1 So|strong="H1961" King|strong="H4428" Nebuchadnezzar|strong="H5019" of|strong="H4428" Babylon|strong="H0894" and|strong="H0935" all|strong="H3605" his|strong="H3605" army|strong="H2428" came|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0935" fight against|strong="H5921" Jerusalem|strong="H3389". This|strong="H1931" happened|strong="H1961" on|strong="H5921" the|strong="H3605" 10th day|strong="H2320" of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H3605" tenth|strong="H6224" month|strong="H2320" of|strong="H4428" Zedekiah’s ninth|strong="H8671" year|strong="H8141" as|strong="H1961" king|strong="H4428". Nebuchadnezzar|strong="H5019" put|strong="H0935" his|strong="H3605" army|strong="H2428" around|strong="H5439" Jerusalem|strong="H3389" to|strong="H0935" stop people|strong="H1931" from|strong="H0935" going|strong="H0935" in|strong="H5921" and|strong="H0935" out|strong="H5921" of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H3605" city|strong="H1931". Then|strong="H1961" he|strong="H1931" built|strong="H1129" a|strong="H1961" wall|strong="H1785" of|strong="H4428" dirt around|strong="H5439" the|strong="H3605" city|strong="H1931".
2 His|strong="H0935" army stayed around Jerusalem until|strong="H5704" Zedekiah’s|strong="H6667" eleventh|strong="H6240" year|strong="H8141" as|strong="H5704" king|strong="H4428" of|strong="H4428" Judah.
3 The|strong="H1961" famine|strong="H7458" was|strong="H1961" getting worse and|strong="H0776" worse in|strong="H0776" the|strong="H1961" city|strong="H5892". By|strong="H1961" the|strong="H1961" 9th day|strong="H2320" of|strong="H0776" the|strong="H1961" fourth month|strong="H2320", there|strong="H1961" was|strong="H1961" no|strong="H3808" more|strong="H3808" food|strong="H3899" for|strong="H0776" the|strong="H1961" common|strong="H0776" people|strong="H5971" in|strong="H0776" the|strong="H1961" city|strong="H5892".
4 Nebuchadnezzar’s army|strong="H4421" finally broke|strong="H1234" through|strong="H5921" the|strong="H3605" city|strong="H5892" wall|strong="H2346". That|strong="H0834" night|strong="H3915" King|strong="H4428" Zedekiah and|strong="H4428" all|strong="H3605" his|strong="H3605" soldiers|strong="H0376" ran away|strong="H3605". They|strong="H0834" used|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" secret gate|strong="H8179" that|strong="H0834" went|strong="H0376" through|strong="H5921" the|strong="H3605" double walls|strong="H2346". It|strong="H5921" was|strong="H0834" by|strong="H5921" the|strong="H3605" king’s|strong="H4428" garden|strong="H1588". The|strong="H3605" enemy soldiers|strong="H0376" were|strong="H0834" all|strong="H3605" around|strong="H5439" the|strong="H3605" city|strong="H5892", but|strong="H0376" Zedekiah and|strong="H4428" his|strong="H3605" men|strong="H0376" escaped on|strong="H5921" the|strong="H3605" road|strong="H1870" to|strong="H5921" the|strong="H3605" desert|strong="H6160".
5 The|strong="H3605" Babylonian|strong="H3778" army|strong="H2428" chased|strong="H7291" King|strong="H4428" Zedekiah and|strong="H4428" caught|strong="H5381" him|strong="H5921" near|strong="H5921" Jericho|strong="H3405". All|strong="H3605" of|strong="H4428" Zedekiah’s soldiers|strong="H2428" left|strong="H2428" him|strong="H5921" and|strong="H4428" ran away|strong="H0310".
6 The|strong="H0853" Babylonians took|strong="H8610" King|strong="H4428" Zedekiah to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0853" king|strong="H4428" of|strong="H4428" Babylon|strong="H0894" at|strong="H0413" Riblah|strong="H7247". The|strong="H0853" Babylonians decided to|strong="H0413" punish Zedekiah.
7 They|strong="H0935" killed|strong="H7819" Zedekiah’s|strong="H6667" sons|strong="H1121" in|strong="H0935" front of|strong="H1121" him|strong="H0853". Then|strong="H0853" they|strong="H0935" put|strong="H0935" out|strong="H0935" Zedekiah’s|strong="H6667" eyes|strong="H5869". They|strong="H0935" put|strong="H0935" chains|strong="H5178" on|strong="H0935" him|strong="H0853" and|strong="H1121" took|strong="H0853" him|strong="H0853" to|strong="H0935" Babylon|strong="H0894".
8 Nebuchadnezzar|strong="H5019" came|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0935" Jerusalem|strong="H3389" on|strong="H0935" the|strong="H0935" 7th day|strong="H2320" of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H0935" fifth|strong="H2549" month|strong="H2320" of|strong="H4428" his|strong="H0935" nineteenth year|strong="H8141" as|strong="H0935" king|strong="H4428" of|strong="H4428" Babylon|strong="H0894". The|strong="H0935" captain|strong="H7227" of|strong="H4428" Nebuchadnezzar’s best soldiers|strong="H5650" was|strong="H1931" Nebuzaradan|strong="H5018".
9 Nebuzaradan burned|strong="H8313" the|strong="H3605" LORD’S|strong="H3068" Temple|strong="H1004", the|strong="H3605" king’s|strong="H4428" palace|strong="H1004", and|strong="H3068" all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" houses|strong="H1004" in|strong="H3068" Jerusalem|strong="H3389". He|strong="H3068" destroyed even|strong="H0853" the|strong="H3605" largest houses|strong="H1004".
10 Then|strong="H0853" the|strong="H3605" Babylonian|strong="H3778" army|strong="H2428" that|strong="H0834" was|strong="H0834" with|strong="H3389" Nebuzaradan pulled|strong="H5422" down|strong="H5422" the|strong="H3605" walls|strong="H2346" around|strong="H5439" Jerusalem|strong="H3389".
11 Nebuzaradan|strong="H5018" captured all the|strong="H0853" people|strong="H5971" who|strong="H0834" were|strong="H0834" still left|strong="H7604" in|strong="H5921" the|strong="H0853" city|strong="H5892". He|strong="H0834" took|strong="H0853" all the|strong="H0853" people|strong="H5971" as|strong="H0834" prisoners, even|strong="H0853" those|strong="H0834" who|strong="H0834" had|strong="H0834" tried to|strong="H5921" surrender.
12 He|strong="H0776" let only the|strong="H0776" poorest of|strong="H0776" the|strong="H0776" common|strong="H0776" people|strong="H0776" stay there|strong="H7604". He|strong="H0776" let them|strong="H0776" stay so that|strong="H0776" they|strong="H0776" could take care of|strong="H0776" the|strong="H0776" grapes and|strong="H0776" other crops.
13 The|strong="H0853" Babylonian|strong="H3778" soldiers broke|strong="H7665" into|strong="H3220" pieces|strong="H7665" all the|strong="H0853" bronze|strong="H5178" things|strong="H0834" in|strong="H3068" the|strong="H0853" LORD’S|strong="H3068" Temple|strong="H1004". They|strong="H0834" broke|strong="H7665" the|strong="H0853" bronze|strong="H5178" columns|strong="H5982", the|strong="H0853" bronze|strong="H5178" carts, and|strong="H3068" the|strong="H0853" large|strong="H1004" bronze|strong="H5178" tank that|strong="H0834" were|strong="H0834" in|strong="H3068" the|strong="H0853" LORD’S|strong="H3068" Temple|strong="H1004". Then|strong="H0853" they|strong="H0834" took|strong="H5375" all of|strong="H1004" that|strong="H0834" bronze|strong="H5178" to|strong="H3068" Babylon|strong="H0894".
14 The|strong="H3605" Babylonians also|strong="H0853" took|strong="H3947" the|strong="H3605" pots|strong="H5518", the|strong="H3605" shovels|strong="H3257", the|strong="H3605" tools for|strong="H3605" trimming|strong="H4212" the|strong="H3605" lamps, the|strong="H3605" spoons|strong="H3709", and|strong="H0853" all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" bronze|strong="H5178" dishes that|strong="H0834" were|strong="H0834" used|strong="H8334" in|strong="H8334" the|strong="H3605" Temple.
15 Nebuzaradan took|strong="H3947" all the|strong="H0853" firepans|strong="H4289" and|strong="H3701" bowls|strong="H4219". He|strong="H0834" took|strong="H3947" all the|strong="H0853" things|strong="H0834" made|strong="H0834" of|strong="H4219" gold|strong="H2091" for|strong="H0834" the|strong="H0853" gold|strong="H2091". And|strong="H3701" he|strong="H0834" took|strong="H3947" everything|strong="H0834" made|strong="H0834" of|strong="H4219" silver|strong="H3701" for|strong="H0834" the|strong="H0853" silver|strong="H3701".
18 From|strong="H3947" the|strong="H0853" Temple, Nebuzaradan took|strong="H3947" Seraiah|strong="H8304" the|strong="H0853" high priest|strong="H3548", Zephaniah|strong="H6846" the|strong="H0853" second|strong="H4932" priest|strong="H3548", and|strong="H3548" the|strong="H0853" three|strong="H7969" men|strong="H7218" who|strong="H3548" guarded|strong="H8104" the|strong="H0853" entrance.
19 From|strong="H4480" the|strong="H0853" city|strong="H5892" Nebuzaradan took|strong="H3947" one|strong="H0259" official|strong="H8269" who|strong="H0834" was|strong="H0834" in|strong="H5921" charge|strong="H5921" of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H0853" army|strong="H6635" and|strong="H0776" five|strong="H2568" of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H0853" king’s|strong="H4428" advisors who|strong="H0834" were|strong="H0834" still in|strong="H5921" the|strong="H0853" city|strong="H5892". He|strong="H0834" took|strong="H3947" one|strong="H0259" secretary|strong="H5608" of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H0853" commander|strong="H8269" of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H0853" army|strong="H6635" who|strong="H0834" was|strong="H0834" in|strong="H5921" charge|strong="H5921" of|strong="H4428" counting the|strong="H0853" common|strong="H0776" people|strong="H5971" and|strong="H0776" choosing some|strong="H4480" of|strong="H4428" them|strong="H0853" to|strong="H5921" be|strong="H0376" soldiers|strong="H0376" and|strong="H0776" 60 people|strong="H5971" who|strong="H0834" just|strong="H0834" happened|strong="H4672" to|strong="H5921" be|strong="H0376" in|strong="H5921" the|strong="H0853" city|strong="H5892".
22 King|strong="H4428" Nebuchadnezzar|strong="H5019" of|strong="H1121" Babylon|strong="H0894" left|strong="H7604" some|strong="H5971" people|strong="H5971" in|strong="H5921" the|strong="H0853" land|strong="H0776" of|strong="H1121" Judah|strong="H3063". There|strong="H0894" was|strong="H0834" a|strong="H0834" man|strong="H1121" named Gedaliah|strong="H1436" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Ahikam|strong="H0296" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Shaphan|strong="H8227". Nebuchadnezzar|strong="H5019" made|strong="H6485" Gedaliah|strong="H1436" governor over|strong="H5921" the|strong="H0853" people|strong="H5971" in|strong="H5921" Judah|strong="H3063".
23 The|strong="H3605" army|strong="H2428" captains|strong="H8269" were|strong="H1121" Ishmael|strong="H3458" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Nethaniah|strong="H5418", Johanan|strong="H3110" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Kareah|strong="H7143", Seraiah|strong="H8304" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Tanhumeth|strong="H8576" from|strong="H0935" Netophah, and|strong="H1121" Jaazaniah|strong="H2970" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" the|strong="H3605" Maachathite. These|strong="H1992" army|strong="H2428" captains|strong="H8269" and|strong="H1121" their|strong="H3605" men|strong="H0376" heard|strong="H8085" that|strong="H3588" the|strong="H3605" king|strong="H4428" of|strong="H1121" Babylon|strong="H0894" had|strong="H4428" made|strong="H6485" Gedaliah|strong="H1436" governor|strong="H8269", so|strong="H0935" they|strong="H1992" went|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0413" Mizpah|strong="H4709" to|strong="H0413" meet with|strong="H0413" him|strong="H0413".
24 Gedaliah|strong="H1436" made|strong="H7650" promises|strong="H7650" to|strong="H0559" these officers|strong="H5650" and|strong="H0776" their|strong="H5647" men|strong="H0376". He|strong="H0853" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0559" them|strong="H0853", “Don’t|strong="H0408" be|strong="H0408" afraid|strong="H3372" of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H0853" Babylonian|strong="H3778" officers|strong="H5650". Stay|strong="H3427" here and|strong="H0776" serve|strong="H5647" the|strong="H0853" king|strong="H4428" of|strong="H4428" Babylon|strong="H0894". Then|strong="H0853" everything will|strong="H0776" be|strong="H0408" all|strong="H0376" right with|strong="H0376" you|strong="H0853".”
25 Ishmael|strong="H3458" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Nethaniah|strong="H5418" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Elishama|strong="H0476" was|strong="H1961" from|strong="H0935" the|strong="H0853" king’s family|strong="H2233". In|strong="H0935" the|strong="H0853" seventh|strong="H7637" month|strong="H2320", Ishmael|strong="H3458" and|strong="H1121" ten|strong="H6235" of|strong="H1121" his|strong="H0834" men|strong="H0376" attacked|strong="H5221" Gedaliah|strong="H1436" and|strong="H1121" killed|strong="H5221" all|strong="H0376" the|strong="H0853" men|strong="H0376" of|strong="H1121" Judah and|strong="H1121" Babylonians|strong="H3778" who|strong="H0834" were|strong="H0834" with|strong="H0854" Gedaliah|strong="H1436" at|strong="H4191" Mizpah|strong="H4709".
26 Then|strong="H6965" the|strong="H3605" army|strong="H2428" officers|strong="H8269" and|strong="H0935" all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" people|strong="H5971" ran away|strong="H3605" to|strong="H0935" Egypt|strong="H4714". Everyone|strong="H3605", from|strong="H0935" the|strong="H3605" least important|strong="H5704" to|strong="H0935" the|strong="H3605" most important|strong="H5704", ran away|strong="H3605" because|strong="H3588" they|strong="H3588" were|strong="H4714" afraid|strong="H3372" of|strong="H8269" the|strong="H3605" Babylonians|strong="H3778".
27 Later|strong="H1961", Evil Merodach became|strong="H1961" the|strong="H0853" king|strong="H4428" of|strong="H4428" Babylon|strong="H0894". He|strong="H0853" let|strong="H1961" King|strong="H4428" Jehoiachin|strong="H3078" of|strong="H4428" Judah|strong="H3063" out|strong="H8147" of|strong="H4428" prison|strong="H3608". This happened|strong="H1961" in|strong="H8141" the|strong="H0853" 37th year|strong="H8141" after|strong="H1961" Jehoiachin|strong="H3078" was|strong="H1961" captured. This was|strong="H1961" on|strong="H1961" the|strong="H0853" 27th day|strong="H2320" of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H0853" twelfth month|strong="H2320" from|strong="H1961" the|strong="H0853" time|strong="H1961" that|strong="H8141" Evil Merodach began|strong="H1961" to|strong="H1961" rule|strong="H4428".
28 Evil Merodach was|strong="H0834" kind|strong="H2896" to|strong="H1696" Jehoiachin. He|strong="H0834" gave|strong="H5414" him|strong="H5414" a|strong="H5414" more|strong="H5921" important place|strong="H5414" to|strong="H1696" sit than|strong="H2896" the|strong="H0853" other kings|strong="H4428" who|strong="H0834" were|strong="H0834" with|strong="H0854" him|strong="H5414" in|strong="H5921" Babylon|strong="H0894".
29 Evil Merodach let Jehoiachin|strong="H8132" stop wearing prison|strong="H3608" clothes|strong="H0899". And|strong="H0398" every|strong="H3605" day|strong="H3117" for|strong="H3117" the|strong="H3605" rest of|strong="H3117" his|strong="H3605" life|strong="H3117", he|strong="H3117" ate|strong="H0398" at|strong="H3117" the|strong="H3605" same|strong="H0853" table|strong="H6440" with|strong="H3117" the|strong="H3605" king.
30 And|strong="H4428" each|strong="H3605" day|strong="H3117", for|strong="H3605" as|strong="H1697" long|strong="H3117" as|strong="H1697" Jehoiachin lived|strong="H2416", the|strong="H3605" king|strong="H4428" gave|strong="H5414" him|strong="H5414" enough money to|strong="H5414" pay|strong="H5414" for|strong="H3605" whatever|strong="H3605" he|strong="H3117" needed.