8. Meanwhile, the Babylonians burned Jerusalem, including the royal palace and the houses of the people, and they tore down the walls of the city.
9. Then Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, took as exiles to Babylon the rest of the people who remained in the city, those who had defected to him, and everyone else who remained.
10. But Nebuzaradan allowed some of the poorest people to stay behind in the land of Judah, and he assigned them to care for the vineyards and fields.
11. King Nebuchadnezzar had told Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, to find Jeremiah.
12. “See that he isn’t hurt,” he said. “Look after him well, and give him anything he wants.”
13. So Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard; Nebushazban, a chief officer; Nergal-sharezer, the king’s adviser; and the other officers of Babylon’s king
14. sent messengers to bring Jeremiah out of the prison. They put him under the care of Gedaliah son of Ahikam and grandson of Shaphan, who took him back to his home. So Jeremiah stayed in Judah among his own people.
15. The lord had given the following message to Jeremiah while he was still in prison:
16. “Say to Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, ‘This is what the lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: I will do to this city everything I have threatened. I will send disaster, not prosperity. You will see its destruction,
17. but I will rescue you from those you fear so much.
18. Because you trusted me, I will give you your life as a reward. I will rescue you and keep you safe. I, the lord, have spoken!’”