of the guards) לְכֹֽרְמִ֖ים (to tend the vineyards) וּלְיֹגְבִֽים׃ (and to be farmers).

13  וְאֶת־ (And) עַמּוּדֵ֨י (the pillars) הַנְּחֹ֜שֶׁת (bronze) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that were) בֵּית־ (in the house) יְהוָ֗ה (of YHWH), וְֽאֶת־ (and) הַמְּכֹנ֞וֹת (the carts), וְאֶת־ (and) יָ֧ם (Sea) הַנְּחֹ֛שֶׁת (the bronze) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that were) בְּבֵית־ (in the house) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH), שִׁבְּר֣וּ (broke in pieces) כַשְׂדִּ֑ים (the Chaldeans) וַיִּשְׂא֥וּ (and carried) אֶת־ (-) נְחֻשְׁתָּ֖ם (their bronze) בָּבֶֽלָה׃ (to Babylon). 14  וְאֶת־ (And also) הַסִּירֹ֨ת (the pots), וְאֶת־ (and) הַיָּעִ֜ים (the shovels), וְאֶת־ (and) הַֽמְזַמְּר֣וֹת (the trimmers), וְאֶת־ (and) הַכַּפּ֗וֹת (the dishes), וְאֵ֨ת (and) כָּל־ (all) כְּלֵ֧י (the vessels) הַנְּחֹ֛שֶׁת (bronze) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (with which) יְשָֽׁרְתוּ־ (they ministered), בָ֖ם (with them) לָקָֽחוּ׃ (took they away). 15  וְאֶת־ (And) הַמַּחְתּוֹת֙ (the firepans), וְאֶת־ (and) הַמִּזְרָק֗וֹת (and the sprinkling bowls), אֲשֶׁ֤ר (the things) זָהָב֙ (of golden) זָהָ֔ב (gold) וַאֲשֶׁר־ (and) כֶּ֖סֶף (silver) כָּ֑סֶף (silver), לָקַ֖ח (took away) רַב־ (the captain) טַבָּחִֽים׃ (of the guards).

16  הָעַמּוּדִ֣ים׀ (The pillars) שְׁנַ֗יִם (two), הַיָּ֤ם (the Sea) הָֽאֶחָד֙ (one), וְהַמְּכֹנ֔וֹת (and the carts) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) עָשָׂ֥ה (had made) שְׁלֹמֹ֖ה (Solomon) לְבֵ֣ית (for the house) יְהוָ֑ה (of YHWH), לֹא־ (not) הָיָ֣ה (there was) מִשְׁקָ֔ל (weighing) לִנְחֹ֖שֶׁת (of the brass) כָּל־ (of all) הַכֵּלִ֥ים (the articles) הָאֵֽלֶּה׃ (these). 17  שְׁמֹנֶה֩ (Eight) עֶשְׂרֵ֨ה (and ten) אַמָּ֜ה (cubits) קוֹמַ֣ת׀ (was the height) הָעַמּ֣וּד (of the pillar) הָאֶחָ֗ד (one). וְכֹתֶ֨רֶת (And the capital) עָלָ֥יו׀ (on it) נְחֹשֶׁת֮ (was of bronze), וְקוֹמַ֣ת (and the height) הַכֹּתֶרֶת֮ (of the capital) שָׁלֹ֣שׁ (was three) אַמָּה (cubits). וּשְׂבָכָ֨ה (And the network) וְרִמֹּנִ֧ים (and pomegranates) עַֽל־ (on) הַכֹּתֶ֛רֶת (the capital) סָבִ֖יב (all around)— הַכֹּ֣ל (all) נְחֹ֑שֶׁת (were of bronze), וְכָאֵ֛לֶּה (and like these was) לַֽעַמּ֥וּד (the pillar) הַשֵּׁנִ֖י (second) עַל־ (with) הַשְּׂבָכָֽה׃ (the network).

Captives Carried to Babylon
(Jeremiah 52:24–30)

18  וַיִּקַּ֣ח (And took) רַב־ (the captain) טַבָּחִ֗ים (of the guards) אֶת־ (-) שְׂרָיָה֙ (Seraiah) כֹּהֵ֣ן (the priest) הָרֹ֔אשׁ (chief), וְאֶת־ (and) צְפַנְיָ֖הוּ (Zephaniah) כֹּהֵ֣ן (the priest) מִשְׁנֶ֑ה (second), וְאֶת־ (and) שְׁלֹ֖שֶׁת (and the three) שֹׁמְרֵ֥י (keepers) הַסַּֽף׃ (of the threshold). 19  וּמִן־ (And out) הָעִ֡יר (of the city) לָקַח֩ (He took) סָרִ֨יס (eunuch) אֶחָ֜ד (one) אֲ‍ֽשֶׁר־ (because) ה֥וּא (he) פָקִ֣יד׀ (was an inspector) עַל־ (over) אַנְשֵׁ֣י (the men) הַמִּלְחָמָ֗ה (of war), וַחֲמִשָּׁ֨ה (and five) אֲנָשִׁ֜ים (men) מֵרֹאֵ֤י (seeing) פְנֵֽי־ (the face) הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ (of the king) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (who) נִמְצְא֣וּ (were found) בָעִ֔יר (in the city), וְאֵ֗ת (and) הַסֹּפֵר֙ (the scribe) שַׂ֣ר (of the captain) הַצָּבָ֔א (of the army) הַמַּצְבִּ֖א (who mustered) אֶת־ (-) עַ֣ם (the people) הָאָ֑רֶץ (of the land), וְשִׁשִּׁ֥ים (and sixty) אִישׁ֙ (men) מֵעַ֣ם (of the people) הָאָ֔רֶץ (of the land) הַֽנִּמְצְאִ֖ים (found) בָּעִֽיר׃ (in the city).

20  וַיִּקַּ֣ח (And took) אֹתָ֔ם (them) נְבוּזַרְאֲדָ֖ן (Nebuzaradan) רַב־ (captain) טַבָּחִ֑ים (of the guards) וַיֹּ֧לֶךְ (and brought) אֹתָ֛ם (them) עַל־ (to) מֶ֥לֶךְ (the king) בָּבֶ֖ל (of Babylon) רִבְלָֽתָה׃ (at Riblah). 21  וַיַּ֣ךְ (And struck) אֹתָם֩ (them) מֶ֨לֶךְ (the king) בָּבֶ֧ל (of Babylon) וַיְמִיתֵ֛ם (and put them to death) בְּרִבְלָ֖ה (at Riblah) בְּאֶ֣רֶץ (in the land) חֲמָ֑ת (of Hamath). וַיִּ֥גֶל (And he removed) יְהוּדָ֖ה (Judah) מֵעַ֥ל (from) אַדְמָתֽוֹ׃ (its own land).

Gedaliah Governs in Judah
(Jeremiah 40:1–16)

22  וְהָעָ֗ם (And for the people) הַנִּשְׁאָר֙ (who remained) בְּאֶ֣רֶץ (in the land) יְהוּדָ֔ה (of Judah) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (whom) הִשְׁאִ֔יר (had left) נְבֽוּכַדְנֶאצַּ֖ר (Nebuchadnezzar) מֶ֣לֶךְ (king) בָּבֶ֑ל (of Babylon), וַיַּפְקֵ֣ד (and he made governor) עֲלֵיהֶ֔ם (over) אֶת־ (them) גְּדַלְיָ֖הוּ (Gedaliah) בֶּן־ (son) אֲחִיקָ֥ם (of Ahikam) בֶּן־ (son) שָׁפָֽן׃פ (of Shaphan).

23  וַיִּשְׁמְעוּ֩ (And heard) כָל־ (all) שָׂרֵ֨י (the captains) הַחֲיָלִ֜ים (of the armies), הֵ֣מָּה (they) וְהָאֲנָשִׁ֗ים (and the men), כִּֽי־ (that) הִפְקִ֤יד (had made governor) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (the king) בָּבֶל֙ (of Babylon) אֶת־ (-) גְּדַלְיָ֔הוּ (Gedaliah), וַיָּבֹ֥אוּ (and they came) אֶל־ (to) גְּדַלְיָ֖הוּ (Gedaliah) הַמִּצְפָּ֑ה (at Mizpah)— וְיִשְׁמָעֵ֣אל (and Ishmael) בֶּן־ (son) נְתַנְיָ֡ה (of Nethaniah), וְיוֹחָנָ֣ן (and Johanan) בֶּן־ (son) קָ֠רֵחַ (of Kareah), וּשְׂרָיָ֨ה (and Seraiah) בֶן־ (son) תַּנְחֻ֜מֶת (of Tanhumeth) הַנְּטֹפָתִ֗י (the Netophathite), וְיַֽאֲזַנְיָ֙הוּ֙ (and Jaazaniah) בֶּן־ (son) הַמַּ֣עֲכָתִ֔י (of the Maacathite)— הֵ֖מָּה (they) וְאַנְשֵׁיהֶֽם׃ (and their men). 24  וַיִּשָּׁבַ֨ע (And took an oath) לָהֶ֤ם (before them) גְּדַלְיָ֙הוּ֙ (Gedaliah) וּלְאַנְשֵׁיהֶ֔ם (and their men), וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (and he said) לָהֶ֔ם (to them), אַל־ (Not) תִּֽירְא֖וּ (do be afraid) מֵעַבְדֵ֣י (of the servants) הַכַּשְׂדִּ֑ים (of the Chaldeans). שְׁב֣וּ (Dwell) בָאָ֗רֶץ (in the land) וְעִבְד֛וּ (and serve) אֶת־ (-) מֶ֥לֶךְ (the king) בָּבֶ֖ל (of Babylon), וְיִטַ֥ב (and it will be well) לָכֶֽם׃ס (with you⁺).

The Murder of Gedaliah
(Jeremiah 41:1–10)

25  וַיְהִ֣י׀ (And it came to pass) בַּחֹ֣דֶשׁ (in the month) הַשְּׁבִיעִ֗י (seventh) בָּ֣א (that came) יִשְׁמָעֵ֣אל (Ishmael) בֶּן־ (son) נְ֠תַנְיָה (of Nethaniah) בֶּן־ (son) אֱלִ֨ישָׁמָ֜ע (of Elishama), מִזֶּ֣רַע (of the seed) הַמְּלוּכָ֗ה (of the kingdom), וַעֲשָׂרָ֤ה (and ten) אֲנָשִׁים֙ (men) אִתּ֔וֹ (with him), וַיַּכּ֥וּ (and they struck) אֶת־ (-) גְּדַלְיָ֖הוּ (Gedaliah) וַיָּמֹ֑ת (and he died), וְאֶת־ (and) הַיְּהוּדִים֙ (the Jews) וְאֶת־ (and) הַכַּשְׂדִּ֔ים (the Chaldeans) אֲשֶׁר־ (who) הָי֥וּ (were) אִתּ֖וֹ (with him) בַּמִּצְפָּֽה׃ (at Mizpah). 26  וַיָּקֻ֨מוּ (And arose) כָל־ (all) הָעָ֜ם (the people) מִקָּטֹ֤ן (from small) וְעַד־ (even to) גָּדוֹל֙ (great), וְשָׂרֵ֣י (and the captains) הַחֲיָלִ֔ים (of the armies), וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ (and they went) מִצְרָ֑יִם (to Egypt). כִּ֥י (For) יָרְא֖וּ (they were afraid) מִפְּנֵ֥י (of) כַשְׂדִּֽים׃פ (the Chaldeans).

Jehoiachin Released from Prison
(Jeremiah 52:31–34)

27  וַיְהִי֩ (And it came to pass) בִשְׁלֹשִׁ֨ים (in the thirty) וָשֶׁ֜בַע (and seventh) שָׁנָ֗ה (the year) לְגָלוּת֙ (of the removal) יְהוֹיָכִ֣ין (of Jehoiachin) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (king) יְהוּדָ֔ה (of Judah), בִּשְׁנֵ֤ים (in the two) עָשָׂר֙ (and tenth) חֹ֔דֶשׁ (month), בְּעֶשְׂרִ֥ים (on the twenty) וְשִׁבְעָ֖ה (and seventh) לַחֹ֑דֶשׁ (of the month), נָשָׂ֡א (that lifted up) אֱוִ֣יל (Evil-) מְרֹדַךְ֩ (merodach) מֶ֨לֶךְ (king) בָּבֶ֜ל (of Babylon) בִּשְׁנַ֣ת (in the year) מָלְכ֗וֹ (of his reigning) אֶת־ (-) רֹ֛אשׁ (the head) יְהוֹיָכִ֥ין (of Jehoiachin) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (king) יְהוּדָ֖ה (of Judah) מִבֵּ֥ית (out of the house) כֶּֽלֶא׃ (of restraint). 28  וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר (And He spoke) אִתּ֖וֹ (to him) טֹב֑וֹת (kindly) וַיִּתֵּן֙ (and gave) אֶת־ (-) כִּסְא֔וֹ (him a seat) מֵעַ֗ל (above) כִּסֵּ֧א (the throne) הַמְּלָכִ֛ים (of the kings) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (who were) אִתּ֖וֹ (with him) בְּבָבֶֽל׃ (in Babylon).

29  וְשִׁנָּ֕א (And he changed) אֵ֖ת (-) בִּגְדֵ֣י (the garments) כִלְא֑וֹ (of his restraint), וְאָכַ֨ל (and he ate) לֶ֧חֶם (bread) תָּמִ֛יד (regularly) לְפָנָ֖יו (before his face) כָּל־ (all) יְמֵ֥י (the days) חַיָּֽיו׃ (of his life). 30  וַאֲרֻחָת֗וֹ (And his allowance)— אֲרֻחַ֨ת (there was an allowance) תָּמִ֧יד (regular) נִתְּנָה־ (given) לּ֛וֹ (to him) מֵאֵ֥ת (by) הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (the king), דְּבַר־ (a portion) י֣וֹם (day) בְּיוֹמ֑וֹ (by day) כֹּ֖ל (all) יְמֵ֥י (the days) חַיָּֽו׃ (of his life).