Jer 39:5 | NETfull | STEP | But the Babylonian army chased after them. They caught up with Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho and captured him. They took him to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon at Riblah in the territory of Hamath and Nebuchadnezzar passed sentence on him there.

Jeremiah 39:5

5 But the Babylonian ^{▼▼ Heb “The Chaldeans.” See the study note on 21:4 for explanation.} army chased after them. They caught up with Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho ^{▼▼ For location see Map5-B2; Map6-E1; Map7-E1; Map8-E3; Map10-A2; Map11-A1.} and captured him. ^{▼▼ 2 Kgs 25:5 and Jer 52:8 mention that the soldiers all scattered from him. That is why the text focuses on Zedekiah here.} They took him to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon at Riblah ^{▼▼ Riblah was a strategic town on the Orontes River in Syria. It was at a crossing of the major roads between Egypt and Mesopotamia. Pharaoh Necho had earlier received Jehoahaz there and put him in chains (2 Kgs 23:33) prior to taking him captive to Egypt. Nebuchadnezzar had set up his base camp for conducting his campaigns against the Palestinian states there and was now sitting in judgment on prisoners brought to him.} in the territory of Hamath and Nebuchadnezzar passed sentence on him there.