1 Jeremiah, being imprisoned by Zedekiah for his prophecy,
6 buys Hanameel's field.
13 Baruch must preserve the evidences, as tokens of the people's return.
16 Jeremiah in his prayer complains to God.
26 God confirms the captivity for their sins;
36 and promises a gracious return.

A.M. 3415. B.C. 589. In the. 39:1,2 52:4,5 2Ki 25:1,2 2Ch 36:11

the eighteenth. 25:1

2 For then the king of Babylon's army besieged Jerusalem: and Jeremiah the prophet was shut up in the court of the prison, which was in the king of Judah's house.

then. The siege had commenced on the tenth month of the preceding year, and continued a year after, ending in the fifth month of the following year; consequently the siege must have lasted eighteen months and twenty-seven days.

2Ki 25:18

Jeremiah. 3,8 33:1 36:5 37:21 38:6 29:13-15 Mt 5:12

in the. Ne 3:25

3 For Zedekiah king of Judah had shut him up, saying, Wherefore dost thou prophesy, and say, Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall take it;

Zedekiah. 2:30 5:3 2Ki 6:31,32 2Ch 28:22

wherefore. 26:8,9 38:4 Ex 5:4 Am 7:13 Lu 20:2 Ac 6:12-14

behold. 28,29 21:4-7 27:8 34:2,3 37:6-10 38:8

4 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;

37:17 38:18,23 39:4-7 52:8-11 2Ki 25:4-7 Eze 12:12,13 Eze 17:13-21 21:25,26

5 And he shall lead Zedekiah to Babylon, and there shall he be until I visit him, saith the LORD: though ye fight with the Chaldeans, ye shall not prosper.

until. 27:22 34:4,5

though. 2:37 21:4,5 33:5 37:10 Nu 14:42 2Ch 13:12 24:20 Pr 21:30 Eze 17:9,10,15

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

no reference

7 Behold, Hanameel the son of Shallum thine uncle shall come unto thee saying, Buy thee my field that is in Anathoth: for the right of redemption is thine to buy it.

Behold. 1Ki 14:5 Mr 11:2-6 14:13-16

Anathoth. 1:1 11:21 Jos 21:18,19

for. Le 25:23,34,49 Nu 35:2 Ru 4:4-9

8 So Hanameel mine uncle's son came to me in the 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. Then I knew that this was the word of the LORD.

court. 2 33:1

Anathoth. 7 1Ki 2:26 1Ch 6:60

Then I. 1Sa 9:16,17 10:3-7 1Ki 22:25 Zec 11:11 Joh 4:53 Ac 10:17-28

that this. That it was by His appointment that I was to make this purchase; the whole of which was designed as a symbolical act, to shew the people, that although Judah and Jerusalem should be desolated, and the inhabitants carried captive to Babylon, yet there should be a restoration, when lands and possessions should be again enjoyed by their legal owners, in the same manner as formerly. During the famine that prevailed in the city, Hanameel probably wanted money to purchase bread, and his field would not be thought of much value in such circumstances, which may account for the stipulated sum being so very small; for a 2s. 6d. the shekel, it would only amount of about 2?. 2s. 6d.

9 And I bought the field of Hanameel my uncle's son, that was in Anathoth, and weighed him the money, even seventeen shekels of silver.

weighed. Ge 23:15,16 1Ki 20:39 Es 3:9 Isa 55:2

seventeen shekels of silver. or, seven shekels, and ten pieces of silver. Ge 37:28 Ho 3:2 Zec 11:12,13

10 And I subscribed the evidence, and sealed it, and took witnesses, and weighed him the money in the balances.

I. 12,44 Isa 44:5

subscribed the evidence. Heb. wrote in the book. Jos 18:9 Isa 30:8

and sealed. De 32:34 Job 14:17 So 8:6 Da 8:26 Joh 3:33 6:27 2Co 1:22 Eph 1:13 4:30 Re 7:2 9:4

and took. 12,25,44 Ru 4:9-11 Isa 8:1,2

11 So I took the evidence of the purchase, both that which was sealed according to the law and custom, and that which was open:

according. Lu 2:27 Ac 26:3 1Co 11:16

12 And I gave the evidence of the purchase unto Baruch the son of Neriah, the son of Maaseiah, in the sight of Hanameel mine uncle's son, and 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.

Baruch. 16 36:4,5,16-19,26 43:3-6 45:1

Neriah. 51:59

and in. 2Co 8:21

13 And I charged Baruch before them, saying,

no reference

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, that they may continue many days.

Take. 10-12

15 For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Houses and fields and vineyards shall be possessed again in this land.

Houses. 37,43,44 30:18 31:5,12,24 33:12,13 Am 9:14,15 Zec 3:10

16 Now when I had delivered the evidence of the purchase unto Baruch the son of Neriah, I prayed unto the LORD, saying,

I Prayed. 12:1 Ge 32:9-12 2Sa 7:18-25 Eze 36:35-37 Php 4:6,7

17 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:

Ah. 1:6 4:10 14:13 Eze 9:8 11:13

thou. 10:11,12 27:5 51:15,19 Ge 1:1 Ex 20:11 2Ki 19:15 Ne 9:6 Ps 102:25 136:5-9 146:5,6 Isa 40:26-28 41:5 44:24 45:12 Isa 48:12,13 Zec 12:1 Joh 1:1-3 Ac 7:49,50 14:15 17:24 Col 1:15,16 Heb 1:2,3,10-12 Re 4:11

there. 27 Ge 18:14 Job 42:2 Lu 1:37 18:27

to hard for thee. or, hid from thee. Isa 46:9,10 Da 2:22 Ac 15:18 Eph 3:9-11

18 Thou shewest lovingkindness unto thousands, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them: the Great, the Mighty God, the LORD of hosts, is his name,

shewest. Ex 20:5,6 34:7 Nu 14:18 De 5:9,10 7:9,10

recompensest. Jos 7:24-26 2Sa 21:1-9 1Ki 14:9,10 16:1-3 21:21-24 2Ki 9:26 Mt 23:32-36 27:25

the great. Ge 49:24 De 7:21 10:17 Ne 1:5 Ps 50:1 145:3-6 Isa 9:6 10:21 Isa 57:15 Hab 1:12

the Lord. 10:16 31:35

19 Great in counsel, and mighty in work: for thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men: to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings:

Great. Isa 9:6 28:29 40:13 46:10,11 Ro 11:33,34 Eph 1:11

work. Heb. doing. Ex 15:11 Da 4:35

for. 16:17 23:24 2Ch 16:9 Job 34:21 Ps 33:13-15 34:15 Pr 5:21 Heb 4:13

to give. 17:10 1Ki 8:32 Ps 62:12 Ec 12:14 Mt 16:27 Joh 5:29 Ro 2:6-10 2Co 5:10 Re 2:23 22:12

20 Which hast set signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, even unto this day, and in Israel, and among other men; and hast made thee a name, as at this day;

hast set. Ex 7:3 10:2 De 4:34 6:22 7:19 Ne 9:10 Ps 78:43-51 105:27-36 Ps 135:9 Ac 7:36

and hast. Ex 9:16 2Sa 7:23 1Ch 17:21 Ne 9:10 Isa 63:12 Da 9:15

21 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;

brought. Ex 6:6 13:14 Ps 105:37,43 106:8-11

with a strong. Ex 6:1 13:9 De 26:8 1Ki 8:42 Ps 89:8-10 136:11,12

22 And hast given them this land, which thou didst swear to their fathers to give them, a land flowing with milk and honey;

which. Ge 13:15 15:18-21 17:7,8 24:7 28:13-15 35:11,12 50:24 Ex 13:5 Nu 14:16,30 De 1:8,35 6:10,18,23 7:13 8:1 Jos 1:6 21:43 Ne 9:15 Ps 105:9-11

a land. 11:5 Ex 3:8,17 13:5 33:1-3 De 26:9-11 Eze 20:6,15

23 And they came in, and possessed it; but they obeyed not thy voice, neither walked in thy law; they have done nothing of all that thou commandedst them to do: therefore thou hast caused all this evil to come upon them:

possessed. Ne 9:15,22-25 Ps 44:2,3 78:54,55 105:44,45

but. 7:23,24 11:7,8 Jud 2:11-13 10:6 Ezr 9:7 Ne 9:26-30 Eze 20:8,18,21 Da 9:4-6,10-14 Zec 1:2-4

they have. Lu 17:10 Joh 15:14 Ga 3:10 Jas 2:10

therefore. Le 26:14 De 28:15 Jos 23:16 Ezr 9:7 La 1:8,18 5:16,17 Da 9:11,12

24 Behold the mounts, they are come unto the city to take it; and the 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 is come to pass; and, behold, thou seest it.

mounts. or, engines of shot. 33:4 Eze 21:22 The mounts were huge terraces raised up to plant their engines on; and so formed as to be capable of being moved forwards towards the city. See Note on 2 Sa 20:15.

the city is. 3,25,36 21:4-7 37:6-10

because. 14:12-14 14:1-3 16:4 24:10 52:6 La 2:21,22 4:3-10 Eze 14:21

what. De 4:26 31:15,17 32:24,25 Jos 23:15,16 Zec 1:6 Mt 24:35

25 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 hand of the Chaldeans.

thou. 8-15

for. or, though. 24 Ps 77:19 97:2 Joh 13:7 Ro 11:33,34

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

no reference

27 Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?

God. Nu 16:22 27:16 Ps 65:2 Isa 64:8 Lu 3:6 Joh 17:2 Ro 3:29,30

is. 17 Mt 19:26

28 Therefore thus saith 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:

Behold. 3,24,36 19:7-12 20:5

29 And the Chaldeans, that fight against this city, shall come and 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 me to anger.

and set. 17:27 21:10 27:8-10 37:7-10 39:8 52:13 2Ki 25:9 2Ch 36:19 Isa 64:10,11 La 4:11 Mt 22:7

upon. 7:18 19:13 44:17-19,25

30 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 work of their hands, saith the LORD.

children. 2:7 3:25 7:22-26 De 9:7-12,22-24 2Ki 17:9-20 Ne 9:16 Ps 106:6,7 Isa 63:10 Eze 16:15 20:8,28 23:43,44 Ac 7:51-53

from. 22:21 Ge 8:21 Eze 23:3

31 For this city hath been to me as a provocation of mine anger and of my fury from the day that they built it even unto this day; that I should remove it from before my face,

this city. 5:9-11 6:6,7 23:14,15 1Ki 11:7,8 2Ki 21:4-7,16 22:16,17 2Ki 23:15 Eze 22:2-22 Mt 23:37 Lu 13:33,34

a provocation of mine anger. Heb. for my anger. that I. 27:10 2Ki 23:27 24:3,4 La 1:8

32 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.

they. 2:26 Ezr 9:7 Ne 9:32-34 Isa 1:4-6,23 9:14,15 Eze 22:6,25-29 Da 9:6,8 Mic 3:1-5,9-12 Zep 3:1-4

33 And they have turned unto me the back, and not the face: though I taught them, rising up early and teaching them, yet they have not hearkened to receive instruction.

turned. See on ch. 2:27 7:24 18:17 Eze 8:16 Ho 11:2 Zec 7:11

back. Heb. neck. rising. 7:13 25:3,4 26:5 35:15 44:4 2Ch 36:15,16 Joh 8:2

34 But they set their abominations in the house, which is called by my name, to defile it.

See on ch. 7:30 23:11 2Ki 21:4-7 23:6 2Ch 33:4-7,15 Eze 8:5-16

35 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.

they built. 7:31 19:5,6 2Ki 23:10 2Ch 28:2,3 33:6 Ps 106:37,38 Isa 57:5 Eze 16:20,21 23:37

which. 7:31 Le 18:21 20:2-5 De 18:10 1Ki 11:33

to cause. Ex 32:21 De 24:4 1Ki 14:16 15:26,30 16:19 21:22 2Ki 3:3 21:11 2Ki 23:15 2Ch 33:9

36 And now therefore thus saith 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;

now. 16:12-15 Isa 43:24,25 57:17,18 Eze 36:31,32 Ho 2:14 Ro 5:20 Eph 2:3-5

it. 3,24,28

37 Behold, I 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 dwell safely:

I will gather. This promise, says Jerome, taken in its full extent was not made good to those that returned from captivity; because they were frequently infested with wars, as well by the kings of Syria and Egypt as by the rest of their neighbours; and they were finally subdued and destroyed by the Romans. God's word cannot fail; therefore there remaineth yet a rest for the ancient people of God.

23:3,8 29:14 30:18 31:10 33:7 De 30:3-6 Ps 106:47 Isa 11:11-16 Eze 11:17 34:12-14 36:24 37:21-25 39:25-29 Ho 1:11 3:5 Am 9:14,15 Ob 1:17-21 Zep 3:20

I will cause. 23:6 33:16 Eze 34:25-28 Joe 3:20 Zec 2:4,5 3:10 14:11

38 And they shall be my people, and I will be their God:

24:7 30:22 31:1,33 Ge 17:7 De 26:17-19 Ps 144:15 Eze 11:19 Eze 36:28 37:27 39:22,28 Zec 13:9 Heb 8:10 11:16 Re 21:7

39 And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them:

I. 2Ch 30:12 Isa 52:8 Eze 11:19,20 36:26 37:22 Joh 17:21 Ac 4:32 2Co 13:11 Php 2:1,2

one way. 6:16 Isa 35:8 Joh 14:6 Heb 10:20

they may. 40 Ge 22:12 Ps 112:1 Pr 14:26,27 23:17 Ac 9:31

for every. Heb. all days. for the. Ge 17:7 18:19 De 5:29 11:18-21 Ps 115:13-15 128:6 Eze 37:25 Ac 2:39 13:33 Ro 11:16 1Co 7:14

40 And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me.

I will make. 31:31-33 50:5 Ge 17:7-13 2Sa 23:4 Isa 24:5 55:3 61:8 Lu 1:72-75 Ga 3:14-17 Heb 6:13-18 7:24 13:20

that I. Eze 39:29 Joh 10:27-30 Ro 8:28-39

from them. Heb from after them. But I. 31:33 Eze 36:26 Heb 4:1 Jas 1:17 1Pe 1:5

41 Yea, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them in this land assuredly with my whole heart and with my whole soul.

Yea, I. De 30:9 Isa 62:5 65:19 Zep 3:17

and I. 18:9 24:6 31:28 Am 9:15

assuredly. Heb. in truth, or stability. Ho 2:19,20

42 For thus saith 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.

Like. 31:28 Jos 23:14,15 Zec 8:14,15 Mt 24:35

so. 33:10,11

43 And fields shall be bought in this land, whereof ye say, It is desolate without man or beast; it is given into the hand of the Chaldeans.

36 Eze 37:11-14

44 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, saith the LORD.

buy. See on ver. 6-15

in the land. 17:26

for I. 37 33:7,11,26 Ps 126:1-4 As an earnest of these promises, houses and lands shall again take a good price in Judah and Jerusalem; and though they now are almost valueless, there shall again be a sufficiency of purchasers. Trade shall revive, for they shall have money enough to buy land with; husbandry shall revive, for those that have money, shall covet to lay it out upon lands; laws shall again have their due course, for they shall subscribe evidences, and seal them.