Jeremiah 32

THE word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, in the tenth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadrezzar That is something more then a year before the City was taken, for it was taken in the fourth moneth of the 11th. year of this Kings Reign, chap. 39.2. This tenth year concurred with the eighteenth year of the King of Babylons absolute Reign, who began so to Reign in the third and fourth year of Iehoiakim, Dan. 1.1. so as Iehoiakims last year was the seventh and eighth of Nebuchadrezzar, who is also sometimes called Nebuchadnezzar and Nabuchodonosor..

For then the king of Babylons army besieged Jerusalem The King of Babylon (as appears from 2 Kings 25.1. and chap. 39.1.) besieged Hierusalem in the tenth moneth of the ninth year of Zedekiah, so as he had besieged it some time before the Revelation of this Prophesie came to Ieremiah: and Jeremiah the prophet was shut up in the court of the prison, which was in the king of Judahs house Ieremiah was at that time a prisoner, in a prison within the Kings house. The King could keep him from revealing Gods will to the people, but he could not keep God from revealing himself to him. Prisons hinder us from communion with men, but often contribute to Gods people, freer and sweeter communion with him. In the mean time the desperate hardness of this Prince, and these peoples hearts appear, that the fear of an enemy besieging them could not aw them from such outragious acts of persecution..

For Zedekiah king of Judah had shut him up, saying We no where read that Zedekiah immediately commanded Ieremiah to be imprisoned, he seemeth rather to have been favourable to Ieremiah, and judicious interpreters think his present prison was a favourable prison, but God accounteth Princes to do that which their Ministers or subordinate Magistrates do with their connivance, and without their hinderance. Though it be wild Divinity for any to say, that inferiour Ministers or Subjects are excused by the command of the superiour, and the guilt lyeth only on them; yet it is as wild to say, they contract no guilt by the extravagant acts of subordinate Magistrates whom they put in place, and can punish, and remove from their places., Wherefore dost thou prophesie, and say, Thus says the LORD, Behold I will give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall take it.

And Zedekiah 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.

And he shall lead Zedekiah to Babylon Here the cause of the Prophets imprisonment is expressed. The things were true which Ieremy prophesied, and fulfilled, chap. 39.5, 6, 7. and Ieremy could not forbear speaking them, because he was sent of God upon the errand, chap. 34.2, 3. yet the King and Court could not bear his words., and there shall he be until I visit him, says the LORD Interpreters are divided, whether the visitation here mentioned were a visitation of judgment, and the same with until he dye, or of mercy; it is certain Zedekiah was not put to death, only his eyes put out, and he carried into Babylon, chap. 39.7. where some think he afterward found favour with the King of Babylon, certain it is that he dyed in Babylon, and had an honourable burial, but whether he met with any other favour, or no, the Scripture says not; some will have the words read, until I visit this people, and think that Zedekiah lived in prison in Babylon till the restauration; But he was 21 years old when he began to Reign, and reigned eleven years, so as he was 32 years old when he was carried to Babylon, 2 Chron. 36.11. and must be then 92 years old when he dyed, which is hardly probable, considering the delicate education, and life of Princes, that he having lost his eyes, and seen so much misery, should continue 60 years longer., Though ye fight with the Chaldeans, ye shall not prosper Though you make many sallies out upon the Chaldeans, that are now besieging you, yet you shall be beaten in all, and not be able to drive them from your walls. Hitherto has been but the preface to the prophetical type, and discourse in this Chapter, which now followeth..

¶ And Jeremiah said, The word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

Behold Hanameel From hence may be concluded the certainty of future contingency in Gods eye, the coming of Hanameel, was a future contingency, yet certainly known to God, so as he could tell the Prophet he would come. the son of Shallum thine uncle, shall come unto thee, saying, Buy thee my field that is in Anathoth Anathoth (as appears from Ioh. 21.18.) was one of the Cities of the Levites; hence ariseth a question, how it could be sold to Ieremiah, who by the Law might not possess it, Numb. 18.20. being a Levite. Some excuse it from the command of God, who might dispense with his own Law, but this seemeth not enough, because it is said afterward, The right of Redemption is thine. 2. Others therefore say the Levites might have some small possessions, though no plowed land: They might have Houses, and Orchards, and Gardens, in Cities and Suburbs. But that these might be sold seemeth contrary to the Law, Levit. 25.34. It is therefore rather thought to be meant of some small estate lest to Hanameel from his Ancestors., for the right of redemption is thine to buy it The right of Redemption belonged to the next of Kin, Lev. 25.25. Ruth 4.4..

So Hanameel my uncles son came to me in the court of the prison, according to the word of the LORD Hanameel came freely, none drave, or forced him, yet he came necessarily as to the event, he could not but go, else God had not told the Prophet truth., 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 thy self: then I knew that this was the word of the LORD When I saw it came to pass, knowing that God alone knew what was in mens hearts, and what they would do: I knew my former mentioned Revelation was from God..

And I bought the field of Hanameel my uncles son, that was in Anathoth, and weighed him the money, even seventeen shekels of silver That is, about 2. l. 2 s. 6 d. a small purchase, which argues the field here mentioned to be but some Orchard or Garden, though we must allow the price of Land strangely fallen at this time, when the Enemy was besieging the chief City of the Country. It should seem they were wont there to make their payments, more by weight, then by tale..

And I subscribed the evidence, and sealed it, and took witnesses, and weighed him the money in the ballances I went through with the purchase, setting my hand to, and sealing the deed, and taking witnesses to it, (as is usual.).

So I took the evidence of the purchase, both that which was sealed according to the law and custom, and that which was open It is most probable, that upon such bargains and sales amongst the Iews, two instruments were made, the one sealed up, to be kept by the purchaser, the other open, to be showed to the Judges, and by them ratified, and that this was the law and custom ordinarily amongst the Jews upon purchases; both which Ieremy kept, the one for his use, the other to produce in Court for Ratification. There is no certainty in the guesses that some others make, why there were two Copyes: Nothing appeareth but that the Prophet bought this little purchase with the same rites and circumstances that men ordinarily in that Country made purchases in times of peace, and civil order..

And I gave the evidence of the purchase unto Baruch the son of Neriah, the son of Maaseiah This Baruch (as appeareth from chap. 36.4, 26.) was a Scribe, and an attendant upon Ieremiah, and one who wrote things for him, and from his mouth., in the sight of Hanameel my uncles son, and in the presence of the witnesses, that subscribed the book of the purchase, before all the Jews that sate in the court of the prison He made this purchase with all the usual formalities, to make it publick, he signed and sealed it before witnesses, and delivered it to Baruch, to keep in the presence of them all, and in the presence of the Iews, who casually were in the place when the thing was done..

¶ And I charged Baruch before them, saying,

Thus says 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, that they may continue many days.

For thus says the LORD of hosts the God of Israel, Houses and fields, and vineyards shall be possessed again in this land Here is nothing of any seeming difficulty in these verses, but only why the Prophet commandeth Baruch to put the evidences in an Ea then Vessel, wh ch himself also expounds, that they might continue many days that is not defaced, had they been hid many days in the Earth, they would have been rotten, had they been above ground in a Box or Chest, they might have been lost, or taken away by the Souldiers plundering houses, or at least burnt with fire. Verse 15. The Prophet expounds Gods meaning in this command to him, and his own design, in so formal a buying of so small a purchase, especially considering, that, very probably, Ieremiah was no great purchaser, nor very greedy of purchases; he lets them know that all this was for a sign of the truth of what God had revealed to him concerning the peoples return, though after many days, (sixty years from this time) and also of the firm assent he gave to that divine Revelation, That purchases should one day be injoyed again in Iudea, and houses, fields, and vineyards in it, should be again possessed..

¶ Now when I had delivered the evidence of the purchase unto Baruch the son of Neriah, I prayed unto the Lord, saying What he prayed for; the matter of his prayer in the following verses will inform us, but it should seem by it, that he was not without his perplexities, though he yielded an absolute obedie ce to Gods command, yet he prayeth for a clearer revelation of his meaning in this thing..

Ah Lord GOD, behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee He beginneth his prayer with a recognition of Gods omnipotency, and the infiniteness of his power, which was showed in his first making the Heaven and the Earth, as we read, Gen. 1. Psal. 146.6. God himself used this instance to confirm his peoples faith in his ability to do what he pleased, chap. 27.5. It is observable that the servants of God in Holy Writ, used in their Prayers to give God such names, as might help to confirm their Faith as to what they asked. Nothing can further be necessary to confirm our Faith that we shall have what we ask; then for us to be persuaded that the person is able to do it, and also willing. The prophet beginneth with a declaration of his faith in God as to the first, then goes on to the second..

Thou shewest loving kindness unto thousands, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them This is the name which God gave himself, Exod. 34.7. Deut. 5.9, 10. and of this latter clause declarative of the vengeance of God in punishing children for their Parents sins, are many instances in Scripture. Ios. 7.24. 1 Sam. 2.33, 34. 1 Kings 14.10, 11. and 21.24., the great, the mighty God, the LORD of hosts is his name.

Great in counsel Who dost nothing but in infinite wisdom, as if thou hadst taken counsel upon it, and art mighty in thy works of Providence, by which thou governest the world., and mighty in work y, (for thine eyes are open upon all the wayes of the sons of men, to give every one according to his wayes, and according to the fruit of his doings Whose eyes run to and fro the Earth, beholding the evil and the good, so that all things are naked before thee, and art not a mere curious and idle spectator of mens actions, but lookest upon them for that end, that thou mightest reward or punish them, accordingly as thou seest their actions good, or bad in thy sight..)

Which hast set signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, even unto this day Who didst wonders of justice in the Land of Egypt, such as are remembred and made matters of astonishing discour e even to this day,, and in Israel and wroughtest wonders of mercy in Israel, bringing them out of Egypt through the Red Sea, raining them down Manna and Quails from heaven, and fetching water out of the rock for them, &c., and amongst other men And hast done also many wondrous works in other places, by which thou hast made thy self a Glorious Name., and hast made thee a name as at this day.

And 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 The History of this we have in the 11 or 12 first Chapters of Exodus, God sent 10 plagues upon Egypt one after another, before Pharaoh would let them go, and when he pursued after them, divided the Red Sea for them, that they might pass through, and then brought the Waters back upon the Egyptians, pursuing after them, through the Sea..

And hast given them this land which thou didst swear unto their Fathers to give them God owneth this Oath, Exod. 6.8. a land flowing with milk and hony That is, abounding with all necessary things, and all pleasant things. Canaan is often thus described, Exod 3.8, 17, and 13.5. and 33.3 Lev. 20.24. Numb. 14.8. and 16.13, 14. Deut. 6.3. and 11.9, &c..

And they came in and possessed it In he former passage he acknowledged Gods goodness here he owns his Truth and Faithfulness, so conducting this People by his Providence, that they came into the promised Land and possessed it., but they obeyed not thy voice, neither walked in thy law Having acknowledged Gods Power, Omniscience, Goodness, Truth and Faithfulness, he comes to own his Justice, confessing that this People for whom God had done so much, had very ill requited him, not obeying his voice, which he expounds by not walking in his law; for the Law was Gods voice to them., they have done nothing at all that thou commandedst them to do This he aggravateth by saying they had done nothing of what he had commanded, not breaking some particular Law, but the whole Law of God.: therefore thou hast caused all this evil to come upon them Therefore God was righteous in bringing this Sword, Pestilence and Famine upon them..

Behold the mounts The word signifies Ramparts, or rather battering Rams, Engines of W r which those Nations used to batter Walls, or to shoot great stones into places besieged., they are come unto the city to take it They are already Besieging Hierusalem, and have been for some time., and the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans, that fight against it And the City is even ready to be taken and cannot hold out., because of the sword, and of the famine, and of the pestilence, and what thou hast spoken is come to pass Thou art just, and righteous in all this, and hast done but according to what thou thr atnedst to do, to a sinful people that would not obey thy voice., and behold, thou seest it.

And thou hast said unto me, O Lord GOD; Buy thee the field for money, and take witnesses: for the city is given into the hands of the Chaldeans In this Verse again the particle is ill translated And and For in the latter Clause, the Learned Author of the English Annotations judgeth well, that it had been better translated when as in the second place, as Gen. 4.11. Psal. 102.5. or albeit, or tho' as it is translated, Ios. 17.18. Psal. 23.4. and Yet instead of And in the beginning, as it is chap. 23.21. Lord! says the Prophet, expound thy meaning to me, why, when the City is upon the matter ready to be yeilded up to the Chaldeans and cannot possibly hold out long, thou shouldst set me to make purchases for thine enemies to possess..

¶ Then came the word of the LORD unto Jeremiah, saying,

Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: Is there any thing too hard for me The Lord beginneth this Revelation for the Prophets satisfaction, with the Preface expressive of his power, and universal dominion, from which Ieremiah might understand that he could do whatsoever he pleased and man that was but flesh, Gen. 6.3. could not hinder his effecting what he designed to do. God is also the God of the Spirits of all flesh. Num 16 22 ut he expresseth man here only under the notion of denote his vileness and inconsiderableness as to any grapling with God and incountring his purpo es.?

Therefore thus says the LORD, Behold, 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.

And the Chaldeans that fight against this city, shall come and set fire on this city and burn it with the houses Thou judgest right, this City shall be taken, and that by this very army of Chaldeans which now bese eth it they shall set fire on it, and burn the houses I have made all l sh, and I have power to dispose of it, I will give this City into their hands., upon whose roofs they have offered incense unto Baal, and poured out drink-offerings unto other Gods to provoke me to anger a. But in this execution of my vengeance I shall not act by prerogative, but as a just and righteous judge, vindicating the violation of my laws, they have polluted their hou s, by Idolatry upon the roofs of them, they have paid a Divine Homage to the Idol Baal, and in them they have worshipped other Gods, therefore I will watch over, and protect them no longer, but send the Chaldaeans by their fir s to purge them.

For the children of Israel, and the children of Judah have only done evil before me from their youth: for the children of Israel, have only provoked me to anger with the works of their hands, says the LORD If they had offended me only by some particular single acts, or by some few omissions, or but for a small time; I might have been judged too severe upon them, but from the time they first began to be a Nation, they have made it their business, course, and trade, passing from one Idolatry to another, &c..

For this city has been to me as a provocation of mine anger, and of my fury, from the day that they built it, even to this day Solomon finished the Building of Hierusalem, and he at least suffered Idolatry in it, 1 Kings 11.4.8. People have always been so fond of worshipping God according to their own fancies and inventions, that even in I dah (except in David's time) the worship of God could hardly be preserved pure, during the entire Reign of one King., that I should remove it from before my face As if they had done it on purpose to provoke me to destroy the City, and cast the people of it out. Nothing more easie than for people to keep close to the Divine Rule; as to External Acts in Worship, nothing is more provocative of God that their doing the contrary. Yet nothing has been more rarely done in any Nation, as if men had set themselves to dare a jealous God..

Because of all the evil of the children of Israel, and of the children of Judah which they have done, to provoke me to anger, they, their kings, their princes, their priests, and their prophets, and the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem Still God maketh their destruction to be of themselves, as the meritorious cause, provoking him to that wrath he executed upon them. The whole head was sick, the whole heart faint. All orders of men were corrupted, so as there was no hope of their Reformation, or growing better..

And they have turned unto me the back, and not the face, They have behaved themselves against me contemptuously, like men, who when they are spoken to, admonished, or instructed instead of looking towards those who instruct, or admonish them, turn their back upon them. though I taught them, rising up early, and teaching them, yet they have not hearkned to receive instruction Yet their sin had not been so great and hainous, if I by my Prophets had not diligently instructed them, and they as stubbornly refused to be taught, or amended by their instruction..

But they set their abominations Their Idols, which above all things the jealous God abhorreth, and therefore he calleth them abominations in the abstract for abominable things, Deut. 32.16, 1 Ki gs 11.5. 2 Kings 23.13. in the house which is called by my name to defile it That is, in the Temple, which was ordinarily called the House of the Lord, and the Temple of the Lord..

And they 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 See the notes on chap. 19.5, 6. where all passages we meet with here are fully opened..

¶ And now therefore thus says the LORD the God of Israel, concerning this city, whereof ye say, It shall be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon, by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence The Jews now began to see that the Chaldeans would take the City, and to be as dead hearted as before they were full of courage, and to give over themselves for ever as lost..

Behold, I will gather them out of all countreys, 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 dwell safely Though the City shall be taken and you shall go into Captivity, yet you shall not be utterly lost I will gather you again, and you shall have as quiet an habitation as ever..

And they shall be my people, and I will be their God I will renew my Covenant with them, and keep my Covenant towards them, they shall serve me more faithfully, and I will own them and take care of them, and bless them..

And I will give them one heart I will give them union and concord or an onene s o mind, and judgment; as to the thing of God, they shall not be some for superstitious and idolatrous Worship, and some for my true Worship., and one way They shall all Worship me according to the rule I have given them., that they may fear me for ever That they may Worship me in Truth, as a people that have a dread of me upon their hearts., for the good of them, and of their children after them This will be for the profit both of them, and their posterity, many days, even so long as they shall continue so to do..

And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them to do them good This promise manifestly r lateth to those Jews that should receive the Lord Jesus Christ o that were Israelites indeed; for as to others, God did turn away from doing them good, when their City was taken by Titus; unless it be to be understood of a national conversion of the Jews, not yet effected., but I will put my fear into their hearts, that they shall not depart from me My spirit which shall beget in them a dread of me, so as they shall not depart from me, Hence some conclude well that when once the body of the Jews shall be converted, they shall never again apos atize from God. It may well from hence be concluded that both Conversion unto God, and perseverance in the wayes of God are the gifts of God, we are kept by the power of God, through faith unto Salvation..

Yea, I will rejoice over them, to do them good I will not only do them good, but I will take pleasure, and in doing them good, and I will, and I will plant them in this land assuredly, with my whole heart and with my whole soul certainly bring them to this Land, and constantly and freely do them good when they shall be there..

For thus says the LORD, Like as I have brought all this great evil upon this people, so will I bring upon them all the good that I have promised them You shall find me as true to my promises, as you have found me to my threatnings..

And fields shall be bought in this land, whereof ye say, It is desolate without man and beast.

Men shall buy fields for money, and subscribe evidences and seal them, and take witnesses in 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, for I will cause their captivity to return, says the LORD Now, Ieremiah, thou understandest wherefore I commanded thee to buy the Field offered thee by Hanameel in Anathot in the lot of Benjamin, it was to assure thee, that though at present the Chaldeans shall prevail against Ierusalem, and the Jews shall be carried into captivity, and the Jews shall neither buy nor sell here at present, yet fields shall here be bought again; men shall buy and sell and seal evidences in all parts of I dae, as they were wont to do in former times, for they shall return again out of the captivity of Babylon into their own Land, and have commerce one with another as formerly..