When Jerusalem was captured, all the high officials of the king of Babylon came and took their places at the Middle Gate, including Nergal Sharezer, Samgar Nebo, Sarsechim, and another Nergal Sharezer.

In the tenth month of the ninth year that Zedekiah was king of Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylonia came with his whole army and attacked Jerusalem.

But the Babylonian army pursued them and captured Zedekiah in the plains near Jericho. Then they took him to King Nebuchadnezzar, who was in the city of Riblah in the territory of Hamath, and there Nebuchadnezzar passed sentence on him.

But King Nebuchadnezzar commanded Nebuzaradan, the commanding officer, to give the following order:

When King Zedekiah and all his soldiers saw what was happening, they tried to escape from the city during the night. They left by way of the royal garden, went through the gateway connecting the two walls, and escaped in the direction of the Jordan Valley.

On the ninth day of the fourth month of Zedekiah's eleventh year as king, the city walls were broken through.

Finally Nebuzaradan, the commanding officer, took away as prisoners to Babylon the people who were left in the city, together with those who had deserted to him.

He left in the land of Judah some of the poorest people, who owned no property, and he gave them vineyards and fields.

At Riblah he put Zedekiah's sons to death while Zedekiah was looking on, and he also had the officials of Judah executed.

So Nebuzaradan, together with the high officials Nebushazban and Nergal Sharezer and all the other officers of the king of Babylon,

The Babylonians burned down the royal palace and the houses of the people and tore down the walls of Jerusalem.

After that, he had Zedekiah's eyes put out and had him placed in chains to be taken to Babylon.

had me brought from the palace courtyard. They put me under the care of Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam and grandson of Shaphan, who was to see that I got home safely. Thus I stayed there among the people.

Tell Ebedmelech the Ethiopian that Jehovah, the God of Israel, said: 'Just as I said I would, I am going to bring upon this city destruction and not prosperity. When this happens, you will be there to see it.

While I was still imprisoned in the palace courtyard, Jehovah told me:

I will keep you safe, and you will not be put to death. You will escape with your life because you have put your trust in me. I Jehovah have spoken!'

Go and find Jeremiah and take good care of him. Do not harm him, but do for him whatever he wants.

I Jehovah will protect you, and you will not be handed over to the people you are afraid of.