Jeremiah 39: God Keeps Ebedmelech Safe

In Jeremiah 39 Babylon's army breaks into Jerusalem, just as God had warned. The city is taken and many people are carried away. But God takes care of Jeremiah. The king of Babylon orders that Jeremiah be treated kindly, and he is set free. God also sends a promise to Ebedmelech, the man who rescued Jeremiah. God will save him because he trusted in God.

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Read Jeremiah 39

World English Bible · 18 verses

¹ In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and all his army came against Jerusalem, and besieged it.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
² In the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, the ninth day of the month, a breach was made in the city.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³ All the princes of the king of Babylon came in, and sat in the middle gate: Nergal Sharezer, Samgarnebo, Sarsechim the Rabsaris, Nergal Sharezer the Rabmag, with all the rest of the princes of the king of Babylon.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴ When Zedekiah the king of Judah and all the men of war saw them, then they fled and went out of the city by night, by the way of the king’s garden, through the gate between the two walls; and he went out toward the Arabah.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁵ But the army of the Chaldeans pursued them, and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho. When they had taken him, they brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to Riblah in the land of Hamath; and he pronounced judgment on him.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁶ Then the king of Babylon killed Zedekiah’s sons in Riblah before his eyes. The king of Babylon also killed all the nobles of Judah.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁷ Moreover he put out Zedekiah’s eyes and bound him in fetters, to carry him to Babylon.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁸ The Chaldeans burned the king’s house and the people’s houses with fire and broke down the walls of Jerusalem.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁹ Then Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive into Babylon the rest of the people who remained in the city, the deserters also who fell away to him, and the rest of the people who remained.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁰ But Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left of the poor of the people, who had nothing, in the land of Judah, and gave them vineyards and fields at the same time.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹¹ Now Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon commanded Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard concerning Jeremiah, saying,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹² “Take him and take care of him. Do him no harm; but do to him even as he tells you.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹³ So Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, Nebushazban, Rabsaris, and Nergal Sharezer, Rabmag, and all the chief officers of the king of BabylonThis verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁴ sent and took Jeremiah out of the court of the guard, and committed him to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, that he should bring him home. So he lived among the people.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁵ Now Yahweh’s word came to Jeremiah while he was shut up in the court of the guard, saying,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁶ “Go, and speak to Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, saying, ‘Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel, says: “Behold, I will bring my words on this city for evil, and not for good; and they will be accomplished before you in that day.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁷ But I will deliver you in that day,” says Yahweh; “and you will not be given into the hand of the men of whom you are afraid.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁸ For I will surely save you. You won’t fall by the sword, but you will escape with your life, because you have put your trust in me,” says Yahweh.’”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org

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Jeremiah 39 · Preschool

God Keeps Me Safe

Name Date

Color Jeremiah and Ebedmelech. God took care of them both!

Can you find these in the picture? Circle each one!

Bible Verse

“Take him and take care of him. Do him no harm; but do to him even as he tells you.”

Jeremiah 39:12 (WEB)

Prayer

Thank You, God, for making me!

Take It Home

Read the verse aloud. Then explain that a hard day came for Jerusalem. But God kept Jeremiah safe, and he kept Ebedmelech safe because he trusted in God. Thank God together for keeping you safe.

Open Grade 4 on its own page

Jeremiah 39 · Grade 4

When the City Fell

Name Date

Read and Think

In the ninth year of Zedekiah, Nebuchadnezzar's army surrounded Jerusalem. In the eleventh year, a breach was made in the city wall. Babylon's officials took their seats in the middle gate. Zedekiah fled by night, but he was caught near Jericho and brought to Nebuchadnezzar, who judged him harshly and took him in chains to Babylon. The palace and houses were burned, and the walls were broken down.

Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, carried the people away to Babylon. He left some of the poorest people in Judah and gave them vineyards and fields.

In the middle of this disaster, God remembered his servants. Nebuchadnezzar ordered that Jeremiah be released and cared for, and he was handed to Gedaliah to live among the people. God also kept his promise to Ebedmelech. For I will surely save you. You won't fall by the sword, but you will escape with your life, because you have put your trust in me.

Show What You Know

What happened in the eleventh year of Zedekiah?
Where was Zedekiah caught?
Whom did Nebuzaradan leave in Judah?
Why did God promise to save Ebedmelech?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

GodsaveguardBabylon

Zedekiah fled by night, but he was caught near Jericho and brought to Nebuchadnezzar, who judged him harshly and took him in chains to .
Nebuzaradan, the captain of the , carried the people away to Babylon.
In the middle of this disaster, remembered his servants.
For I will surely you.

Think About It

How does God's care for Jeremiah and Ebedmelech show his faithfulness even in disaster?
What does it mean to put your trust in God when things around you are falling apart?

Memory Verse

For I will surely save you. You won’t fall by the sword, but you will escape with your life, because you have put your trust in me,” says Yahweh.’”

Jeremiah 39:18 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for keeping me safe. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

What is trust?
How does God care for you?

Open Grade 5 on its own page

Jeremiah 39 · Grade 5

Judgment and Mercy on the Same Day

Name Date

Read and Think

Jeremiah 39 records the event Jeremiah had warned about for many years. The siege began in the ninth year of Zedekiah, and in the eleventh year, in the fourth month, the ninth day of the month, a breach was made in the city (39:1-2). Babylon's princes sat in the middle gate, a sign that they now ruled. Zedekiah tried to escape toward the Jordan, but he was captured in the plains of Jericho and brought to Nebuchadnezzar at Riblah. There he suffered the severe punishment Jeremiah had foretold, and he was carried to Babylon in chains. The temple, palace, and homes were burned and the walls torn down.

The account is deliberately plain. Every detail fulfills God's word, showing that the warnings were not empty threats. Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard, deported the population but left some of the poorest in the land and gave them vineyards and fields, a small reversal in which the poor received land.

Two individuals stand out amid national judgment. Nebuchadnezzar ordered, Take him and take care of him. Do him no harm. Jeremiah was entrusted to Gedaliah. And God's earlier promise to Ebedmelech was kept. God told him that he would escape with his life, because he had put his trust in God. The faithful foreigner who risked his life for Jeremiah was spared. God's judgment on a nation does not cancel his care for those who trust him.

Show What You Know

When did the siege begin?
What did the princes sitting in the middle gate signify?
What small reversal happened for the poor?
What does the chapter show about God's judgment and his care?

Crossword

Across

And overtook ____ in the plains of Jericho.
All the princes of the king of ____ came in.
Sent and took Jeremiah out of the court of the ____.

Down

In the ninth year of Zedekiah ____ of Judah.
Because you have put your ____ in me.

Think About It

Why do you think the account of the city's fall is told so plainly?
How can Ebedmelech's story encourage someone going through a frightening time?

Memory Verse

For I will surely save you. You won’t fall by the sword, but you will escape with your life, because you have put your trust in me,” says Yahweh.’”

Jeremiah 39:18 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for keeping me safe. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

When is trust hard?
How can you trust God?
What is one way you could live out this chapter this week?

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Jeremiah 39: God Keeps Ebedmelech Safe

Read Jeremiah 39

Worksheets

God Keeps Me Safe

Prayer

Take It Home

Safe with God

Trace the Words

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Mini Maze

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Prayer

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God Takes Care

Trace the Words

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Kept Safe

Prayer

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God Kept Them Safe

Read the Story

Show What You Know

Word Search

Prayer

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Kept Safe

Read the Story

Answer the Questions

Kept Safe

Word Search

Prayer

Take It Home

When the City Fell

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Word Bank Fill-In

Think About It

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Prayer

Take It Home

Judgment and Mercy on the Same Day

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Crossword

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

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