12 On the tenth day of the fifth(A) month, in the nineteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, Nebuzaradan(B) commander of the imperial guard, who served the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem. 13 He set fire(C) to the temple(D) of the Lord, the royal palace and all the houses(E) of Jerusalem. Every important building he burned down. 14 The whole Babylonian army, under the commander of the imperial guard, broke down all the walls(F) around Jerusalem. 15 Nebuzaradan the commander of the guard carried into exile(G) some of the poorest people and those who remained in the city, along with the rest of the craftsmen[a] and those who had deserted(H) to the king of Babylon. 16 But Nebuzaradan left behind(I) the rest of the poorest people of the land to work the vineyards and fields.

17 The Babylonians broke up the bronze pillars,(J) the movable stands(K) and the bronze Sea(L) that were at the temple of the Lord and they carried all the bronze to Babylon.(M) 18 They also took away the pots, shovels, wick trimmers, sprinkling bowls,(N) dishes and all the bronze articles used in the temple service.(O) 19 The commander of the imperial guard took away the basins, censers,(P) sprinkling bowls, pots, lampstands,(Q) dishes(R) and bowls used for drink offerings(S)—all that were made of pure gold or silver.(T)

20 The bronze from the two pillars, the Sea and the twelve bronze bulls(U) under it, and the movable stands, which King Solomon had made for the temple of the Lord, was more than could be weighed.(V) 21 Each pillar was eighteen cubits high and twelve cubits in circumference[b]; each was four fingers thick, and hollow.(W) 22 The bronze capital(X) on top of one pillar was five cubits[c] high and was decorated with a network and pomegranates(Y) of bronze all around. The other pillar, with its pomegranates, was similar. 23 There were ninety-six pomegranates on the sides; the total number of pomegranates(Z) above the surrounding network was a hundred.(AA)

24 The commander of the guard took as prisoners Seraiah(AB) the chief priest, Zephaniah(AC) the priest next in rank and the three doorkeepers.(AD)

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 52:15 Or the populace
  2. Jeremiah 52:21 That is, about 27 feet high and 18 feet in circumference or about 8.1 meters high and 5.4 meters in circumference
  3. Jeremiah 52:22 That is, about 7 1/2 feet or about 2.3 meters

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