Shephatiahשְׁפַטְיָהsonבֶןof Mattanמַתָּןand Gedaliahוּגְדַלְיָהוּsonבֶּןof Pashhurפַּשְׁחוּרand Jucalוְיוּכַלsonבֶּןof Shelemiahשֶׁלֶמְיָהוּand Pashhurוּפַשְׁחוּרsonבֶּןof Malchijahמַלְכִּיָּהheardוַיִּשְׁמַעthe wordsאֶת הַדְּבָרִיםthatאֲשֶׁרJeremiahיִרְמְיָהוּwas speakingמְדַבֵּרto allאֶל כָּלthe people,הָעָםsaying,לֵאמֹר
“ThusכֹּהsaysאָמַרYHWH:יְהוָהHe who staysהַיֹּשֵׁבin this cityבָּעִיר הַזֹּאתwill dieיָמוּתby the sword,בַּחֶרֶבby famine,בָּרָעָבand by pestilence;וּבַדָּבֶרbut he who goes outוְהַיֹּצֵאto the Chaldeansאֶל הַכַּשְׂדִּיםwill live;וְחָיָהhe will haveוְהָיְתָה לּוֹhis lifeנַפְשׁוֹas spoil,לְשָׁלָלand he will live.וָחָי
ThusכֹּהsaysאָמַרYHWH:יְהוָהThis cityהָעִיר הַזֹּאתwill surely be givenהִנָּתֹן תִּנָּתֵןinto the handבְּיַדof the armyחֵילof the kingמֶלֶךְof Babylon,בָּבֶלand he will capture it.”וּלְכָדָהּ
And the princesוַ הַשָּׂרִיםsaidיֹּאמְרוּto the king,אֶל הַמֶּלֶךְ“Pleaseנָאlet this manאֶת הָאִישׁ הַזֶּהbe put to death,יוּמַתforכִּיin this wayעַל כֵּןheהוּאis weakeningמְרַפֵּאthe handsאֶת יְדֵיof the menאַנְשֵׁיof warהַמִּלְחָמָהwho are leftהַנִּשְׁאָרִיםin this city,בָּעִיר הַזֹּאתand the handsוְאֵת יְדֵיof allכָלthe people,הָעָםby speakingלְדַבֵּרto themאֲלֵיהֶםwords like these;כַּדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּהforכִּיthis manהָאִישׁ הַזֶּהis notאֵינֶנּוּseekingדֹרֵשׁthe peaceלְשָׁלוֹםof this people,לָעָם הַזֶּהbutכִּי אִםevil.”לְרָעָה
And Kingוַ הַמֶּלֶךְZedekiahצִדְקִיָּהוּsaid,יֹּאמֶר“Look,הִנֵּהhe isהוּאin your hand;בְּיֶדְכֶםforכִּיthe kingהַמֶּלֶךְis notאֵיןable to doיוּכַלanythingדָּבָרagainst you.”אֶתְכֶם
So they tookוַיִּקְחוּJeremiahאֶת יִרְמְיָהוּand threwוַיַּשְׁלִכוּhimאֹתוֹinto the cisternאֶל הַבּוֹרof Malchijahמַלְכִּיָּהוּsonבֶןof the king,הַמֶּלֶךְwhich wasאֲשֶׁרin the courtבַּחֲצַרof the guard,הַמַּטָּרָהand they let downוַיְשַׁלְּחוּJeremiahאֶת יִרְמְיָהוּwith ropes.בַּחֲבָלִיםIn the cisternוּבַבּוֹרthere was noאֵיןwater,מַיִםbut onlyכִּי אִםmud,טִיטand Jeremiahוַ יִרְמְיָהוּsankיִּטְבַּעin the mud.בַּטִּיט
And Ebed-melechוַ עֶבֶד מֶלֶךְthe Cushite,הַכּוּשִׁיa man, a court official,אִישׁ סָרִיסand he wasוְהוּאin the houseבְּבֵיתof the king,הַמֶּלֶךְheardיִּשְׁמַעthatכִּיthey had putנָתְנוּJeremiahאֶת יִרְמְיָהוּinto the cisternאֶל הַבּוֹר—now the kingוְהַמֶּלֶךְwas sittingיוֹשֵׁבin the gateבְּשַׁעַרof Benjamin—בִּנְיָמִן
And Ebed-melechוַ עֶבֶד מֶלֶךְwent outיֵּצֵאfrom the houseמִבֵּיתof the kingהַמֶּלֶךְand spokeוַיְדַבֵּרto the king,אֶל הַמֶּלֶךְsaying,לֵאמֹר
“My lordאֲדֹנִיthe king,הַמֶּלֶךְthese menהָאֲנָשִׁים הָאֵלֶּהhave done evilהֵרֵעוּin allכָּלthatאֲשֶׁרthey have doneעָשׂוּto Jeremiahלְיִרְמְיָהוּthe prophet,הַנָּבִיאwhomאֵת אֲשֶׁרthey have thrownהִשְׁלִיכוּinto the cistern;אֶל הַבּוֹרand he will dieוַיָּמָתwhere he isתַּחְתָּיוbecause ofמִפְּנֵיthe famine,הָרָעָבforכִּיthere is noאֵיןmoreעוֹדbreadהַלֶּחֶםin the city.”בָּעִיר
Then the kingוַ הַמֶּלֶךְcommandedיְצַוֶּהEbed-melechאֵת עֶבֶד מֶלֶךְthe Cushite,הַכּוּשִׁיsaying,לֵאמֹר“Takeקַחwith youבְּיָדְךָfrom hereמִזֶּהthirtyשְׁלֹשִׁיםmen,אֲנָשִׁיםand bring upוְהַעֲלִיתָJeremiahאֶת יִרְמְיָהוּthe prophetהַנָּבִיאfrom the cisternמִן הַבּוֹרbeforeבְּטֶרֶםhe dies.”יָמוּת
So Ebed-melechוַ עֶבֶד מֶלֶךְtookיִּקַּחthe menאֶת הָאֲנָשִׁיםwith himבְּיָדוֹand wentוַיָּבֹאinto the houseבֵיתof the king,הַמֶּלֶךְto a place underאֶל תַּחַתthe treasury,הָאוֹצָרand tookוַיִּקַּחfrom thereמִשָּׁםoldבְּלוֹיֵragsסְחָבוֹתand worn-outוּבְלוֹיֵclothes,מְלָחִיםand let them downוַיְשַׁלְּחֵםto Jeremiahאֶל יִרְמְיָהוּintoאֶלthe cisternהַבּוֹרwith ropes.בַּחֲבָלִים
And Ebed-melechוַ עֶבֶד מֶלֶךְthe Cushiteהַכּוּשִׁיsaidיֹּאמֶרto Jeremiah,אֶל יִרְמְיָהוּ“Put,שִׂיםplease,נָאthe oldבְּלוֹאֵיragsהַסְּחָבוֹתand the worn-out clothesוְהַמְּלָחִיםunderתַּחַתyour armpits,אַצִּלוֹת יָדֶיךָbeneathמִתַּחַתthe ropes.”לַחֲבָלִיםAnd Jeremiahוַ יִרְמְיָהוּdidיַּעַשׂso.כֵּן
So they pulledוַיִּמְשְׁכוּJeremiahאֶת יִרְמְיָהוּwith ropesבַּחֲבָלִיםand brought him upוַיַּעֲלוּ אֹתוֹfrom the cistern;מִן הַבּוֹרand Jeremiahוַ יִרְמְיָהוּstayedיֵּשֶׁבin the courtבַּחֲצַרof the guard.הַמַּטָּרָה
Then Kingוַ הַמֶּלֶךְZedekiahצִדְקִיָּהוּsentיִּשְׁלַחand tookוַיִּקַּחJeremiahאֶת יִרְמְיָהוּthe prophetהַנָּבִיאto himselfאֵלָיוatאֶלthe thirdהַשְּׁלִישִׁיentranceמָבוֹאthatאֲשֶׁרwas in the houseבְּבֵיתof YHWH;יְהוָהand the kingוַ הַמֶּלֶךְsaidיֹּאמֶרto Jeremiah,אֶל יִרְמְיָהוּ“Iאֲנִיam askingשֹׁאֵלyouאֹתְךָsomething;דָּבָרdo notאַלhideתְּכַחֵדanythingדָּבָרfrom me.”מִמֶּנִּי
And Jeremiahוַ יִרְמְיָהוּsaidיֹּאמֶרto Zedekiah,אֶל צִדְקִיָּהוּ“IfכִּיI tell itאַגִּידto you,לְךָwill you notהֲלוֹאsurelyהָמֵתput me to death?תְּמִיתֵנִיAnd ifוְכִיI give you counsel,אִיעָצְךָyou will notלֹאlistenתִשְׁמַעto me.”אֵלָי
And Kingוַ הַמֶּלֶךְZedekiahצִדְקִיָּהוּsworeיִּשָּׁבַעto Jeremiahאֶל יִרְמְיָהוּin secret,בַּסֵּתֶרsaying,לֵאמֹר“As YHWH lives,חַי יְהוָהwhoאֲשֶׁרmadeעָשָׂהfor usלָנוּthis soul,אֶת הַנֶּפֶשׁ הַזֹּאתI will notאִםput you to death,אֲמִיתֶךָnorוְאִםwill I give youאֶתֶּנְךָinto the handבְּיַדof these menהָאֲנָשִׁים הָאֵלֶּהwhoאֲשֶׁרare seekingמְבַקְשִׁיםyour life.”אֶת נַפְשֶׁךָ
Then Jeremiahוַ יִרְמְיָהוּsaidיֹּאמֶרto Zedekiah,אֶל צִדְקִיָּהוּ“ThusכֹּהsaysאָמַרYHWHיְהוָהElohimאֱלֹהֵיTsevaot,צְבָאוֹתthe Elohimאֱלֹהֵיof Israel:יִשְׂרָאֵלIfאִםyou really go outיָצֹא תֵצֵאto the princesאֶל שָׂרֵיof the kingמֶלֶךְof Babylon,בָּבֶלthen your soulוְ נַפְשֶׁךָwill live,חָיְתָהand this cityוְהָעִיר הַזֹּאתwill notלֹאbe burnedתִשָּׂרֵףwith fire,בָּאֵשׁand you will live,וְחָיִתָהyouאַתָּהand your house.וּבֵיתֶךָ
But ifוְאִםyou do notלֹאgo outתֵצֵאto the princesאֶל שָׂרֵיof the kingמֶלֶךְof Babylon,בָּבֶלthen this cityוְ הָעִיר הַזֹּאתwill be givenנִתְּנָהinto the handבְּיַדof the Chaldeans,הַכַּשְׂדִּיםand they will burn itוּשְׂרָפוּהָwith fire,בָּאֵשׁand youוְאַתָּהwill notלֹאescapeתִמָּלֵטfrom their hand.”מִיָּדָם
And Kingוַ הַמֶּלֶךְZedekiahצִדְקִיָּהוּsaidיֹּאמֶרto Jeremiah,אֶל יִרְמְיָהוּ“Iאֲנִיam anxious aboutדֹאֵגthe Jewsאֶת הַיְּהוּדִיםwhoאֲשֶׁרhave desertedנָפְלוּto the Chaldeans,אֶל הַכַּשְׂדִּיםlestפֶּןthey giveיִתְּנוּmeאֹתִיinto their handבְּיָדָםand they abuse me.”וְהִתְעַלְּלוּ בִי
But Jeremiahוַ יִרְמְיָהוּsaid,יֹּאמֶר“They will notלֹאgive you over.יִתֵּנוּListen,שְׁמַעplease,נָאto the voiceבְּקוֹלof YHWHיְהוָהin whatלַאֲשֶׁרIאֲנִיam speakingדֹּבֵרto you,אֵלֶיךָand it will go wellוְיִיטַבwith you,לְךָand your soul will live.וּתְחִי נַפְשֶׁךָ
But ifוְאִםyouאַתָּהrefuseמָאֵןto go out,לָצֵאתthisזֶהis the wordהַדָּבָרthatאֲשֶׁרYHWHיְהוָהhas shown me:הִרְאַנִי
Look,וְהִנֵּהallכָלthe womenהַנָּשִׁיםwhoאֲשֶׁרare leftנִשְׁאֲרוּin the houseבְּבֵיתof the kingמֶלֶךְof Judahיְהוּדָהare being brought outמוּצָאוֹתto the princesאֶל שָׂרֵיof the kingמֶלֶךְof Babylon,בָּבֶלand theyוְהֵנָּהare saying,אֹמְרוֹת‘They have incited youהִסִּיתוּךָand prevailedוְיָכְלוּover you,לְךָyour menאַנְשֵׁיof peace;שְׁלֹמֶךָyour feetרַגְלֶךָhave sunkהָטְבְּעוּin the mire;בַבֹּץthey have turnedנָסֹגוּback.’אָחוֹר
And allוְאֶת כָּלyour wivesנָשֶׁיךָand your sonsוְאֶת בָּנֶיךָthey will bring outמוֹצִאִיםto the Chaldeans,אֶל הַכַּשְׂדִּיםand youוְאַתָּהwill notלֹאescapeתִמָּלֵטfrom their hand,מִיָּדָםforכִּיby the handבְיַדof the kingמֶלֶךְof Babylonבָּבֶלyou will be seized,תִּתָּפֵשׂand this cityוְאֶת הָעִיר הַזֹּאתyou will burnתִּשְׂרֹףwith fire.”בָּאֵשׁ
And Zedekiahוַ צִדְקִיָּהוּsaidיֹּאמֶרto Jeremiah,אֶל יִרְמְיָהוּ“Let no oneאִישׁ אַלknowיֵדַעof these words,בַּדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּהand you will notוְלֹאdie.תָמוּת
And ifוְכִיthe princesהַשָּׂרִיםhearיִשְׁמְעוּthatכִּיI have spokenדִבַּרְתִּיwith you,אִתָּךְand they comeוּבָאוּto youאֵלֶיךָand sayוְאָמְרוּto you,אֵלֶיךָ‘Tellהַגִּידָהus,לָנוּplease,נָּאwhatמַהyou saidדִּבַּרְתָּto the king;אֶל הַמֶּלֶךְdo notאַלhide itתְּכַחֵדfrom us,מִמֶּנּוּand we will notוְלֹאput you to death;נְמִיתֶךָand whatוּמַהdid the kingהַמֶּלֶךְsayדִּבֶּרto you?’אֵלֶיךָ
then you shall sayוְאָמַרְתָּto them,אֲלֵיהֶם‘Iאֲנִיwas lettingמַפִּילmy supplicationתְחִנָּתִיfallמַפִּילbeforeלִפְנֵיthe kingהַמֶּלֶךְnotלְבִלְתִּיto send me backהֲשִׁיבֵנִיto the houseבֵּיתof Jonathanיְהוֹנָתָןto dieלָמוּתthere.’”שָׁם
And allוַ כָלthe princesהַשָּׂרִיםcameיָּבֹאוּto Jeremiahאֶל יִרְמְיָהוּand askedוַיִּשְׁאֲלוּhim,אֹתוֹand he toldוַיַּגֵּדthemלָהֶםaccording to allכְּכָלthese wordsהַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּהthatאֲשֶׁרthe kingהַמֶּלֶךְhad commanded;צִוָּהand they stopped speakingוַיַּחֲרִשׁוּwith him,מִמֶּנּוּforכִּיthe matterהַדָּבָרhad notלֹאbeen heard.נִשְׁמַע
And Jeremiahוַ יִרְמְיָהוּstayedיֵּשֶׁבin the courtבַּחֲצַרof the guardהַמַּטָּרָהuntilעַדthe dayיוֹםthatאֲשֶׁרJerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִָםwas captured.נִלְכְּדָהAnd it happenedוְהָיָהwhenכַּאֲשֶׁרJerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִָםwas captured—נִלְכְּדָה