⁷ The king of Egypt^(A) did not march out from his own country again, because the king of Babylon^(B) had taken all his territory, from the Wadi of Egypt to the Euphrates River.

Jehoiachin King of Judah^(C)

⁸ Jehoiachin^(D) was eighteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. His mother’s name was Nehushta^(E) daughter of Elnathan; she was from Jerusalem. ⁹ He did evil^(F) in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father had done.

¹⁰ At that time the officers of Nebuchadnezzar^(G) king of Babylon advanced on Jerusalem and laid siege to it, ¹¹ and Nebuchadnezzar himself came up to the city while his officers were besieging it. ¹² Jehoiachin king of Judah, his mother, his attendants, his nobles and his officials all surrendered^(H) to him.

In the eighth year of the reign of the king of Babylon, he took Jehoiachin prisoner. ¹³ As the Lord had declared,^(I) Nebuchadnezzar removed the treasures^(J) from the temple of the Lord and from the royal palace, and cut up the gold articles^(K) that Solomon^(L) king of Israel had made for the temple of the Lord. ¹⁴ He carried all Jerusalem into exile:^(M) all the officers and fighting men,^(N) and all the skilled workers and artisans—a total of ten thousand. Only the poorest^(O) people of the land were left.

¹⁵ Nebuchadnezzar took Jehoiachin^(P) captive to Babylon. He also took from Jerusalem to Babylon the king’s mother,^(Q) his wives, his officials and the prominent people^(R) of the land. ¹⁶ The king of Babylon also deported to Babylon the entire force of seven thousand fighting men, strong and fit for war, and a thousand skilled workers and artisans.^{(S) 17} He made Mattaniah, Jehoiachin’s uncle, king in his place and changed his name to Zedekiah.^(T)

Zedekiah King of Judah^(U)

¹⁸ Zedekiah^(V) was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. His mother’s name was Hamutal^(W) daughter of Jeremiah; she was from Libnah. ¹⁹ He did evil^(X) in the eyes of the Lord, just as Jehoiakim had done. ²⁰ It was because of the Lord’s anger that all this happened to Jerusalem and Judah, and in the end he thrust^(Y) them from his presence.^(Z)

The Fall of Jerusalem^(AA)(AB)(AC)

Now Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.

Jehoiachin King of Judah^(A)

⁹ Jehoiachin^(B) was eighteen^[a] years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months and ten days. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord. ¹⁰ In the spring, King Nebuchadnezzar sent for him and brought him to Babylon,^(C) together with articles of value from the temple of the Lord, and he made Jehoiachin’s uncle,^[b] Zedekiah, king over Judah and Jerusalem.

Zedekiah King of Judah^(D)

¹¹ Zedekiah^(E) was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. ¹² He did evil in the eyes of the Lord^(F) his God and did not humble^(G) himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke the word of the Lord. ¹³ He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him take an oath^(H) in God’s name. He became stiff-necked^(I) and hardened his heart and would not turn to the Lord, the God of Israel. ¹⁴ Furthermore, all the leaders of the priests and the people became more and more unfaithful,^(J) following all the detestable practices of the nations and defiling the temple of the Lord, which he had consecrated in Jerusalem.

The Fall of Jerusalem^(K)(L)

¹⁵ The Lord, the God of their ancestors, sent word to them through his messengers^(M) again and again,^(N) because he had pity on his people and on his dwelling place. ¹⁶ But they mocked God’s messengers, despised his words and scoffed^(O) at his prophets until the wrath^(P) of the Lord was aroused against his people and there was no remedy.^(Q)

²⁴ “As surely as I live,” declares the Lord, “even if you, Jehoiachin^[a](A) son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, were a signet ring^(B) on my right hand, I would still pull you off. ²⁵ I will deliver^(C) you into the hands of those who want to kill you, those you fear—Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and the Babylonians.^{[b] 26} I will hurl^(D) you and the mother^(E) who gave you birth into another country, where neither of you was born, and there you both will die. ²⁷ You will never come back to the land you long to return^(F) to.”

Jeremiah in Prison

37 Zedekiah^(A) son of Josiah was made king^(B) of Judah by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; he reigned in place of Jehoiachin^[a](C) son of Jehoiakim. ² Neither he nor his attendants nor the people of the land paid any attention^(D) to the words the Lord had spoken through Jeremiah the prophet.