Nebuzaradan
The captain of Nebuchadnezzar's bodyguard, who commanded the force that destroyed Jerusalem. He burned the temple, the palace and every great house, broke down the city walls, carried off the bronze pillars and the temple vessels, and deported the population, leaving only the poorest to be vinedressers and farmers. He also carried out his king's specific instruction concerning Jeremiah — releasing him from his chains at Ramah and offering him a choice of going to Babylon under his protection or remaining in the land.
What we know — and how we know it
Where in scripture
2 KingsJeremiahNow in the fifth month, on the seventh day of the month, which was the nineteenth year of king Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem.
2 Kings 25:8 — Burns the Temple
Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive the residue of the people who were left in the city, and those who fell away, who fell to the king of Babylon, and the residue of the multitude.
2 Kings 25:11
Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard took them, and brought them to the king of Babylon to Riblah.
2 Kings 25:20
Then Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive into Babylon the residue of the people who remained in the city, the deserters also who fell away to him, and the residue of the people who remained.
Jeremiah 39:9
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.
Jeremiah 39:10
Now Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon commanded Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard concerning Jeremiah, saying,
Jeremiah 39:11
So Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard sent, with Nebushazban, Rabsaris, and Nergal Sharezer, Rabmag, and all the chief officers of the king of Babylon;
Jeremiah 39:13
The word which came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, after Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had let him go from Ramah, when he had taken him being bound in chains among all the captives of Jerusalem and Judah, who were carried away captive to Babylon.
Jeremiah 40:1
Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, a public-domain translation.
In their own words — 1 recorded saying
“And the captain of the armed men took Jeremiah and said to him, The Lord your God gave word of the evil which was to come on this place: *** and the Lord has made it come, and has done as he said; because of your sin against the Lord in not giving ear to his voice; and that is why this thing has come on you. Now see, this day I am freeing you from the chains which are on your hands. If it seems good to you to come with me to Babylon, then come, and I will keep an eye on you; but if it does not seem good to you to come with me to Babylon, then do not come: see, all the land is before you; if…” — Jeremiah 40:2-5
Speaker attribution: Clear Bible MACULA (CC BY 4.0). Wording: Bible in Basic English (public domain).
Places in their life
Photo: David Stanley — CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)