The siege warning

1The word that came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and all his army, and all the kingdoms of the earth under the dominion of his hand, and all the peoples, were fighting against Jerusalem and against all its cities, saying,

2Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel: Go and speak to Zedekiah king of Judah, and say to him, ‘Thus says Yahweh: Behold, I am giving this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he will burn it with fire.’

3And you will not escape from his hand, for you will surely be captured and given into his hand. Your eyes will see the eyes of the king of Babylon, and his mouth will speak to your mouth, and you will go to Babylon.

4Yet hear the word of Yahweh, Zedekiah king of Judah: Thus says Yahweh concerning you, You shall not die by the sword.

5You will die in peace. And as spices were burned for your fathers, the former kings who were before you, so they will burn spices for you, and they will lament for you, saying, “Alas, lord!” For I have spoken the word, declares Yahweh.

6Then Jeremiah the prophet spoke all these words to Zedekiah king of Judah in Jerusalem.

7while the army of the king of Babylon was fighting against Jerusalem and against all the remaining cities of Judah, against Lachish and against Azekah, for these alone remained among the cities of Judah as fortified cities.