Chapter 32

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 for their sins, 36 and promiseth a gracious return.

1. The tenth year. 588/87 b.c., in the midst of the final siege of Jerusalem (see on ch. 52:4). This synchronism between the 10th year of Zedekiah and the 18th of Nebuchadnezzar is one of the most valuable in the OT for the purposes of Bible chronology (see Vol. II, p. 160).

Nebuchadrezzar. Regarding this spelling see on Jer. 21:2; Dan. 1:1.

2. Besieged Jerusalem. Zedekiah’s policy of treachery and intrigue caused Nebuchadnezzar to besiege Jerusalem. It was at this time that the king of Judah, provoked to anger by Jeremiah’s persistent predictions of defeat (see vs. 3–5; chs. 34:2, 3; 38:20–23), had the prophet “shut up in the court of the prison” (see Neh. 3:25). Actually, Nebuchadnezzar began to besiege Jerusalem in the 9th year of Zedekiah’s reign (see on Jer. 39:1), but he had been forced temporarily to abandon the siege because of the approach of an Egyptian army (see ch. 37:5, 11). From the time of the beginning of the siege (see ch. 39:1), until the temporary lifting of the siege by the Babylonians, Jeremiah had been at liberty in the city (see on ch. 37:4). Following the prophet’s attempt to return to Anathoth, and the misrepresentation of his motives by his enemies (see ch. 37:11–14), Jeremiah was imprisoned “in the house of Jonathan the scribe” (ch. 37:15). At the prisoner’s request the king had taken Jeremiah from there to “the court of the prison, which was in the king of Judah’s house,” perhaps in order that the prophet would be readily available for consultation as to the probable result of the siege (see ch. 37:20, 21).

3. Wherefore dost thou prophesy? It is to be noted that the prophecy quoted in vs. 3–5 was uttered by Jeremiah at an earlier time, and is here referred to by Zedekiah as the reason for putting him in prison. The delivery of this message to Zedekiah is recorded in ch. 34:2, 3.

4. Behold his eyes. This is significant in view of Ezekiel’s prophecy (see on Eze. 12:13). Nebuchadnezzar put “out Zedekiah’s eyes” (see Jer. 39:7), and so the Babylonian conqueror’s face, which struck terror because of its wrath, was one of the last objects the king of Judah was to see on earth (see Jer. 52:10, 11; cf. 2 Kings 25:6, 7).

5. There shall he be. Zedekiah, blinded and miserable, lived out his final years in prison in Babylon (see ch. 52:11). The fact that he was not mentioned when Evil-Merodach released Jehoiachin from prison (see ch. 52:31) would seem to indicate that by that time Zedekiah was dead.

Visit. See on Ps. 8:4; 59:5.

7. Hanameel. Beyond his being the prophet’s first cousin (see vs. 8, 9), nothing is revealed in the Bible about Hanameel. Since up to “the year of jubile” land could be sold, a person’s next of kin was given the first opportunity to exercise “the right of redemption” (Jer. 32:7; see on Lev. 25:23–25; Ruth 3:12; 4:1–6).

Buy thee my field. Through Jeremiah’s purchase of land in Anathoth, the prophet gave an indisputable proof of his belief in God’s message that, though the Israelites were to be carried away into captivity, they would return to their own land and fields (see v. 44). This incident had a parallel in the history of Rome when the patriotic citizens of that city bought land at the full market value at the very time when Hannibal, the Carthaginian conqueror, was marching toward the capital on the Tiber (see Livy xxvi. 11).

8. Buy it for thyself. Hanameel’s field was probably already under the control of the armies that were then besieging Jerusalem (see on v. 2). This alone was sufficient to induce Hanameel to sell his field. In addition, it may be that Hanameel felt that, because of Jeremiah’s urging to submit to Nebuchadnezzar, there would be a strong likelihood that the Chaldeans would protect the prophet and his interests.

9. Seventeen shekels of silver. This amount, in its Babylonian equivalent, would have a purchasing power of one ox or about nine sheep or goats (see Vol. I, p. 169).

10. Evidence. That is, the deed of conveyance. It was “sealed” to protect it against any unauthorized alterations. All was done in strict legal form, to give added force to the acted parable.

Weighed. Or, “paid.” Since in ancient times metal money was evaluated more as bullion than as coinage, it was “weighed” (see Gen. 23:16; Zech. 11:12).

11. Sealed … open. The former may have been the original “evidence of the purchase” and the latter the duplicate. Or the “sealed” document may have contained details that were of no concern to the “witnesses” (see vs. 10, 11).

12. Baruch. On the history of this important scribe see p. 343.

Before all the Jews. This shows that Jeremiah was not placed in close confinement, but was in the court of the prison (see v. 2). This acted parable, carried out in the presence of many witnesses, would soon be known throughout the city. By this act of apparent folly, the prophet emphasized the certainty of his prediction that the people, though carried away captive by the Babylonians, would be returned to their own land (see v. 15).

14. Earthen vessel. It was not uncommon for the ancients to place their most precious treasures in such containers (see 2 Cor. 4:7), for such vessels were a better protection against dampness and decay than those made of wood. The famous Dead Sea scrolls were preserved in such jars (see Vol. I, pp. 31–34).

Continue many days. A warning that the captives were not to expect a speedy return to their homeland.

15. Possessed again. The prophet himself could never hope to receive personal benefit from his purchase. He was no longer young, and he himself had predicted that the time of captivity would last for 70 years. However, the prophet held before the people in parable the glorious hope of a return from the land of exile.

16. I prayed. Jeremiah now begins one of the most earnest intercessions for the people of God we have recorded in the Bible (see Ezra 9:5–15; Isa. 37:16–20; Dan. 9:3–19).

17. Nothing too hard. God’s omnipotence furnishes the basis of the prophet’s humble but earnest petition (see Gen. 18:14; Jer. 32:27).

18. Lovingkindness. Heb. chesed, “divine love” (see Additional Note on Psalm 36). This verse presents the two foundations of the divine rule: God’s love and grace, and His justice (see Ex. 20:6; 34:6, 7; Ps. 85:10; Ps. 89:14).

Lord of hosts. See on ch. 7:3.

19. Great in counsel. This ascription, together with the previous one, “the Mighty God,” uses a wording similar to that recorded by Isaiah in one of his great prophecies of Christ (see Isa. 9:6).

According to his ways. See Jer. 17:10; Matt. 16:27; 2 Cor. 5:10.

20. Even unto this day. The meaning is either that the “signs and wonders” God wrought in Egypt when He delivered His people were still vivid in the minds of the people of Jeremiah’s time or that “signs and wonders” begun in Egypt had continued till the present.

Other. Perhaps this supplied word is better omitted. The reference is to men in general.

24. The mounts. That is, the towers or banks that were used in siege operations (see on ch. 6:6). As predicted by Jeremiah, the Babylonians were even then besieging Jerusalem. The towering assault works were visible to the inhabitants of the doomed city. It was impossible for the Israelites to escape the sufferings “of the sword, and of the famine, and of the pestilence.”

25. And thou hast said. The words seem to reflect a questioning tone. In the face of the Babylonian assault against Judah and Jerusalem it was pardonably difficult for the prophet to understand the divine command to purchase “the field for money, and take witnesses.”

27. Any thing too hard. God would strengthen Jeremiah’s faith and confirm his confidence in obeying the command to buy the field (see v. 17).

28. Nebuchadrezzar. Regarding this spelling see on Jer. 21:2; Dan. 1:1.

29. Upon whose roofs. See on ch. 19:13. The very places where the inhabitants of Jerusalem “offered incense unto Baal, and poured out drink offerings unto other gods” would witness the divine judgment and retribution. Instead of the “incense” of their idolatry ascending into heaven, the smoke of burning ruins would rise to the sky as a witness to the people’s wickedness.

31. They built it. Jerusalem was a Jebusite city before David took it (2 Sam. 5:6–10). It was subsequently rebuilt and enlarged. However, the idolatry of Judah’s kings made it the source of continual provocation.

32. Priests, and their prophets. Again the spiritual leaders are singled out and indicted as a class (see on ch. 2:8), along with the civil leaders and the people.

33. The back. A gesture of contempt and aversion (see chs. 2:27; 7:24; 18:17).

Rising up early. For comment see on ch. 7:13.

34. Abominations. The abominations concerning worship of idols mentioned in this and the following verse had been committed by Ahaz (2 Chron. 28:1–4) and repeated by Manasseh (2 Kings 21:1–9; 2 Chron. 33:1–9) after Hezekiah had cleansed the Temple of these iniquitous practices (2 Chron. 29). Later Josiah endeavored to stamp out idolatry (2 Kings 22; 23; 2 Chron. 34:25), but it seems evident that idolatry still persisted after his death.

Called by my name. See Jer. 7:10, 11, 14, 30; see on Deut. 28:10.

35. High places. The heights upon which idolatry was practiced (see 2 Kings 17:9–11; 2 Chron. 31:1).

Hinnom. See on chs. 7:29, 31; 19:2.

37. I will gather them. See on ch. 29:10, 11. For the conditional nature of these promises see p. 34.

38. My people. In vs. 38–40 God repeats His promise of the new “covenant” (ch. 31:31–34).

41. Plant them. A figure of speech suggesting security and permanence.

42. This great evil. See on ch. 11:11.

43. Fields shall be bought. To the despairing Israelites who felt that the Babylonians would deprive them of their land forever, the assurance was given that their descendants would again possess the fields of Judah. Jeremiah’s transaction of buying the field of Anathoth was a prophetic confirmation, as it were, of this assurance (see on v. 15).

Without man or beast. As the besieged inhabitants of Jerusalem viewed the desolation wrought by the Chaldeans upon their beloved land of Judah, they gave vent to their feelings in these vivid words. Already Jeremiah’s prediction of desolation to come upon the land (ch. 4:25; see on ch. 4:20, 23) was fulfilled before the eyes of the people.

44. South. The geographical features here noted describe the well-known area of the land of Judah (see Joshua 15). This particular reference seems to make no mention of the land that formerly belonged to the northern kingdom of Israel.

Their captivity. Lest anyone miss the point of the acted parable the Lord proclaims the certainty of return from captivity. The very fact that the Lord had foretold the Captivity, which had now come to pass, confirmed the promise of return.

Ellen G. White comments

1–44PK 466–472

8–10PK 466

14, 15  PK 469

17–23PK 470

19   8T 250

24–27PK 471

35   PP 337

37–44PK 472