Verses 1-44

This chapter forms the introduction to the most continuously historical part of the book, which describes incidents in the two years preceding the final destruction of Jerusalem, viz. chs.

34-43. The first of these incidents is here given, viz. Jeremiah's purchase with all legal formality of a field of which he had the right of redemption, in order to encourage the people while the Chaldeans were investing the city by showing thus his faith in the return which he foretells in these chs.

1-5. The general position.

2. Of the prison] RV 'of the guard,' i.e. of the palace sentries. For Jeremiah's imprisonment see Jeremiah 37, 38.

6-15. Jeremiah's purchase at Anathoth.

6. An interesting example of legal proceedings in connexion with Hebrew land customs: cp. Ruth 4:1-8.

7. If land was to be sold it was the duty of the nearest of kin to buy it, so that it should not pass from one family to another: see Leviticus 25:24.; Ruth 4:6.

8. Jeremiah bought the estate as next heir by the right of preemption.

10. The evidence] RV 'the deed,' and so in Jeremiah 32:11-12, Jeremiah 32:14, Jeremiah 32:44. Jeremiah made out two copies of the deed, one to be sealed, the other left open, the former to be referred to in case at any time it were suspected that the latter had been tarn-pered with.

11. According to the law and custom] RM 'containing the terms and conditions.'

15. Possessed] RV 'bought.'

16-25. Jeremiah cannot reconcile the obvious sense of the transaction which he had just carried out at the Lord's command, with the overthrow which he had been so often bidden to announce to the guilty city.

24. Mounts] see on Jeremiah 6:6.

26-35. The first part of God's reply, viz. judgment.

36-44. The second part of God's reply, viz. mercy.

36. The words resume the thought of Jeremiah 32:27, 'Is there anything too hard for me?'

44. The mountains.. the valley.. the south] The several parts of the land are specified, viz. the central (hilly) portion, the plains westward from it to the sea, and the thinly inhabited S. of Judah. Cause their captivity to return] i.e. restore them from captivity.