
TORAH
NEVI'IM
KETUVIM
Chapter 39
Translation and Transliteration of
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1In the ninth year of King Tzidkiyahu of Yehuda, in the tenth month, King Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon moved against Yerushalayim with his whole army, and they laid siege to it.
ba-sha-NAH ha-t'-shi-EET l'-tzi-d'-KI-yahu me-lekh y'-hu-DAH ba-CHO-desh ha-a-si-REE ba-a NE-vu-khad-re-TSAR me-lekh ba-VEL v'-kol-khe-YLO el y'-ru-sha-LA-im va-ya-TZU-ru a-LE-ha
אבַּשָּׁנָ֣ה הַ֠תְּשִׁעִ֠ית לְצִדְקִיָּ֨הוּ מֶלֶךְ־יְהוּדָ֜ה בַּחֹ֣דֶשׁ הָעֲשִׂרִ֗י בָּ֠א נְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּ֨ר מֶלֶךְ־בָּבֶ֤ל וְכׇל־חֵילוֹ֙ אֶל־יְר֣וּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם וַיָּצֻ֖רוּ עָלֶֽיהָ׃
2And in the eleventh year of Tzidkiyahu, on the ninth day of the fourth month, the [walls of] the city were breached.
b'-a-s'-TEY a-S'-REY sha-NAH l'-tzi-d'-ki-YA-hu ba-KHO-desh ha-r'-vee-EE b'-tish-AH la-KHO-desh ha-v'-k'-a-ha ha-EER
בבְּעַשְׁתֵּֽי־עֶשְׂרֵ֤ה שָׁנָה֙ לְצִדְקִיָּ֔הוּ בַּחֹ֥דֶשׁ הָרְבִיעִ֖י בְּתִשְׁעָ֣ה לַחֹ֑דֶשׁ הׇבְקְעָ֖ה הָעִֽיר׃
3All the officers of the king of Babylon entered, and took up quarters at the middle gate—Nergal-sarezer, Samgar-nebo, Sarsechim the Rab-saris, Nergal-sarezer the Rab-mag, and all the rest of the officers of the king of Babylon.
vai-ya-VO-u kol sa-RAY me-lekh-BA-vel va-yesh-VU b'-sha-ar ha-ta-VEKH, ne-RE-gal sar-E-tser sam-GAR-ne-VU, sar-se-KHEEM rav-sa-REES, ne-RE-gal sar-E-tser rav-MAG, v'-kol she-a-REET sa-RAY me-lekh-BA-vel.
גוַיָּבֹ֗אוּ כֹּ֚ל שָׂרֵ֣י מֶלֶךְ־בָּבֶ֔ל וַיֵּשְׁב֖וּ בְּשַׁ֣עַר הַתָּ֑וֶךְ נֵרְגַ֣ל שַׂ֠רְאֶ֠צֶר סַֽמְגַּר־נְב֞וּ שַׂר־סְכִ֣ים רַב־סָרִ֗יס נֵרְגַ֤ל שַׂרְאֶ֙צֶר֙ רַב־מָ֔ג וְכׇ֨ל־שְׁאֵרִ֔ית שָׂרֵ֖י מֶ֥לֶךְ בָּבֶֽל׃
4When King Tzidkiyahu of Yehuda saw them, he and all the soldiers fled. They left the city at night, by way of the king's garden, through the gate between the double walls; and he set out toward the Arabah.
vai-HI ka-a-SHER ra-AM tzi-d'-ki-YA-hu me-lekh y'-hu-DAH v'-KOL an-SHAY ha-mil-kha-MAH va-yi-v'-RU va-y'-tze-U la-Y'-LAH min ha-iR DE-rekh GAN ha-ME-lekh b'-sha-AR BAYN ha-KHO-mo-TA-yim va-y'-tze D'-REKH ha-a-ra-VAH
דוַיְהִ֡י כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר רָ֠אָ֠ם צִדְקִיָּ֨הוּ מֶלֶךְ־יְהוּדָ֜ה וְכֹ֣ל ׀ אַנְשֵׁ֣י הַמִּלְחָמָ֗ה וַֽ֠יִּבְרְח֠וּ וַיֵּצְא֨וּ לַ֤יְלָה מִן־הָעִיר֙ דֶּ֚רֶךְ גַּ֣ן הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ בְּשַׁ֖עַר בֵּ֣ין הַחֹמֹתָ֑יִם וַיֵּצֵ֖א דֶּ֥רֶךְ הָעֲרָבָֽה׃
5But the Chaldean troops pursued them, and they overtook Tzidkiyahu in the steppes of Yericho. They captured him and brought him before King Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon at Riblah in the region of Hamath; and he put him on trial.
va-yir-d'-FU khayl kas-DEEM a-kha-ray-HEM va-ya-SEE-gu et tzid-ki-YA-hu b'-ar-VOT y'-ray-KHO va-yik-KHU o-TO va-ya-a-LU-hu el n'-vu-khad-RE-tzar me-lekh ba-VEL riv-LA-tah b'-E-retz kha-MAT vai-da-BAYR i-TO mish-pa-TEEM
הוַיִּרְדְּפ֨וּ חֵיל־כַּשְׂדִּ֜ים אַחֲרֵיהֶ֗ם וַיַּשִּׂ֣גוּ אֶת־צִדְקִיָּ֘הוּ֮ בְּעַֽרְב֣וֹת יְרֵחוֹ֒ וַיִּקְח֣וּ אוֹת֗וֹ וַֽ֠יַּעֲלֻ֠הוּ אֶל־נְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּ֧ר מֶלֶךְ־בָּבֶ֛ל רִבְלָ֖תָה בְּאֶ֣רֶץ חֲמָ֑ת וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר אִתּ֖וֹ מִשְׁפָּטִֽים׃
39:5 And they overtook Tzidkiyahu in the steppes of Yericho

The plains of Yericho
Chapter 39 describes the tragic, final downfall of Yerushalayim. Tzidkiyahu attempts to flee, but is caught just miles away from the Yarden river, in Yericho. Rashi elaborates that “a cave went from his house until the plains of Yericho, and he fled through the cave. The Holy One, Blessed be He, ordained a deer walking on the roof of the cave. The Chaldeans pursued the deer, and when they reached the entrance of the cave in the plains of Yericho, they saw him and captured him.” This is what Yechezkel said about him, (12:13) “I will spread My net over him, and he shall be caught in My snare.” No matter what plans a person makes, God’s plan prevails.
6The king of Babylon had Tzidkiyahu's children slaughtered at Riblah before his eyes; the king of Babylon had all the nobles of Yehuda slaughtered.
vai-yish-KHAT me-LEKH ba-VEL et b'-NAY tzi-d'-ki-YA-hu b'-riv-LAH l'-ei-NAV v'-AYT kol-kho-REI y'-hu-DA sha-KHAT me-LEKH ba-VEL
ווַיִּשְׁחַט֩ מֶ֨לֶךְ בָּבֶ֜ל אֶת־בְּנֵ֧י צִדְקִיָּ֛הוּ בְּרִבְלָ֖ה לְעֵינָ֑יו וְאֵת֙ כׇּל־חֹרֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֔ה שָׁחַ֖ט מֶ֥לֶךְ בָּבֶֽל׃
7Then the eyes of Tzidkiyahu were put out and he was chained in bronze fetters, that he might be brought to Babylon.
v'-et-ei-NEI tzi-d'-ki-YA-hu i-VEER va-ya-a-SRE-hu ban-khush-TA-yim la-VEE o-TO ba-VE-la
זוְאֶת־עֵינֵ֥י צִדְקִיָּ֖הוּ עִוֵּ֑ר וַיַּאַסְרֵ֙הוּ֙ בַּֽנְחֻשְׁתַּ֔יִם לָבִ֥יא אֹת֖וֹ בָּבֶֽלָה׃
8The Chaldeans burned down the king's palace and the houses of the people by fire, and they tore down the walls of Yerushalayim.
v'-et-BAYT ha-ME-lekh v'-et-BAYT ha-AM sa-ru-FU ha-kas-DEEM ba-ESH v'-et-kho-MOT ye-ru-sha-LA-im na-TA-tzu
חוְאֶת־בֵּ֤ית הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ וְאֶת־בֵּ֣ית הָעָ֔ם שָׂרְפ֥וּ הַכַּשְׂדִּ֖ים בָּאֵ֑שׁ וְאֶת־חֹמ֥וֹת יְרוּשָׁלַ֖͏ִם נָתָֽצוּ׃
9The remnant of the people that was left in the city, and the defectors who had gone over to him—the remnant of the people that was left—were exiled by Nebuzaradan, the chief of the guards, to Babylon.
v'-ET ye-TER ha-AHM ha-nish-a-REEM ba-IR v'-ET ha-no-f'-LEEM a-SHER naf-LOO a-LAV v'-ET ye-TER ha-AHM ha-nish-a-REEM heg-LAH ne-vu-za-ra-DAN rav-ta-BA-khee-M ba-VEL
טוְאֵת֩ יֶ֨תֶר הָעָ֜ם הַנִּשְׁאָרִ֣ים בָּעִ֗יר וְאֶת־הַנֹּֽפְלִים֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר נָפְל֣וּ עָלָ֔יו וְאֵ֛ת יֶ֥תֶר הָעָ֖ם הַנִּשְׁאָרִ֑ים הֶגְלָ֛ה נְבוּזַרְאֲדָ֥ן רַב־טַבָּחִ֖ים בָּבֶֽל׃
10But some of the poorest people who owned nothing were left in the land of Yehuda by Nebuzaradan, the chief of the guards, and he gave them vineyards and fields at that time.
u-min ha-a-AM ha-da-LEEM a-SHER AYN-la-HEM me-u-MAH, hish-IR ne-vu-za-ra-DAN rav-ta-BA-kheeM b'-E-rets y'-hu-DA, va-YI-ten la-HEM k'-ra-MEEM vi-GE-viM ba-YOM ha-HU.
יוּמִן־הָעָ֣ם הַדַּלִּ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֤ר אֵין־לָהֶם֙ מְא֔וּמָה הִשְׁאִ֛יר נְבוּזַרְאֲדָ֥ן רַב־טַבָּחִ֖ים בְּאֶ֣רֶץ יְהוּדָ֑ה וַיִּתֵּ֥ן לָהֶ֛ם כְּרָמִ֥ים וִיגֵבִ֖ים בַּיּ֥וֹם הַהֽוּא׃
11King Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon had given orders to Nebuzaradan, the chief of the guards, concerning Yirmiyahu:
va-y'-tsav ne-vu-khad-re-TSAR me-lekh-BA-vel al yir-m'-ya-HU b'-yad ne-vu-za-ra-DAN rav-ta-BA-kheem lay-MOR
יאוַיְצַ֛ו נְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּ֥ר מֶלֶךְ־בָּבֶ֖ל עַֽל־יִרְמְיָ֑הוּ בְּיַ֛ד נְבוּזַרְאֲדָ֥ן רַב־טַבָּחִ֖ים לֵאמֹֽר׃
12“Take him and look after him; do him no harm, but grant whatever he asks of you.”
ka-CHE-nu v'-EY-ne-KHA seem a-LA-yu v'-al-ta-AS lo me-U-ma RA, KEE (im) ka-a-SHER y'-da-BAYR e-LE-kha KEN a-SEH i-MO
יבקָחֶ֗נּוּ וְעֵינֶ֙יךָ֙ שִׂ֣ים עָלָ֔יו וְאַל־תַּ֥עַשׂ ל֖וֹ מְא֣וּמָה רָּ֑ע כִּ֗י (אם) כַּֽאֲשֶׁר֙ יְדַבֵּ֣ר אֵלֶ֔יךָ כֵּ֖ן עֲשֵׂ֥ה עִמּֽוֹ׃
13So Nebuzaradan, the chief of the guards, and Nebushazban the Rab-saris, and Nergal-sarezer the Rab-mag, and all the commanders of the king of Babylon sent
יגוַיִּשְׁלַח נְבוּזַרְאֲדָן רַב־טַבָּחִים וּנְבוּשַׁזְבָּן רַב־סָרִיס וְנֵרְגַל שַׂר־אֶצֶר רַב־מָג וְכֹל רַבֵּי מֶלֶךְ־בָּבֶל׃
14and had Yirmiyahu brought from the prison compound. They committed him to the care of Gedalya son of Achikam son of Shafan, that he might be left at liberty in a house. So he dwelt among the people.
vai-yish-l'-KHU vai-yik-KHU et yir-m'-YA-hu me-kha-TZAR ha-ma-ta-RAH vai-yi-t'-NU o-TO el g'-da-lyah-HU ben a-khee-KAM ben sha-FAN l'-ho-tzi-E-hu el ha-ba-YIT vai-YAY-shEV b'-TO-kh ha-AHM. (s)
ידוַיִּשְׁלְחוּ֩ וַיִּקְח֨וּ אֶֽת־יִרְמְיָ֜הוּ מֵחֲצַ֣ר הַמַּטָּרָ֗ה וַיִּתְּנ֤וּ אֹתוֹ֙ אֶל־גְּדַלְיָ֙הוּ֙ בֶּן־אֲחִיקָ֣ם בֶּן־שָׁפָ֔ן לְהוֹצִאֵ֖הוּ אֶל־הַבָּ֑יִת וַיֵּ֖שֶׁב בְּת֥וֹךְ הָעָֽם׃
15The word of Hashem had come to Yirmiyahu while he was still confined in the prison compound:
v'-el yir-m'-YA-hu ha-YAH d'-var a-do-NAI bi-h'-YO-to a-TZUR ba-cha-TZAR ha-ma-ta-RAH lay-MOR
טווְאֶֽל־יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ הָיָ֣ה דְבַר־יְהֹוָ֑ה בִּֽהְיֹת֣וֹ עָצ֔וּר בַּחֲצַ֥ר הַמַּטָּרָ֖ה לֵאמֹֽר׃
16Go and say to Eved Melech the Ethiopian: “Thus said the lord of Hosts, the God of Yisrael: I am going to fulfill My words concerning this city—for disaster, not for good—and they shall come true on that day in your presence.
ha-LOKH v'-a-MAR-ta l'-E-ved ME-lekh ha-KU-shi le-MOR: KO-a-MAR a-do-NAI t'-va-OT e-lo-HEI yis-ra-AYL, hin-NEE me-VEE et d'-va-RAI el ha-IYR ha-ZOT l'-ra-AH v'-LO l'-to-VAH, v'-ha-YU l'-fa-NE-kha ba-YOM ha-HU.
טזהָל֣וֹךְ וְאָמַרְתָּ֡ לְעֶבֶד־מֶ֨לֶךְ הַכּוּשִׁ֜י לֵאמֹ֗ר כֹּֽה־אָמַ֞ר יְהֹוָ֤ה צְבָאוֹת֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל הִנְנִי֩ מֵבִ֨י אֶת־דְּבָרַ֜י אֶל־הָעִ֥יר הַזֹּ֛את לְרָעָ֖ה וְלֹ֣א לְטוֹבָ֑ה וְהָי֥וּ לְפָנֶ֖יךָ בַּיּ֥וֹם הַהֽוּא׃
17But I will save you on that day—declares Hashem; you shall not be delivered into the hands of the men you dread.
v'-hi-tzal-TI-kha ba-YOM-ha-HU ne-UM-a-do-NAI v'-LO ti-na-TEN b'-yad ha-a-na-SHEEM a-SHER a-TAH ya-GOR mi-p'-NE-hem
יזוְהִצַּלְתִּ֥יךָ בַיּוֹם־הַה֖וּא נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֑ה וְלֹ֤א תִנָּתֵן֙ בְּיַ֣ד הָאֲנָשִׁ֔ים אֲשֶׁר־אַתָּ֥ה יָג֖וֹר מִפְּנֵיהֶֽם׃
18I will rescue you, and you shall not fall by the sword. You shall escape with your life, because you trusted Me—declares Hashem.”
ki ma-LET a-ma-LET-kha u-va-KHE-ret lo ti-POL v'-ha-YE-ta L'-kha naf-sh'-KHA l'-sha-LAL ki-va-TAKH-ta BI ne-UM a-do-NAI. (pey)
יחכִּ֤י מַלֵּט֙ אֲמַלֶּטְךָ֔ וּבַחֶ֖רֶב לֹ֣א תִפֹּ֑ל וְהָיְתָ֨ה לְךָ֤ נַפְשְׁךָ֙ לְשָׁלָ֔ל כִּֽי־בָטַ֥חְתָּ בִּ֖י נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃