Jeremiah 39:6-16

6 And the king of Babylon killed the sons of Zedekiah in Riblah, before his eyes; and the king of Babylon (also) killed all the noble men of Judah.

7 Also he putted out the eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him in fetters, that he should be led into Babylon. (And he put out Zedekiah's eyes, and bound him with fetters, so that he could be led to Babylon.)

8 And [the] Chaldees burnt with fire the house of the king (And the Chaldeans burned down the palace), and the house(s) of the common people, and destroyed the wall of Jerusalem.

9 And Nebuzaradan, the master of knights, translated into Babylon the residues of the people, that dwelled in the city, and the fleers-away, that had fled over to him, and the superfluous men of the common people, that were left. (And Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, carried away captive to Babylon the rest of the people, who lived in the city, and the fleers-away, who had fled over to him, and the rest of the common people, who were left there.)

10 And Nebuzaradan, the master of knights, left in the land of Judah, of the people of poor men, and gave to them vineries and cisterns in that day. (But Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, left some of the poor people in the land of Judah, and gave them vineyards and cisterns on that day.)

11 Forsooth Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, had commanded of Jeremy to Nebuzaradan, master of the chivalry, and said, (And Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, gave custody of Jeremiah to Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, and said,)

12 Take thou him, and set thine eyes on him, and do thou nothing of evil to him; but as he will, so do thou to him (but whatever he desireth, do thou for him).

13 Therefore Nebuzaradan, the prince of the chivalry (And so Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard), sent Nebushazban, and Rabsaris, and Nergalsharezer, and Rabmag, and all the principal men of the king of Babylon,

14 sent, and took Jeremy from the porch of the prison, and they betook him to Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, that he should enter into the house, and dwell among the people. (yea, he sent them, and they took Jeremiah from the courtyard of the prison, and they delivered him to Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, so that he could go to his house, and live among the people.)

15 Forsooth the word of the Lord was made to Jeremy, when he was closed in the porch of the prison, and said (And the word of the Lord had come to Jeremiah, when he was enclosed in the courtyard of the prison, and said,)

16 Go thou, and say to Ebedmelech (the) Ethiopian, and speak thou, The Lord of hosts, God of Israel, saith these things, Lo! I shall bring my words on this city into evil, and not into good; and those shall be in thy sight in that day. (Go thou, and speak to Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, and say thou, The Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, saith these things, Lo! I shall bring to pass my words upon this city, for evil, and not for good, and it shall happen before thine eyes on that day.)

Jeremiah 39:6-16 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 39

This chapter gives an account of the taking of Jerusalem by the Chaldeans, according to the several prophecies of Jeremiah concerning it. The time of taking it, and by whom, after a siege of eighteen months, Jer 39:1-3; several things relating to King Zedekiah; his flight; the taking of him; the bringing him to the king of Babylon, and his sentence on him; the execution of that sentence, slaying his sons and nobles, putting out his eyes, and carrying him in chains to Babylon, Jer 39:4-7; the destruction of the city is described, by burning the houses in it, breaking down its walls, carrying the people captive, all, except a few poor persons left in the land, Jer 39:8-10; the preservation of Jeremiah, according to the king of Babylon's orders by his princes; and the committing him to the care of Gedaliah, the governor of the poor Jews, Jer 39:11-14; and the chapter is concluded with a promise of the protection of Ebedmelech, made by the Lord before the taking of the city, while the prophet was in prison; and which, no doubt, had its accomplishment, Jer 39:15-18.