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The wordwhichcame to Jeremiah from the LORD, when Nebuchadnezzarking of Babylon and all his army, with all the kingdoms of the earth that were under his dominion and all the peoples, were fightingagainstJerusalem and againstall its cities, saying,
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"Thussays the LORDGod of Israel, 'Go and speak to Zedekiahking of Judah and say to him: "Thussays the LORD, 'Behold, I am givingthiscity into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he will burn it with fire.
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'You will not escape from his hand, for you will surely be captured and delivered into his hand; and you will see the king of Babyloneye to eye, and he will speak with you face to face, and you will go to Babylon.' "'
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'You will die in peace; and as spices were burned for your fathers, the formerkingswho were before you, so they will burn spices for you; and they will lament for you, "Alas, lord!"' For I have spoken the word," declares the LORD.
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when the army of the king of Babylon was fightingagainstJerusalem and againstall the remainingcities of Judah, that is, Lachish and Azekah, for they alone remained as fortifiedcities among the cities of Judah.
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The wordwhichcame to Jeremiah from the LORDafterKingZedekiah had made a covenant with all the peoplewho were in Jerusalem to proclaimrelease to them:
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that eachman should setfree his maleservant and eachman his femaleservant, a Hebrewman or a Hebrew woman; so that noone should keep them, a Jew his brother, in bondage.
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And all the officials and all the peopleobeyedwho had entered into the covenant that eachman should setfree his maleservant and eachman his femaleservant, so that noone should keep them anylonger in bondage; they obeyed, and set them free.