New King James Version

English Standard Version

The Fall and Captivity of Judah

Now 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.

1

Fall and Captivity of Judah

And in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, on the tenth day of the month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came with all his army against Jerusalem and laid siege to it. And they built siegeworks all around it.

2

So the city was besieged until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah.

2

So the city was besieged till the eleventh year of King Zedekiah.

3

By 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.

3

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

Then 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[a] went by way of the [b]plain.

4

Then a breach was made in the city, and all the men of war fled by night by the way of the gate between the two walls, by the king’s garden, and the Chaldeans were around the city. And they went in the direction of the Arabah.

5

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

5

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

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

6

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

7

Then they killed the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, put[c] out the eyes of Zedekiah, bound him with bronze fetters, and took him to Babylon.

7

They slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and put out the eyes of Zedekiah and bound him in chains and took him to Babylon.

8

And 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.

8

In the fifth month, on the seventh day of the month — that was the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon — Nebuzaradan, the captain of the bodyguard, a servant of the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem.

9

He 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.

9

And he burned the house of the Lord and the king’s house and all the houses of Jerusalem; every great house he burned down.

10

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

10

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

11

Then 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.

11

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

12

But the captain of the guard left some of the poor of the land as vinedressers and farmers.

12

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

13

The 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.

13

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

14

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

14

And they took away the pots and the shovels and the snuffers and the dishes for incense and all the vessels of bronze used in the temple service,

15

The firepans and the basins, the things of solid gold and solid silver, the captain of the guard took away.

15

the fire pans also and the bowls. What was of gold the captain of the guard took away as gold, and what was of silver, as silver.

16

The 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.

16

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

17

The height of one pillar was [d]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.

17

The height of the one pillar was eighteen cubits,a and on it was a capital of bronze. The height of the capital was three cubits. A latticework and pomegranates, all of bronze, were all around the capital. And the second pillar had the same, with the latticework.

18

And the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, Zephaniah the second priest, and the three doorkeepers.

18

And the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest and Zephaniah the second priest and the three keepers of the threshold;

19

He also took out of the city an officer who had charge of the men of war, five men of [e]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.

19

and from the city he took an officer who had been in command of the men of war, and five men of the king’s council who were found in the city; and the secretary of the commander 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

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

20

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

21

Then 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.

21

And the king of Babylon struck them down and put them to death at Riblah in the land of Hamath. So Judah was taken into exile out of its land.

22

Gedaliah Made Governor of Judah

Then 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.

22

Gedaliah Made Governor of Judah

And over the people who remained in the land of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had left, he appointed Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, governor.

23

Now 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 [f]Jaazaniah the son of a Maachathite, they and their men.

23

Now when all the captains and their men heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah governor, they came with their men to Gedaliah at 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.

24

And 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.”

24

And Gedaliah swore to them and their men, saying, “Do not be afraid because of the Chaldean officials. Live in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you.”

25

But 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.

25

But in the seventh month, Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, son of Elishama, of the royal family, came with ten men and struck down Gedaliah and put him to death along with the Jews and the Chaldeans who were with him at Mizpah.

26

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

26

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

Jehoiachin Released from Prison

Now 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 [g]Evil-Merodach king of Babylon, in the year that he began to reign, released Jehoiachin king of Judah from prison.

27

Jehoiachin Released from Prison

And 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, Evil-merodach king of Babylon, in the year that he began to reign, graciously freedb Jehoiachin king of Judah from prison.

28

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

28

And he spoke kindly to him and gave him a seat above the seats of the kings who were with him in Babylon.

29

So Jehoiachin changed from his prison garments, and he ate [h]bread regularly before the king all the days of his life.

29

So Jehoiachin put off his prison garments. And every day of his life he dined regularly at the king’s table,

30

And as for his [i]provisions, there was a [j]regular ration given him by the king, a portion for each day, all the days of his life.

30

and for his allowance, a regular allowance was given him by the king, according to his daily needs, as long as he lived.

Parallel

New King James Version

English Standard Version

2 Kings 25

2 Kings 25