1 N ow it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, on the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and all his army came against Jerusalem and encamped against it; and they built a siege wall against it all around.

Now in the ninth year of his reign, on the tenth day of the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, he and all his army, against Jerusalem, camped against it and built a siege wall all around it.

2 S o the city was besieged until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah.

So the city was under siege until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah.

3 B y the ninth day of the fourth month the famine had become so severe in the city that there was no food for the people of the land.

On 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.

4 T hen the city wall was broken through, and all the men of war fled at night by way of the gate between two walls, which was by the king’s garden, even though the Chaldeans were still encamped all around against the city. And the king went by way of the plain.

Then the city was broken into, and all the men of war fled by night by way of the gate between the two walls beside the king’s garden, though the Chaldeans were all around the city. And they went by way of the Arabah.

5 B ut the army of the Chaldeans pursued the king, and they overtook him in the plains of Jericho. All his army was scattered from him.

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

6 S o they took the king and brought him up to the king of Babylon at Riblah, and they pronounced judgment on him.

Then they captured the king and brought him to the king of Babylon at Riblah, and he passed sentence on him.

7 T hen they killed the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, put out the eyes of Zedekiah, bound him with bronze fetters, and took him to Babylon.

They slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, then put out the eyes of Zedekiah and bound him with bronze fetters and brought him to Babylon. Jerusalem Burned and Plundered

8 A nd in the fifth month, on the seventh day of the month (which was the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon), Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem.

Now on the seventh day of the fifth month, which was the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem.

9 H e burned the house of the Lord and the king’s house; all the houses of Jerusalem, that is, all the houses of the great, he burned with fire.

He burned the house of the Lord, the king’s house, and all the houses of Jerusalem; even every great house he burned with fire.

10 A nd all the army of the Chaldeans who were with the captain of the guard broke down the walls of Jerusalem all around.

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

11 T hen Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive the rest of the people who remained in the city and the defectors who had deserted to the king of Babylon, with the rest of the multitude.

Then the rest of the people who were left in the city and the deserters who had deserted to the king of Babylon and the rest of the people, Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away into exile.

12 B ut the captain of the guard left some of the poor of the land as vinedressers and farmers.

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

13 T he bronze pillars that were in the house of the Lord, and the carts and the bronze Sea that were in the house of the Lord, the Chaldeans broke in pieces, and carried their bronze to Babylon.

Now the bronze pillars which were in the house of the Lord, and the stands and the bronze sea which were in the house of the Lord, the Chaldeans broke in pieces and carried the bronze to Babylon.

14 T hey also took away the pots, the shovels, the trimmers, the spoons, and all the bronze utensils with which the priests ministered.

They took away the pots, the shovels, the snuffers, the spoons, and all the bronze vessels which were used in temple service.

15 T he firepans and the basins, the things of solid gold and solid silver, the captain of the guard took away.

The captain of the guard also took away the firepans and the basins, what was fine gold and what was fine silver.

16 T he two pillars, one Sea, and the carts, which Solomon had made for the house of the Lord, the bronze of all these articles was beyond measure.

The two pillars, the one sea, and the stands which Solomon had made for the house of the Lord — the bronze of all these vessels was beyond weight.

17 T he height of one pillar was eighteen cubits, and the capital on it was of bronze. The height of the capital was three cubits, and the network and pomegranates all around the capital were all of bronze. The second pillar was the same, with a network.

The height of the one pillar was eighteen cubits, and a bronze capital was on it; the height of the capital was three cubits, with a network and pomegranates on the capital all around, all of bronze. And the second pillar was like these with network.

18 A nd the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, Zephaniah the second priest, and the three doorkeepers.

Then the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest and Zephaniah the second priest, with the three officers of the temple.

19 H e also took out of the city an officer who had charge of the men of war, five men of the king’s close associates who were found in the city, the chief recruiting officer of the army, who mustered the people of the land, and sixty men of the people of the land who were found in the city.

From the city he took one official who was overseer of the men of war, and five of the king’s advisers who were found in the city; and the scribe of the captain of the army who mustered the people of the land; and sixty men of the people of the land who were found in the city.

20 S o Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard, took these and brought them to the king of Babylon at Riblah.

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

21 T hen the king of Babylon struck them and put them to death at Riblah in the land of Hamath. Thus Judah was carried away captive from its own land. Gedaliah Made Governor of Judah

Then the king of Babylon struck them down and put them to death at Riblah in the land of Hamath. So Judah was led away into exile from its land. Gedaliah Made Governor

22 T hen he made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, governor over the people who remained in the land of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had left.

Now as for the people who were left in the land of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had left, he appointed Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan over them.

23 N ow when all the captains of the armies, they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah governor, they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah—Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, Johanan the son of Careah, Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah the son of a Maachathite, they and their men.

When all the captains of the forces, they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah governor, they came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, namely, Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah the son of the Maacathite, they and their men.

24 A nd Gedaliah took an oath before them and their men, and said to them, “Do not be afraid of the servants of the Chaldeans. Dwell in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you.”

Gedaliah swore to them and their men and said to them, “Do not be afraid of the servants of the Chaldeans; live in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it will be well with you.”

25 B ut it happened in the seventh month that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, of the royal family, came with ten men and struck and killed Gedaliah, the Jews, as well as the Chaldeans who were with him at Mizpah.

But it came about in the seventh month, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, of the royal family, came with ten men and struck Gedaliah down so that he died along with the Jews and the Chaldeans who were with him at Mizpah.

26 A nd all the people, small and great, and the captains of the armies, arose and went to Egypt; for they were afraid of the Chaldeans. Jehoiachin Released from Prison

Then all the people, both small and great, and the captains of the forces arose and went to Egypt; for they were afraid of the Chaldeans.

27 N ow it came to pass in the thirty-seventh year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, that Evil-Merodach king of Babylon, in the year that he began to reign, released Jehoiachin king of Judah from prison.

Now it came about in the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, that Evil-merodach king of Babylon, in the year that he became king, released Jehoiachin king of Judah from prison;

28 H e spoke kindly to him, and gave him a more prominent seat than those of the kings who were with him in Babylon.

and he spoke kindly to him and set his throne above the throne of the kings who were with him in Babylon.

29 S o Jehoiachin changed from his prison garments, and he ate bread regularly before the king all the days of his life.

Jehoiachin changed his prison clothes and had his meals in the king’s presence regularly all the days of his life;

30 A nd as for his provisions, there was a regular ration given him by the king, a portion for each day, all the days of his life.

and for his allowance, a regular allowance was given him by the king, a portion for each day, all the days of his life.