The Fall of Jerusalem Recounted
(Psalm 74:1–23; Psalm 79:1–13; 2 Kings 24:18–20; 2 Chronicles 36:11–14)

1  בֶּן־ (A son) עֶשְׂרִ֨ים (of twenty) וְאַחַ֤ת (and one) שָׁנָה֙ (years) צִדְקִיָּ֣הוּ (Zedekiah was) בְמָלְכ֔וֹ (in his reigning), וְאַחַ֤ת (and one) עֶשְׂרֵה֙ (and ten) שָׁנָ֔ה (years) מָלַ֖ךְ (he reigned) בִּירֽוּשָׁלִָ֑ם (in Jerusalem). וְשֵׁ֣ם (And the name) אִמּ֔וֹ (of his mother) חֲמִיטַל (was Hamutal) בַּֽת־ (daughter) יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ (of Jeremiah) מִלִּבְנָֽה׃ (of Libnah).

2  וַיַּ֥עַשׂ (And He did) הָרַ֖ע (the evil) בְּעֵינֵ֣י (in the eyes) יְהוָ֑ה (of YHWH), כְּכֹ֥ל (according to all) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) עָשָׂ֖ה (had done) יְהוֹיָקִֽים׃ (Jehoiakim). 3  כִּ֣י׀ (For) עַל־ (because of) אַ֣ף (the anger) יְהוָ֗ה (of YHWH) הָֽיְתָה֙ (it came to pass) בִּירוּשָׁלִַ֣ם (in Jerusalem) וִֽיהוּדָ֔ה (and Judah), עַד־ (until) הִשְׁלִיכ֥וֹ (His casting) אוֹתָ֖ם (them) מֵעַ֣ל (from) פָּנָ֑יו (His presence),

וַיִּמְרֹ֥ד (and rebelled) צִדְקִיָּ֖הוּ (Zedekiah) בְּמֶ֥לֶךְ (against the king) בָּבֶֽל׃ (of Babylon).

4  וַיְהִי֩ (And it came to pass) בַשָּׁנָ֨ה (in the year) הַתְּשִׁעִ֜ית (ninth) לְמָלְכ֗וֹ (of his reign), בַּחֹ֣דֶשׁ (in the month), הָעֲשִׂירִי֮ (tenth) בֶּעָשׂ֣וֹר (on the tenth) לַחֹדֶשׁ֒ (of the month), בָּ֠א (that came), נְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּ֨ר (Nebuchadnezzar) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (king) בָּבֶ֜ל (of Babylon) ה֤וּא (he) וְכָל־ (and all) חֵילוֹ֙ (his army), עַל־ (against) יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם (Jerusalem), וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּ (and they encamped) עָלֶ֑יהָ (against it) וַיִּבְנ֥וּ (and built) עָלֶ֛יהָ (against it) דָּיֵ֖ק (a siege wall) סָבִֽיב׃ (all around). 5  וַתָּבֹ֥א (And came) הָעִ֖יר (the city) בַּמָּצ֑וֹר (to be under siege) עַ֚ד (until) עַשְׁתֵּ֣י (the one) עֶשְׂרֵ֣ה (and tenth) שָׁנָ֔ה (year) לַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (of King) צִדְקִיָּֽהוּ׃ (Zedekiah).

6  בַּחֹ֤דֶשׁ (In the month), הָֽרְבִיעִי֙ (fourth) בְּתִשְׁעָ֣ה (on nine) לַחֹ֔דֶשׁ (of the month), וַיֶּחֱזַ֥ק (and had become strong) הָרָעָ֖ב (the hunger) בָּעִ֑יר (in the city), וְלֹא־ (that not) הָיָ֥ה (there was) לֶ֖חֶם (food) לְעַ֥ם (for the people) הָאָֽרֶץ׃ (of the land). 7  וַתִּבָּקַ֣ע (And was broken through), הָעִ֗יר (the city) וְכָל־ (and all) אַנְשֵׁ֣י (the men) הַמִּלְחָמָ֡ה (of war) יִבְרְחוּ֩ (fled), וַיֵּצְא֨וּ (and went out) מֵהָעִ֜יר (from the city) לַ֗יְלָה (at night) דֶּ֜רֶךְ (by way) שַׁ֤עַר (of the gate) בֵּין־ (between) הַחֹמֹתַ֙יִם֙ (the two walls), אֲשֶׁר֙ (that was) עַל־ (by) גַּ֣ן (the garden); הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (of the king) וְכַשְׂדִּ֥ים (and the Chaldeans) עַל־ (were upon) הָעִ֖יר (the city) סָבִ֑יב (all around)

וַיֵּלְכ֖וּ (and they went) דֶּ֥רֶךְ (by way) הָעֲרָבָֽה׃ (of the Arabah). 8  וַיִּרְדְּפ֤וּ (And pursued) חֵיל־ (the army) כַּשְׂדִּים֙ (of the Chaldeans) אַחֲרֵ֣י (after) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (the king), וַיַּשִּׂ֥יגוּ (and they overtook) אֶת־ (-) צִדְקִיָּ֖הוּ (Zedekiah) בְּעַֽרְבֹ֣ת (in the plains) יְרֵח֑וֹ (of Jericho); וְכָל־ (and all) חֵיל֔וֹ (his army) נָפֹ֖צוּ (was scattered) מֵעָלָֽיו׃ (from him).

9  וַֽיִּתְפְּשׂוּ֙ (And they took) אֶת־ (-) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (the king), וַיַּעֲל֨וּ (and brought up) אֹת֜וֹ (him) אֶל־ (to) מֶ֧לֶךְ (the king) בָּבֶ֛ל (of Babylon) רִבְלָ֖תָה (at Riblah) בְּאֶ֣רֶץ (in the land) חֲמָ֑ת (of Hamath); וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר (and he spoke) אִתּ֖וֹ (against him) מִשְׁפָּטִֽים׃ (the judgment).

10  וַיִּשְׁחַ֧ט (And killed) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (the king) בָּבֶ֛ל (of Babylon) אֶת־ (-) בְּנֵ֥י (the sons) צִדְקִיָּ֖הוּ (of Zedekiah) לְעֵינָ֑יו (before his eyes), וְגַ֛ם (and) אֶת־ (-) כָּל־ (all) שָׂרֵ֥י (the officials) יְהוּדָ֖ה (of Judah) שָׁחַ֥ט (he killed) בְּרִבְלָֽתָה׃ (in Riblah). 11  וְאֶת־ (And) עֵינֵ֥י (the eyes) צִדְקִיָּ֖הוּ (of Zedekiah); עִוֵּ֑ר (he put out) וַיַּאַסְרֵ֣הוּ (and he bound him) בַֽנְחֻשְׁתַּ֗יִם (in bronze fetters), וַיְבִאֵ֤הוּ (and took him) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (the king) בָּבֶל֙ (of Babylon) בָּבֶ֔לָה (to Babylon), וַיִּתְּנֵ֥הוּ (and put him) בְבֵית (in the house) הַפְּקֻדֹּ֖ת (of oversight) עַד־ (until) י֥וֹם (the day) מוֹתֽוֹ׃ (of his death).

The Temple Destroyed
(2 Kings 25:8–17)

12  וּבַחֹ֤דֶשׁ (And in the month), הַֽחֲמִישִׁי֙ (fifth) בֶּעָשׂ֣וֹר (on the tenth) לַחֹ֔דֶשׁ (of the month), הִ֗יא (it was) שְׁנַת֙ (year) תְּשַֽׁע־ (the ninth) עֶשְׂרֵ֣ה (and tenth) שָׁנָ֔ה (year) לַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (of king) נְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּ֣ר (Nebuchadnezzar) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (king) בָּבֶ֑ל (of Babylon), בָּ֗א (came) נְבֽוּזַרְאֲדָן֙ (Nebuzaradan), רַב־ (the captain) טַבָּחִ֔ים (of the guards), עָמַ֛ד (who served) לִפְנֵ֥י (before) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (the King) בָּבֶ֖ל (of Babylon), בִּירוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ (into Jerusalem), 13  וַיִּשְׂרֹ֥ף (and He burned) אֶת־ (-) בֵּית־ (the house) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH), וְאֶת־ (and) בֵּ֣ית (house); הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ (of the king) וְאֵ֨ת (and) כָּל־ (all) בָּתֵּ֧י (the houses) יְרוּשָׁלִַ֛ם (of Jerusalem), וְאֶת־ (and) כָּל־ (all) בֵּ֥ית (the houses) הַגָּד֖וֹל (of the great) שָׂרַ֥ף (he burned) בָּאֵֽשׁ׃ (with fire). 14  וְאֶת־ (And) כָּל־ (all) חֹמ֥וֹת (the walls) יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם (of Jerusalem) סָבִ֑יב (surrounding). נָֽתְצוּ֙ (They broke down) כָּל־ (all) חֵ֣יל (the army) כַּשְׂדִּ֔ים (of the Chaldeans), אֲשֶׁ֖ר (who were) אֶת־ (with) רַב־ (the captain) טַבָּחִֽים׃ (of the guards).

15  וּמִדַּלּ֨וֹת (And of the poor) הָעָ֜ם (of the people), וְֽאֶת־ (and) יֶ֥תֶר (the rest) הָעָ֣ם׀ (of the people) הַנִּשְׁאָרִ֣ים (remaining) בָּעִ֗יר (in the city), וְאֶת־ (and) הַנֹּֽפְלִים֙ (and those falling away), אֲשֶׁ֤ר (who) נָֽפְלוּ֙ (had fallen) אֶל־ (to) מֶ֣לֶךְ (the king) בָּבֶ֔ל (of Babylon), וְאֵ֖ת (and) יֶ֣תֶר (the rest) הָֽאָמ֑וֹן (of the craftsmen). הֶגְלָ֕ה (Carried into exile) נְבוּזַרְאֲדָ֖ן (Nebuzaradan) רַב־ (the captain) טַבָּחִֽים׃ (of the guards). 16  וּמִדַּלּ֣וֹת (And of the poor) הָאָ֔רֶץ (of the land) הִשְׁאִ֕יר (left behind) נְבוּזַרְאֲדָ֖ן (Nebuzaradan) רַב־ (the captain) טַבָּחִ֑ים (of the guards) לְכֹרְמִ֖ים (as vinedressers) וּלְיֹגְבִֽים׃ (and as farmers).

17  וְאֶת־ (And) עַמּוּדֵ֨י (the pillars) הַנְּחֹ֜שֶׁת (of bronze) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that were) לְבֵית־ (in the house) יְהוָ֗ה (of YHWH), וְֽאֶת־ (and) הַמְּכֹנ֞וֹת (the carts), וְאֶת־ (and) יָ֧ם (the sea) הַנְּחֹ֛שֶׁת (of bronze) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that was) בְּבֵית־ (in the house) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH), שִׁבְּר֣וּ (broke in pieces), כַשְׂדִּ֑ים (the Chaldeans) וַיִּשְׂא֥וּ (and they carried away) אֶת־ (-) כָּל־ (all) נְחֻשְׁתָּ֖ם (their bronze) בָּבֶֽלָה׃ (to Babylon). 18  וְאֶת־ (And) הַ֠סִּרוֹת (the pots) וְאֶת־ (and) הַיָּעִ֨ים (the shovels), וְאֶת־ (and) הַֽמְזַמְּר֜וֹת (the trimmers), וְאֶת־ (and) הַמִּזְרָקֹ֣ת (the bowls), וְאֶת־ (and) הַכַּפּ֗וֹת (the spoons), וְאֵ֨ת (and) כָּל־ (all) כְּלֵ֧י (the vessels) הַנְּחֹ֛שֶׁת (of bronze) אֲשֶׁר־ (by which) יְשָׁרְת֥וּ (the priests ministered), בָהֶ֖ם (with them) לָקָֽחוּ׃ (they took away). 19  וְאֶת־ (And) הַ֠סִּפִּים (the basins), וְאֶת־ (and) הַמַּחְתּ֨וֹת (the firepans), וְאֶת־ (and) הַמִּזְרָק֜וֹת (the bowls), וְאֶת־ (and) הַסִּיר֣וֹת (the pots), וְאֶת־ (and) הַמְּנֹר֗וֹת (the lampstands), וְאֶת־ (and) הַכַּפּוֹת֙ (the spoons), וְאֶת־ (and) הַמְּנַקִי֔וֹת (the cups); אֲשֶׁ֤ר (that which was) זָהָב֙ (golden) זָהָ֔ב (gold), וַאֲשֶׁר־ (and that which was) כֶּ֖סֶף (silver) כָּ֑סֶף (silver), לָקַ֖ח (took away) רַב־ (the captain) טַבָּחִֽים׃ (of the guards).

20  הָעַמּוּדִ֣ים׀ (The pillars), שְׁנַ֗יִם (two) הַיָּ֤ם (the sea), אֶחָד֙ (one) וְהַבָּקָ֞ר (and the bulls) שְׁנֵים־ (two) עָשָׂ֤ר (and ten) נְחֹ֙שֶׁת֙ (bronze) אֲשֶׁר־ (that were) תַּ֣חַת (under it) הַמְּכֹנ֔וֹת (and the carts), אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) עָשָׂ֛ה (had made) הַמֶּ֥לֶךְ (king) שְׁלֹמֹ֖ה (Solomon) לְבֵ֣ית (for the house) יְהוָ֑ה (of YHWH); לֹא־ (no) הָיָ֣ה (there was) מִשְׁקָ֔ל (weighing). לִנְחֻשְׁתָּ֖ם (Of the bronze) כָּל־ (of all) הַכֵּלִ֥ים (the articles) הָאֵֽלֶּה׃ (these). 21  וְהָעַמּוּדִ֗ים (As to the pillars), שְׁמֹנֶ֨ה (eight) עֶשְׂרֵ֤ה (and ten) אַמָּה֙ (cubits); קוֹמָה (was the height) הָעַמֻּ֣ד (of the pillar) הָאֶחָ֔ד (one) וְח֛וּט (and a measuring line) שְׁתֵּים־ (of two) עֶשְׂרֵ֥ה (and ten) אַמָּ֖ה (cubits) יְסֻבֶּ֑נּוּ (could turn around it) וְעָבְי֛וֹ (and its thickness was) אַרְבַּ֥ע (four) אַצְבָּע֖וֹת (fingers); נָבֽוּב׃ (it was hollow). 22  וְכֹתֶ֨רֶת (And a capital) עָלָ֜יו (was uponn it) נְחֹ֗שֶׁת (of bronze) וְקוֹמַ֨ת (and the height) הַכֹּתֶ֥רֶת (of the capital) הָאַחַת֮ (one) חָמֵ֣שׁ (was five) אַמּוֹת֒ (cubits), וּשְׂבָכָ֨ה (and with a network) וְרִמּוֹנִ֧ים (and pomegranates) עַֽל־ (on) הַכּוֹתֶ֛רֶת (the capital) סָבִ֖יב (all around), הַכֹּ֣ל (all) נְחֹ֑שֶׁת (of bronze). וְכָאֵ֛לֶּה (And like these). לַֽעַמּ֥וּד (For the pillar) הַשֵּׁנִ֖י (second) וְרִמּוֹנִֽים׃ (and with pomegranates). 23  וַיִּֽהְיוּ֙ (And were) הָֽרִמֹּנִ֔ים (the pomegranates) תִּשְׁעִ֥ים (ninety) וְשִׁשָּׁ֖ה (and six) ר֑וּחָה (on the side); כָּל־ (every) הָרִמּוֹנִ֥ים (the pomegranates were) מֵאָ֛ה (a hundred) עַל־ (on) הַשְּׂבָכָ֖ה (the lattice-work) סָבִֽיב׃ (all around).

Captives Carried to Babylon
(2 Kings 25:18–21)

24  וַיִּקַּ֣ח (And took) רַב־ (the captain) טַבָּחִ֗ים (of the guards) אֶת־ (-) שְׂרָיָה֙ (Seraiah) כֹּהֵ֣ן (priest), הָרֹ֔אשׁ (the chief) וְאֶת־ (and) צְפַנְיָ֖ה (Zephaniah) כֹּהֵ֣ן (priest), הַמִּשְׁנֶ֑ה (the second) וְאֶת־ (and) שְׁלֹ֖שֶׁת (the three) שֹׁמְרֵ֥י (keepers) הַסַּֽף׃ (of threshhold). 25  וּמִן־ (And from) הָעִ֡יר (the city) לָקַח֩ (he took) סָרִ֨יס (an officer), אֶחָ֜ד (one) אֲ‍ֽשֶׁר־ (who) הָיָ֥ה (had) פָקִ֣יד׀ (charge) עַל־ (over) אַנְשֵׁ֣י (the men) הַמִּלְחָמָ֗ה (of war); וְשִׁבְעָ֨ה (and seven) אֲנָשִׁ֜ים (men) מֵרֹאֵ֤י (from those seeing) פְנֵי־ (the face), הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ (of the king) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (who) נִמְצְא֣וּ (were found) בָעִ֔יר (in the city); וְאֵ֗ת (and) סֹפֵר֙ (the scribe) שַׂ֣ר (an official) הַצָּבָ֔א (of the army), הַמַּצְבִּ֖א (the one conscripting) אֶת־ (-) עַ֣ם (the people) הָאָ֑רֶץ (of the land); וְשִׁשִּׁ֥ים (and sixty) אִישׁ֙ (men) מֵעַ֣ם (from the people) הָאָ֔רֶץ (of the land), הַֽנִּמְצְאִ֖ים (who were found) בְּת֥וֹךְ (in the midst) הָעִֽיר׃ (of the city).

26  וַיִּקַּ֣ח (And took) אוֹתָ֔ם (these) נְבוּזַרְאֲדָ֖ן (Nebuzaradan) רַב־ (the captain) טַבָּחִ֑ים (of the guards) וַיֹּ֧לֶךְ (and he brought) אוֹתָ֛ם (them) אֶל־ (to) מֶ֥לֶךְ (the king) בָּבֶ֖ל (of Babylon) רִבְלָֽתָה׃ (at Riblah). 27  וַיַּכֶּ֣ה (And struck) אוֹתָם֩ (them) מֶ֨לֶךְ (the king) בָּבֶ֧ל (of Babylon) וַיְמִתֵ֛ם (and he put them to death) בְּרִבְלָ֖ה (at Riblah) בְּאֶ֣רֶץ (in the land) חֲמָ֑ת (of Hamath). וַיִּ֥גֶל (And was carried away captive) יְהוּדָ֖ה (Judah) מֵעַ֥ל (from) אַדְמָתֽוֹ׃ (his own land).

28  זֶ֣ה (This is) הָעָ֔ם (the people) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (whom) הֶגְלָ֖ה (exiled); נְבֽוּכַדְרֶאצַּ֑ר (Nebuchadnezzar)

בִּשְׁנַת־ (in the year) שֶׁ֕בַע (seven) יְהוּדִ֕ים (Jews) שְׁלֹ֥שֶׁת (three) אֲלָפִ֖ים (thousand) וְעֶשְׂרִ֥ים (and twenty); וּשְׁלֹשָֽׁה׃ (and three).

29  בִּשְׁנַ֛ת (In the year) שְׁמוֹנֶ֥ה (eight) עֶשְׂרֵ֖ה (and ten) לִנְבֽוּכַדְרֶאצַּ֑ר (of Nebuchadnezzar) מִיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם (from Jerusalem) נֶ֕פֶשׁ (persons); שְׁמֹנֶ֥ה (eight) מֵא֖וֹת (hundred) שְׁלֹשִׁ֥ים (thirty) וּשְׁנָֽיִם׃ (and two).

30  בִּשְׁנַ֨ת (In the year) שָׁלֹ֣שׁ (three) וְעֶשְׂרִים֮ (and twenty) לִנְבֽוּכַדְרֶאצַּר֒ (of Nebuchadnezzar) הֶגְלָ֗ה (exiled) נְבֽוּזַרְאֲדָן֙ (Nebuzaradan) רַב־ (the captain) טַבָּחִ֔ים (of the guards) יְהוּדִ֕ים (Jews) נֶ֕פֶשׁ (-); שְׁבַ֥ע (seven) מֵא֖וֹת (hundred) אַרְבָּעִ֣ים (forty) וַחֲמִשָּׁ֑ה (and five)

כָּל־ (all) נֶ֕פֶשׁ (the souls) אַרְבַּ֥עַת (were four) אֲלָפִ֖ים (thousand) וְשֵׁ֥שׁ (and six) מֵאֽוֹת׃פ (hundred).

Jehoiachin Released from Prison
(2 Kings 25:27–30)

31  וַיְהִי֩ (And it came to pass) בִשְׁלֹשִׁ֨ים (in the thirty) וָשֶׁ֜בַע (and seventh) שָׁנָ֗ה (year) לְגָלוּת֙ (of the captivity) יְהוֹיָכִ֣ן (of Jehoiachin) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (king) יְהוּדָ֔ה (of Judah), בִּשְׁנֵ֤ים (in the two) עָשָׂר֙ (and tenth) חֹ֔דֶשׁ (month), בְּעֶשְׂרִ֥ים (on the twenty) וַחֲמִשָּׁ֖ה (and fifth) לַחֹ֑דֶשׁ (of the month), נָשָׂ֡א (that lifted up) אֱוִ֣יל (Evil-) מְרֹדַךְ֩ (Merodach) מֶ֨לֶךְ (king) בָּבֶ֜ל (of Babylon) בִּשְׁנַ֣ת (in the year) מַלְכֻת֗וֹ (of his becoming king) אֶת־ (-) רֹאשׁ֙ (the head) יְהוֹיָכִ֣ין (of Jehoiachin) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (king) יְהוּדָ֔ה (of Judah), וַיֹּצֵ֥א (and he brought him) אוֹת֖וֹ (out of) מִבֵּ֥ית (the house) הַכְּלִיא׃ (of imprisonment). 32  וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר (And he spoke) אִתּ֖וֹ (to him) טֹב֑וֹת (kindly) וַיִּתֵּן֙ (and he set) אֶת־ (-) כִּסְא֔וֹ (his seat) מִמַּ֗עַל (above) לְכִסֵּ֧א (the seat) מְלָכִים (of the kings) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (who were) אִתּ֖וֹ (with him) בְּבָבֶֽל׃ (in Babylon).

33  וְשִׁנָּ֕ה (And Jehoiachin changed) אֵ֖ת (-) בִּגְדֵ֣י (the garments) כִלְא֑וֹ (of his imprisonment), וְאָכַ֨ל (and he ate) לֶ֧חֶם (bread) לְפָנָ֛יו (before his face) תָּמִ֖יד (continually) כָּל־ (all) יְמֵ֥י (the days) חַיָּֽו׃ (of his life). 34  וַאֲרֻחָת֗וֹ (And his ration), אֲרֻחַת֩ (was a ration) תָּמִ֨יד (regular) נִתְּנָה־ (given) לּ֜וֹ (to him) מֵאֵ֧ת (by) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (the king) בָּבֶ֛ל (of Babylon), דְּבַר־ (a portion for) י֥וֹם (the day) בְּיוֹמ֖וֹ (on each day) עַד־ (until) י֣וֹם (the day) מוֹת֑וֹ (of his death), כֹּ֖ל (all) יְמֵ֥י (the days) חַיָּֽיו׃ (of his life).