The Book of the Prophet Jeremiah
Jeremiah 32
Chapter XXXII · Vol. III, pp. 1271–1272
1 Jeremiah, being imprisoned by Zedekiah for his prophecy, 6 buyeth Hanameel's field. 13 Baruch must preserve the evidences, as tokens of the people's return. 16 Jeremiah in his prayer complaineth to God. 26 God confirmeth the captivity of Judah for their sins, 36 and promiseth a gracious return.
1 The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD ain the tenth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadrezzar.
B.C. cir. 589.
a 2 Ki.25.1,2. ch.52.4,5; 39.1,2.
2 For then the king of Babylon's army besieged Jerusalem: band Jeremiah the prophet was shut up cin the court of the prison, which was in the king of Judah's house.
3 For dZedekiah king of Judah had shut him up, saying, eWherefore dost thou prophesy, and say, Thus saith the LORD, gBehold, I will give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall take it;
d 2 Ki.6.31,33. 2 Ch.28.22. Is.1.5. ch.5.3.
e Ex.5.4. ch.36.29; 38.4; 26.9.
g ch.21.10; 34.2,22; 37.8; 38.3; ver.28,29.
4 And hZedekiah king of Judah shall not escape out of the hand of the Chaldeans, but shall surely be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon, and shall speak with him mouth to mouth, and his eyes shall behold his eyes;
h ch.21.7; 34.2,3; 37.17; 38.18,23. Eze.12.12,13; 17.10,13-20; 21.25,26. ch.39.4-7; 52.8-11. 2 Ki.25.4-7.
5 And he shall lead Zedekiah to Babylon, and there shall he be until iI visit him, saith the LORD: jthough ye fight with the Chaldeans, ye shall not prosper.
i ch.27.22; 34.4,5, i.e. he die.
j ch.33.5; 37.7-10; 21.4,5,9; 5.10. Pr.21.30.
6 And Jeremiah said, The word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
7 Behold, Hanameel, the son of Shallum thine uncle, shall come unto thee, saying, Buy thee my field that is in kAnathoth; for the rightl of redemption1 is thine to buy it.
k ch.1.1; 11.21-23; ver.8,9.
l Le.25.24-32. Ru.4.4, with Nu.35.2.
1 The estate of a Jewish family could never be alienated. If, therefore, a man, through poverty, or intending to emigrate, was obliged to sell his property, he must offer it to his next of kin; and even though he should have sold to another, this kinsman, if absent at the time of sale, might, on his return, claim the land at its value. This is called the right of the kinsman (Le. 25. 25), and in the year of jubilee the whole returned to the original owner.—C.
8 So Hanameel, mine uncle's son, came to me in nthe court of the prison, according to the word of the LORD, and said unto me, Buy my field, I pray thee, that is in Anathoth, which is in the country of Benjamin: for the right of inheritance is thine, and the redemption is thine; buy it for thyself. Then2 I knew that this was the word of the LORD.
9 And I bought the field of Hanameel, my uncle's son, that was in Anathoth, oand weighed him the money, even seventeen shekels of silver[≈ 190 g · 6.8 oz · silver worth ≈ US$330].3
10 And pI subscribed the evidence,4 and sealed it, and took witnesses, and qweighed him the money in the balances.
11 So I took the evidence of the purchase, both that which was sealed raccording to the law and custom, and that which was open.5
r Phi.4.8. 2 Co.8.21. Col.4.5. Ep.5.15. Da.6.4,5.
5 'It is customary in the East to write out two documents when contracts are formed: the one signed by the parties, solemnly sealed in the presence of witnesses, and carefully preserved; the other is merely a copy, which is not sealed, and is left open' (Henderson).—P.
12 And I gave the evidence of the purchase unto sBaruch the son of Neriah, the son of Maaseiah, in the sight of Hanameel mine uncle's son, tand in the presence of the witnesses that subscribed the book of the purchase, before all the Jews that sat in the court of the prison.
13 And I charged Baruch before them, saying,
14 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Take these evidences, this evidence of the purchase, both which is sealed, and this evidence which is open, and put them in an earthen vessel,6 that they may continue many days.
* The idea of the prophet seems to have been akin to the modern practice of inclosing written documents in glass bottles, either hermetically sealed, or so immersed in plaster as to exclude the air and moisture, and thus placing them in the foundations of public buildings with a view to their probable discovery after 'many days.' As the transaction has all the appearance of a reality (comp. ver. 7, 8), and not of a vision, it is not beyond the bounds even of ordinary probability to speculate upon the future discovery of this very document, which, as the earliest deed of conveyance upon record, would certainly rank among the chief curiosities of the world, independent of its emblematic and evidential connection with prophecy.—C.
6 See note * in first column.
15 For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, uHouses and fields and vineyards shall be possessed again in this land.
u ch.30.18; 31.24,28; 33.12; ver.37,43,41,44; ch.4.27.
16 Now when I had delivered the evidence of the purchase unto Baruch the son of Neriah, vI prayed unto the LORD, saying,
17 Ah, Lord GOD! behold, xthou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched-out arm, and ythere is nothing too hard for thee:7
x Ge.i.; 2.1. ch.25.5. Ps.146.6. Ex.20.11. 2 Ki.19.15.
y Ge.18.14. Lu.1.37. ver.27. Job 42.2.
7 Or, hid from thee, Is.46.9,10.
18 Thou showest zloving-kindness unto thousands, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them: athe great, the mighty God, the bLORD of hosts, is his name,
19 Great in counsel, and mighty in 8work: for thine ceyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men; dto give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings:
20 Whiche hast set signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, even unto this day, and in Israel, and among other men: and ghast made thee a name, as at this day;
21 Andh hast brought forth thy people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs, and with wonders, and with a strong hand, and with a stretched-out arm, and with great terror;
22 Andi hast given them this land, which thou didst jswear to their fathers to give them, a land flowing with milk and honey:
23 And they came in, and possessed it; kbut they obeyed not thy voice, neither walked in thy law: they have done nothing9 of all that thou commandedst them to do; ltherefore thou hast caused all this evil to come upon them.
k Ju.2.11-20. Ne.9.26-30. Ezr.9.7. Ps.106.34-43; 78.56-58. Eze.xvi. xx. xxii. xxiii. Da.9.5-14.
9 The meaning is, that, as a people, they had 'done nothing' according to God's requirement. Individuals at all times, and at some times many, had served God in humility and faithfulness; but the nation, never.—Note. It is no doubt true that religion is a matter between every man's conscience and his God; but it is equally true that religion is a matter between every nation and its king. And this is one great truth that the rulers and people of all nations are slow to learn—all having hitherto been willing and determined to distinguish between things 'morally wrong, but politically right'—a distinction that never can be admitted by a Christian so long as he believes JESUS to be King of kings, Re.19.16.—C.
l ch.11.4-8. Le.26.14-39. De.28.15-68; 29.18-28; 31.16,17; 32.15-26. La.i.-v. Jos.23.16.
24 Behold the 1mounts,2 they are come unto the city to take it; and nthe city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans that fight against it, because of the sword, and of the famine, and of the pestilence: and what thou hast spoken ois come to pass; and, behold, thou seest it.3
1 Or, engines of shot, ch.33.4.
2 Earthen mounds raised so as to enable the assailants to shoot arrows or stones over the walls of the city.—C.
n ch.21.4-7; 14.12,14; 16.4; 15.1,2; ver.3,36.
o Jos.23.15,16. Zec.1.6.
3 Jerusalem was besieged by the Chaldeans at the time when this prophecy was uttered, and the symbolic purchase made. It was now the tenth year of Zedekiah's reign, and the siege began in the tenth month of the ninth year. Hence the reference in this verse to the 'mounts' erected outside the city, on which doubtless the engines of war were placed. Famine, too, began already to be felt in the city, and pestilence was raging.—P.
25 And thou hast said unto me, O Lord GOD, Buy thee the field for money, and take witnesses; for4 the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans.
28 Therefore thus saith the LORD, sBehold, I will give this city into the hand of the Chaldeans, and into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and he shall take it.
29 And the Chaldeans, that fight against this city, shall come tand set fire on this city, and burn it, with the houses upon whose roofs they have offered incense unto Baal, and poured out drink-offerings unto other gods, to provoke me5 to anger.
t ch.11.16; 17.27; 21.4,10,12; 37.8,10; 22.7; 19.13; 2.13,20,23,28; 11.12,13; 52.13.
5 To provoke me. Not on purpose to provoke God—for they had forgot him—but the end of which was to provoke, because they dishonoured him, as a Father; disobeyed him, as a King; and forsook him, as a Husband; wherefore he was offended, and condemned them as a righteous Judge.—C.
30 Foru the children of Israel, and the children of Judah, have only done evil before me from their youth:6 for the children of Israel have only provoked me to anger with the work of their hands, saith the LORD.
u ch.3.1-10,25; 7.23-28; 2.7. 2 Ki.17.7-23. Eze.16.15-34,44-52; 20.4-32; 23.2-44. Ge.6.5; 8.21. Ps.51.4.
6 From their youth as a nation, when they escaped from slavery and came up out of Egypt.—C.
31 Forv this city hath been to me as a provocation of mine anger,7 and of my fury, from the day that they built it, even unto this day, that I should xremove it from before my face;
v 1 Ki.11.7, with 2 Ki.23.13. Eze.22.2-12. Zep.3.1-6. ch.6.6,7; 23.15; 5.9-11. Is.65.3-5.
7 Heb. for my anger.
x 2 Ki.23.27; 24.3,4.
32 Becausey of all the evil of the children of Israel, and of the children of Judah, which they have done to provoke me to anger, zthey, their kings, their princes, their priests, and their prophets, and the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
33 And they have turned unto me athe 8back,9 and not the face: bthough I taught them, rising up early and teaching them, yet they have not hearkened to receive instruction.
a ch.2.27; 7.24. Is.48.4. Zec.7.11,12. Ho.11.2,7.
8 Heb. neck.
9 The back, to forsake me, or show contempt either of my love or power:—The face, which would exhibit attention, respect, and obedience.—C.
b ch.7.13. 2 Ch.36.14-16. ch.25.3.
34 But they cset their abominations in the house, which is called by my name, to defile it.1
c ch.23.11; 7.30,31. Eze.8.5-16. 2 Ch.33.2,3,15,22. 2 Ki.21.4-7.
1 It seems from this statement, and from some others of a similar import, that the Jews had gone so far in their idolatry as to set up idols within the very courts of the temple. Nothing could more strikingly show the utter and hopeless depravity of the people.—P.
35 And dthey built the high places of Baal, which are in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to cause their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire unto Molech, which I commanded them not, neither came it into my mind, that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin.2
d 2 Ch.28.2-4; 33.3-7. 2 Ki.23.10. ch.7.31; 19.5. Ps.106.37. Is.57.5. Eze.16.20,21; 23.37. Le.18.21; 20.2-5. De.18.10.
2 See note on ch.19.5.—C.
36 And now therefore3 thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning this city, whereof ye say,4 Ite shall be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon, by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence;5
37 Behold, gI will gather them out of all countries whither I have driven them in mine anger, and in my fury, and in great wrath; and I will bring them again unto this place, and I will cause them to hdwell safely:6
* This safety the Jews did not enjoy after the return from the Babylonish captivity, but were continuously distressed by the Persians, Egyptians, Macedonians, and finally destroyed by the Romans; the fulfilment of the prophecy is, therefore, future; the partial restoration under Zerubbabel being a mere shadow of the complete restoration yet in reserve.—C.
g See ch.23.3; 29.14; 30.3,18; 31.8-17; 33.7. De.30.3-6. Eze.34.12-16,22-31; 36.8-38; 37.21-27. Ho.1.10,11; 3.5; 6.1-3. Am.9.11-15. Ob.17-21. Zep.3.9-20.
6 See note * in first column.
39 And I will jgive them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever,7 fork the good of them, and of their children after them:
40 And I will make an leverlasting 8covenant with them, that nI will not turn away 9from them to do them good; but oI will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me.
l Ge.17.7,13. Le.24.8. Is.24.5. ch.50.5; 31.31-33. Is.55.3. Ps.89.34,35.
8 The new and better covenant of which Christ is the Mediator, and which is never to give place to any other dispensation. See ch. 1. 5. Is. 55. 3, and compare with Ps.89.34,35.—C.
n ch.31.31-33. Eze.39.29. Ro.8.28-39.
9 Heb. from after.
o ch.31.33. Eze.36.26,27. Ep.1.3; 2.4-10. 1 Pe.1.5. Mat.16.18. Jn.10.27-29.
41 Yea, pI will rejoice over them to do them good, and I qwill plant them in this land assuredly1 with my whole heart, and with my whole soul.
42 For thus saith the LORD, rLike as I have brought all this great evil upon this people, sso will I bring upon them all the good that I have promised them.2
r ch.31.28; 18.7,8; 29.10. Zec.8.14,15, with Jos.23.14,15.
s ch.33.10,11.
2 Surely it is impossible to read this solemn declaration and observe how literally God 'brought all this great evil upon this people;' and then to doubt or deny that he will as literally 'bring upon them all the good that he has promised them.'—C.
43 And tfields shall be bought in this land, whereof uye say, It is desolate3 without man or beast; it is given into the hand of the Chaldeans.
44 Menv shall buy fields for money, and subscribe evidences, and seal them, and take witnesses xin the land of Benjamin, and in the places about Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, and in the cities of the mountains, and in the cities of the valley, and in the cities of the south: yfor I will cause their captivity to return, saith the LORD.
Notes
Ver. 3. Zedekiah king of Judah had shut him up. Zedekiah presents a melancholy, but common, example of anger against the messenger of unwelcome news, or the offerer of good advice. If, instead of treating him with harshness and cruelty, Zedekiah had asked for an evidence of his divine commission, Jeremiah could have easily satisfied him by referring to his prophecy against Pashur and his friends, ch. 20. 6, and that against Hananiah, ch. 28. 16, 17; both of which had received such evident fulfilment as to put the commission of the prophet beyond all dispute. C.
Ver. 10. One kind of money was in uncoined gold or silver ingots, another in thin rolls that could be easily cut, and both required to be weighed. But there is no reason to conclude that all Jewish money was, at this period, uncoined; for the arts had long ago made great progress in the East. The weighing is rather indicative of a period of fraudulence which required constant watchfulness against minute deductions from the value of the coin. C.
Ver. 27. Is there any event beyond my power? Did I not give this land to Israel? Can I not convey it to the Chaldeans? And, when the fulness of the time is come, can I not restore it again to my renewed people? C.
Ver. 32. Jerusalem. Jerusalem, though belonging partly to the tribe of Judah, and partly to the tribe of Benjamin, was a city common to all the tribes, and might therefore represent the common character of the whole people, particularly those classes by whom the nation was governed—the rulers, the prophets, priests, lawyers, and merchants. C.
Reflections.—How obstinately men persist in persecution, and other wickedness, even when the Lord is punishing them for it! No afflictions can drag men from their lusts. By what strange tokens God confirms his own oracles! An exact honesty, prudent discretion, and a firm dependence on the promise and providence of God, ought to meet together in all our civil transactions.—The more honourable views we have of God and his mercies, the more humble and penitent will be our views of our own and others' rebellion against him. And the former experiences of God's people ought to encourage us, even when his providence seems to contradict his promises. When we have God's orders, we have nothing to do but obey, and trust him with the issue. And if we are in the dark concerning his dispensations, we may humbly beg his instructions. No crimes are too horrid for apostate professors to commit, and no judgments too severe to punish them. Deep carnal security ordinarily ends in deep despair; but blessed mornings of deliverance, conversion, and reformation frequently succeed long and dark nights of trouble. And unchangeable is their state, stable and permanent their holiness and happiness, and cordial their harmony, who have God for their God, and the performer of all things in and for them.
Measures in square brackets are modern equivalents added for this edition. They are not in the King James text or in Brown’s notes. They use common scholarly estimates: a cubit is about 45.7 cm (18 in), a shekel about 11.4 g (0.4 oz), an ephah about 22 litres. Money values give the worth of the silver or gold at spot prices on 28 October 2026, not what the sum would buy in the ancient world.