English Standard Version

Hebrew Study Bible

1Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.

1בֶּן־ עֶשְׂרִ֨ים וְאַחַ֤ת שָׁנָה֙ צִדְקִיָּ֣הוּ בְמָלְכ֔וֹ וְאַחַ֤ת עֶשְׂרֵה֙ שָׁנָ֔ה מָלַ֖ךְ בִּירֽוּשָׁלִָ֑ם וְשֵׁ֣ם אִמּ֔וֹ [חמיטל] (חֲמוּטַ֥ל) בַּֽת־ יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ מִלִּבְנָֽה׃

2And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that Jehoiakim had done.

2וַיַּ֥עַשׂ הָרַ֖ע בְּעֵינֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה כְּכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־ עָשָׂ֖ה יְהוֹיָקִֽים׃

3For because of the anger of the LORD it came to the point in Jerusalem and Judah that he cast them out from his presence. And Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.

3כִּ֣י ׀ עַל־ אַ֣ף יְהוָ֗ה הָֽיְתָה֙ בִּירוּשָׁלִַ֣ם וִֽיהוּדָ֔ה עַד־ הִשְׁלִיכ֥וֹ אוֹתָ֖ם מֵעַ֣ל פָּנָ֑יו וַיִּמְרֹ֥ד צִדְקִיָּ֖הוּ בְּמֶ֥לֶךְ בָּבֶֽל׃

4And in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, on the tenth day of the month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came with all his army against Jerusalem, and laid siege to it. And they built siegeworks all around it.

4וַיְהִי֩ בַשָּׁנָ֨ה הַתְּשִׁעִ֜ית לְמָלְכ֗וֹ בַּחֹ֣דֶשׁ הָעֲשִׂירִי֮ בֶּעָשׂ֣וֹר לַחֹדֶשׁ֒ בָּ֠א נְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּ֨ר מֶֽלֶךְ־ בָּבֶ֜ל ה֤וּא וְכָל־ חֵילוֹ֙ עַל־ יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּ עָלֶ֑יהָ וַיִּבְנ֥וּ עָלֶ֛יהָ דָּיֵ֖ק סָבִֽיב׃

5So the city was besieged till the eleventh year of King Zedekiah.

5וַתָּבֹ֥א הָעִ֖יר בַּמָּצ֑וֹר עַ֚ד עַשְׁתֵּ֣י עֶשְׂרֵ֣ה שָׁנָ֔ה לַמֶּ֖לֶךְ צִדְקִיָּֽהוּ׃

6On the ninth day of the fourth month the famine was so severe in the city that there was no food for the people of the land.

6בַּחֹ֤דֶשׁ הָֽרְבִיעִי֙ בְּתִשְׁעָ֣ה לַחֹ֔דֶשׁ וַיֶּחֱזַ֥ק הָרָעָ֖ב בָּעִ֑יר וְלֹא־ הָיָ֥ה לֶ֖חֶם לְעַ֥ם הָאָֽרֶץ׃

7Then a breach was made in the city, and all the men of war fled and went out from the city by night by the way of a gate between the two walls, by the king’s garden, and the Chaldeans were around the city. And they went in the direction of the Arabah.

7וַתִּבָּקַ֣ע הָעִ֗יר וְכָל־ אַנְשֵׁ֣י הַמִּלְחָמָ֡ה יִבְרְחוּ֩ וַיֵּצְא֨וּ מֵהָעִ֜יר לַ֗יְלָה דֶּ֜רֶךְ שַׁ֤עַר בֵּין־ הַחֹמֹתַ֙יִם֙ אֲשֶׁר֙ עַל־ גַּ֣ן הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וְכַשְׂדִּ֥ים עַל־ הָעִ֖יר סָבִ֑יב וַיֵּלְכ֖וּ דֶּ֥רֶךְ הָעֲרָבָֽה׃

8But the army of the Chaldeans pursued the king and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho, and all his army was scattered from him.

8וַיִּרְדְּפ֤וּ חֵיל־ כַּשְׂדִּים֙ אַחֲרֵ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וַיַּשִּׂ֥יגוּ אֶת־ צִדְקִיָּ֖הוּ בְּעַֽרְבֹ֣ת יְרֵח֑וֹ וְכָל־ חֵיל֔וֹ נָפֹ֖צוּ מֵעָלָֽיו׃

9Then they captured the king and brought him up to the king of Babylon at Riblah in the land of Hamath, and he passed sentence on him.

9וַֽיִּתְפְּשׂוּ֙ אֶת־ הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וַיַּעֲל֨וּ אֹת֜וֹ אֶל־ מֶ֧לֶךְ בָּבֶ֛ל רִבְלָ֖תָה בְּאֶ֣רֶץ חֲמָ֑ת וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר אִתּ֖וֹ מִשְׁפָּטִֽים׃

10The king of Babylon slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and also slaughtered all the officials of Judah at Riblah.

10וַיִּשְׁחַ֧ט מֶֽלֶךְ־ בָּבֶ֛ל אֶת־ בְּנֵ֥י צִדְקִיָּ֖הוּ לְעֵינָ֑יו וְגַ֛ם אֶת־ כָּל־ שָׂרֵ֥י יְהוּדָ֖ה שָׁחַ֥ט בְּרִבְלָֽתָה׃

11He put out the eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him in chains, and the king of Babylon took him to Babylon, and put him in prison till the day of his death.

11וְאֶת־ עֵינֵ֥י צִדְקִיָּ֖הוּ עִוֵּ֑ר וַיַּאַסְרֵ֣הוּ בַֽנְחֻשְׁתַּ֗יִם וַיְבִאֵ֤הוּ מֶֽלֶךְ־ בָּבֶל֙ בָּבֶ֔לָה וַיִּתְּנֵ֥הוּ [בבית־] (בֵֽית־) הַפְּקֻדֹּ֖ת עַד־ י֥וֹם מוֹתֽוֹ׃

12In the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month—that was the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon—Nebuzaradan the captain of the bodyguard, who served the king of Babylon, entered Jerusalem.

12וּבַחֹ֤דֶשׁ הַֽחֲמִישִׁי֙ בֶּעָשׂ֣וֹר לַחֹ֔דֶשׁ הִ֗יא שְׁנַת֙ תְּשַֽׁע־ עֶשְׂרֵ֣ה שָׁנָ֔ה לַמֶּ֖לֶךְ נְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּ֣ר מֶֽלֶךְ־ בָּבֶ֑ל בָּ֗א נְבֽוּזַרְאֲדָן֙ רַב־ טַבָּחִ֔ים עָמַ֛ד לִפְנֵ֥י מֶֽלֶךְ־ בָּבֶ֖ל בִּירוּשָׁלִָֽם׃

13And he burned the house of the LORD, and the king’s house and all the houses of Jerusalem; every great house he burned down.

13וַיִּשְׂרֹ֥ף אֶת־ בֵּית־ יְהוָ֖ה וְאֶת־ בֵּ֣ית הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וְאֵ֨ת כָּל־ בָּתֵּ֧י יְרוּשָׁלִַ֛ם וְאֶת־ כָּל־ בֵּ֥ית הַגָּד֖וֹל שָׂרַ֥ף בָּאֵֽשׁ׃

14And all the army of the Chaldeans, who were with the captain of the guard, broke down all the walls around Jerusalem.

14וְאֶת־ כָּל־ חֹמ֥וֹת יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם סָבִ֑יב נָֽתְצוּ֙ כָּל־ חֵ֣יל כַּשְׂדִּ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֖ר אֶת־ רַב־ טַבָּחִֽים׃

15And Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive some of the poorest of the people and the rest of the people who were left in the city and the deserters who had deserted to the king of Babylon, together with the rest of the artisans.

15וּמִדַּלּ֨וֹת הָעָ֜ם וְֽאֶת־ יֶ֥תֶר הָעָ֣ם ׀ הַנִּשְׁאָרִ֣ים בָּעִ֗יר וְאֶת־ הַנֹּֽפְלִים֙ אֲשֶׁ֤ר נָֽפְלוּ֙ אֶל־ מֶ֣לֶךְ בָּבֶ֔ל וְאֵ֖ת יֶ֣תֶר הָֽאָמ֑וֹן הֶגְלָ֕ה נְבוּזַרְאֲדָ֖ן רַב־ טַבָּחִֽים׃

16But Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left some of the poorest of the land to be vinedressers and plowmen.

16וּמִדַּלּ֣וֹת הָאָ֔רֶץ הִשְׁאִ֕יר נְבוּזַרְאֲדָ֖ן רַב־ טַבָּחִ֑ים לְכֹרְמִ֖ים וּלְיֹגְבִֽים׃

17And the pillars of bronze that were in the house of the LORD, and the stands and the bronze sea that were in the house of the LORD, the Chaldeans broke in pieces, and carried all the bronze to Babylon.

17וְאֶת־ עַמּוּדֵ֨י הַנְּחֹ֜שֶׁת אֲשֶׁ֣ר לְבֵית־ יְהוָ֗ה וְֽאֶת־ הַמְּכֹנ֞וֹת וְאֶת־ יָ֧ם הַנְּחֹ֛שֶׁת אֲשֶׁ֥ר בְּבֵית־ יְהוָ֖ה שִׁבְּר֣וּ כַשְׂדִּ֑ים וַיִּשְׂא֥וּ אֶת־ כָּל־ נְחֻשְׁתָּ֖ם בָּבֶֽלָה׃

18And they took away the pots and the shovels and the snuffers and the basins and the dishes for incense and all the vessels of bronze used in the temple service;

18וְאֶת־ הַ֠סִּרוֹת וְאֶת־ הַיָּעִ֨ים וְאֶת־ הַֽמְזַמְּר֜וֹת וְאֶת־ הַמִּזְרָקֹ֣ת וְאֶת־ הַכַּפּ֗וֹת וְאֵ֨ת כָּל־ כְּלֵ֧י הַנְּחֹ֛שֶׁת אֲשֶׁר־ יְשָׁרְת֥וּ בָהֶ֖ם לָקָֽחוּ׃

19also the small bowls and the fire pans and the basins and the pots and the lampstands and the dishes for incense and the bowls for drink offerings. What was of gold the captain of the guard took away as gold, and what was of silver, as silver.

19וְאֶת־ הַ֠סִּפִּים וְאֶת־ הַמַּחְתּ֨וֹת וְאֶת־ הַמִּזְרָק֜וֹת וְאֶת־ הַסִּיר֣וֹת וְאֶת־ הַמְּנֹר֗וֹת וְאֶת־ הַכַּפּוֹת֙ וְאֶת־ הַמְּנַקִי֔וֹת אֲשֶׁ֤ר זָהָב֙ זָהָ֔ב וַאֲשֶׁר־ כֶּ֖סֶף כָּ֑סֶף לָקַ֖ח רַב־ טַבָּחִֽים׃

20As for the two pillars, the one sea, the twelve bronze bulls that were under the sea, and the stands, which Solomon the king had made for the house of the LORD, the bronze of all these things was beyond weight.

20הָעַמּוּדִ֣ים ׀ שְׁנַ֗יִם הַיָּ֤ם אֶחָד֙ וְהַבָּקָ֞ר שְׁנֵים־ עָשָׂ֤ר נְחֹ֙שֶׁת֙ אֲשֶׁר־ תַּ֣חַת הַמְּכֹנ֔וֹת אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשָׂ֛ה הַמֶּ֥לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹ֖ה לְבֵ֣ית יְהוָ֑ה לֹא־ הָיָ֣ה מִשְׁקָ֔ל לִנְחֻשְׁתָּ֖ם כָּל־ הַכֵּלִ֥ים הָאֵֽלֶּה׃

21As for the pillars, the height of the one pillar was eighteen cubits, its circumference was twelve cubits, and its thickness was four fingers, and it was hollow.

21וְהָעַמּוּדִ֗ים שְׁמֹנֶ֨ה עֶשְׂרֵ֤ה אַמָּה֙ [קומה] (קוֹמַת֙) הָעַמֻּ֣ד הָאֶחָ֔ד וְח֛וּט שְׁתֵּים־ עֶשְׂרֵ֥ה אַמָּ֖ה יְסֻבֶּ֑נּוּ וְעָבְי֛וֹ אַרְבַּ֥ע אַצְבָּע֖וֹת נָבֽוּב׃

22On it was a capital of bronze. The height of the one capital was five cubits. A network and pomegranates, all of bronze, were around the capital. And the second pillar had the same, with pomegranates.

22וְכֹתֶ֨רֶת עָלָ֜יו נְחֹ֗שֶׁת וְקוֹמַ֨ת הַכֹּתֶ֥רֶת הָאַחַת֮ חָמֵ֣שׁ אַמּוֹת֒ וּשְׂבָכָ֨ה וְרִמּוֹנִ֧ים עַֽל־ הַכּוֹתֶ֛רֶת סָבִ֖יב הַכֹּ֣ל נְחֹ֑שֶׁת וְכָאֵ֛לֶּה לַֽעַמּ֥וּד הַשֵּׁנִ֖י וְרִמּוֹנִֽים׃

23There were ninety-six pomegranates on the sides; all the pomegranates were a hundred upon the network all around.

23וַיִּֽהְיוּ֙ הָֽרִמֹּנִ֔ים תִּשְׁעִ֥ים וְשִׁשָּׁ֖ה ר֑וּחָה כָּל־ הָרִמּוֹנִ֥ים מֵאָ֛ה עַל־ הַשְּׂבָכָ֖ה סָבִֽיב׃

24And the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, and Zephaniah the second priest and the three keepers of the threshold;

24וַיִּקַּ֣ח רַב־ טַבָּחִ֗ים אֶת־ שְׂרָיָה֙ כֹּהֵ֣ן הָרֹ֔אשׁ וְאֶת־ צְפַנְיָ֖ה כֹּהֵ֣ן הַמִּשְׁנֶ֑ה וְאֶת־ שְׁלֹ֖שֶׁת שֹׁמְרֵ֥י הַסַּֽף׃

25and from the city he took an officer who had been in command of the men of war, and seven men of the king’s council, who were found in the city; and the secretary of the commander of the army, who mustered the people of the land; and sixty men of the people of the land, who were found in the midst of the city.

25וּמִן־ הָעִ֡יר לָקַח֩ סָרִ֨יס אֶחָ֜ד אֲ‍ֽשֶׁר־ הָיָ֥ה פָקִ֣יד ׀ עַל־ אַנְשֵׁ֣י הַמִּלְחָמָ֗ה וְשִׁבְעָ֨ה אֲנָשִׁ֜ים מֵרֹאֵ֤י פְנֵי־ הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר נִמְצְא֣וּ בָעִ֔יר וְאֵ֗ת סֹפֵר֙ שַׂ֣ר הַצָּבָ֔א הַמַּצְבִּ֖א אֶת־ עַ֣ם הָאָ֑רֶץ וְשִׁשִּׁ֥ים אִישׁ֙ מֵעַ֣ם הָאָ֔רֶץ הַֽנִּמְצְאִ֖ים בְּת֥וֹךְ הָעִֽיר׃

26And Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard took them and brought them to the king of Babylon at Riblah.

26וַיִּקַּ֣ח אוֹתָ֔ם נְבוּזַרְאֲדָ֖ן רַב־ טַבָּחִ֑ים וַיֹּ֧לֶךְ אוֹתָ֛ם אֶל־ מֶ֥לֶךְ בָּבֶ֖ל רִבְלָֽתָה׃

27And the king of Babylon struck them down and put them to death at Riblah in the land of Hamath. So Judah was taken into exile out of its land.

27וַיַּכֶּ֣ה אוֹתָם֩ מֶ֨לֶךְ בָּבֶ֧ל וַיְמִתֵ֛ם בְּרִבְלָ֖ה בְּאֶ֣רֶץ חֲמָ֑ת וַיִּ֥גֶל יְהוּדָ֖ה מֵעַ֥ל אַדְמָתֽוֹ׃

28This is the number of the people whom Nebuchadnezzar carried away captive: in the seventh year, 3,023 Judeans;

28זֶ֣ה הָעָ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר הֶגְלָ֖ה נְבֽוּכַדְרֶאצַּ֑ר בִּשְׁנַת־ שֶׁ֕בַע יְהוּדִ֕ים שְׁלֹ֥שֶׁת אֲלָפִ֖ים וְעֶשְׂרִ֥ים וּשְׁלֹשָֽׁה׃

29in the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar he carried away captive from Jerusalem 832 persons;

29בִּשְׁנַ֛ת שְׁמוֹנֶ֥ה עֶשְׂרֵ֖ה לִנְבֽוּכַדְרֶאצַּ֑ר מִיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם נֶ֕פֶשׁ שְׁמֹנֶ֥ה מֵא֖וֹת שְׁלֹשִׁ֥ים וּשְׁנָֽיִם׃

30in the twenty-third year of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive of the Judeans 745 persons; all the persons were 4,600.

30בִּשְׁנַ֨ת שָׁלֹ֣שׁ וְעֶשְׂרִים֮ לִנְבֽוּכַדְרֶאצַּר֒ הֶגְלָ֗ה נְבֽוּזַרְאֲדָן֙ רַב־ טַבָּחִ֔ים יְהוּדִ֕ים נֶ֕פֶשׁ שְׁבַ֥ע מֵא֖וֹת אַרְבָּעִ֣ים וַחֲמִשָּׁ֑ה כָּל־ נֶ֕פֶשׁ אַרְבַּ֥עַת אֲלָפִ֖ים וְשֵׁ֥שׁ מֵאֽוֹת׃ פ

31And in the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-fifth day of the month, Evil-merodach king of Babylon, in the year that he began to reign, graciously freed Jehoiachin king of Judah and brought him out of prison.

31וַיְהִי֩ בִשְׁלֹשִׁ֨ים וָשֶׁ֜בַע שָׁנָ֗ה לְגָלוּת֙ יְהוֹיָכִ֣ן מֶֽלֶךְ־ יְהוּדָ֔ה בִּשְׁנֵ֤ים עָשָׂר֙ חֹ֔דֶשׁ בְּעֶשְׂרִ֥ים וַחֲמִשָּׁ֖ה לַחֹ֑דֶשׁ נָשָׂ֡א אֱוִ֣יל מְרֹדַךְ֩ מֶ֨לֶךְ בָּבֶ֜ל בִּשְׁנַ֣ת מַלְכֻת֗וֹ אֶת־ רֹאשׁ֙ יְהוֹיָכִ֣ין מֶֽלֶךְ־ יְהוּדָ֔ה וַיֹּצֵ֥א אוֹת֖וֹ מִבֵּ֥ית [הכליא] (הַכְּלֽוּא׃)

32And he spoke kindly to him and gave him a seat above the seats of the kings who were with him in Babylon.

32וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר אִתּ֖וֹ טֹב֑וֹת וַיִּתֵּן֙ אֶת־ כִּסְא֔וֹ מִמַּ֗עַל לְכִסֵּ֧א [מלכים] (הַמְּלָכִ֛ים) אֲשֶׁ֥ר אִתּ֖וֹ בְּבָבֶֽל׃

33So Jehoiachin put off his prison garments. And every day of his life he dined regularly at the king’s table,

33וְשִׁנָּ֕ה אֵ֖ת בִּגְדֵ֣י כִלְא֑וֹ וְאָכַ֨ל לֶ֧חֶם לְפָנָ֛יו תָּמִ֖יד כָּל־ יְמֵ֥י חַיָּֽו׃

34and for his allowance, a regular allowance was given him by the king, according to his daily needs, until the day of his death, as long as he lived.

34וַאֲרֻחָת֗וֹ אֲרֻחַת֩ תָּמִ֨יד נִתְּנָה־ לּ֜וֹ מֵאֵ֧ת מֶֽלֶךְ־ בָּבֶ֛ל דְּבַר־ י֥וֹם בְּיוֹמ֖וֹ עַד־ י֣וֹם מוֹת֑וֹ כֹּ֖ל יְמֵ֥י חַיָּֽיו׃

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.

Greek and Hebrew Study Bible courtesy Bible Hub and the Discovery Bible team.