Jeremiah 32:6-15
Summary for Jer 32:6-8: 32:6-8 a Anathoth was Jeremiah’s hometown (1:1 b).• By law you have the right: Hebrew custom required Jeremiah’s cousin to offer the land first to his nearest relative (see Lev 25:25 c, 32 d; Ruth 4:1-4 e).
Summary for Jer 32:9-12: 32:9-12 f Many people might have thought that Jeremiah did a foolish thing when he agreed to buy the land. After the fall of Jerusalem and the exile of many people, the value of the land would drop to almost nothing. Still, Jeremiah immediately bought the field.
• Matthew 27:9-10 g refers to the “prophecy of Jeremiah,” which might be an allusion to this event.
32:10 h Jeremiah carefully followed the proper legal procedures for buying property. The deed of purchase was a sheet of papyrus that listed the terms of the purchase in Hebrew. Jeremiah signed and sealed the deed and paid the purchase price in the presence of witnesses (Gen 23:3-18 i; 2 Sam 24:20-24 j).
Summary for Jer 32:11-12: 32:11-12 k According to custom, a copy of the deed was made. The two documents were entrusted to the care of Jeremiah’s secretary, Baruch. This was done publicly, in the courtyard of the guardhouse.
Summary for Jer 32:13-14: 32:13-14 l According to custom, the two copies of the deed were placed in a pottery jar so that they would be preserved for a long time.
32:15 m Jeremiah explained the reason for his purchase: He was making an investment in the future that God had promised. Someday exiled survivors of the destruction of Judah would return, and worthless land would again become productive and valuable. Jeremiah had already predicted that the exile would last for seventy years (25:11-12 n; 29:10 o). Jeremiah’s purchase was a declaration of faith in the Lord’s plan for restoring his people.
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