Jeremiah 32

This is the message that came to Jeremiah from the LORD in the tenth year that Zedekiah was king of Judah. That same year was the eighteenth year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon.

1The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD in the tenth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadrezzar.

NoteYears were counted from the start of a king's reign, so events are dated by two courts at once: Zedekiah's tenth year in Jerusalem was Nebuchadnezzar's eighteenth in Babylon, roughly 588–587 BC. Zedekiah had been installed as king by Nebuchadnezzar himself and had then rebelled, which is why the Babylonian army is outside the walls.

2At that time the army of the king of Babylon had Jerusalem surrounded and under attack. Jeremiah the prophet was locked up in the guards' courtyard, which was part of the palace of the king of Judah.

2For 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.

NoteThe "guards' courtyard" was a detention area attached to the royal palace, not a cell. Prisoners held there could be visited, could receive food, and could conduct business, which is why the events of this chapter can happen at all. A besieged city was surrounded and cut off, the attackers waiting for starvation or a breach rather than storming it at once.

3Zedekiah king of Judah had locked him up there. The king had said, "Why do you keep saying this? You claim the LORD says, 'I am about to hand this city over to the king of Babylon, and he will capture it.

3For 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;

4Zedekiah king of Judah will not get away from the Chaldeans. He will surely be handed over to the king of Babylon. He will speak with him face to face and look him in the eye.

4And 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;

Note"Chaldeans" is another name for the Babylonians. The ruling dynasty of Babylon at this time came from Chaldea, a region of southern Mesopotamia, and the two words are used interchangeably throughout the chapter.

5He will take Zedekiah to Babylon, and Zedekiah will stay there until I deal with him, says the LORD. If you fight the Chaldeans, you will not win.'"

5And 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.

Note"Until I deal with him" translates a Hebrew verb meaning to attend to, or turn one's attention toward someone. It can introduce either rescue or punishment, and the wording here does not say which is meant.

6Jeremiah said, "The message of the LORD came to me. He said:

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

7Listen: Hanameel, the son of your uncle Shallum, is coming to you. He will say, 'Buy my field at Anathoth for yourself. You are the closest relative, so you have the first right to buy it.'

7Behold, 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.

NoteUnder Israelite land law, family land was not supposed to pass permanently out of the family. When a man had to sell his field, the nearest male relative had both the first right and the family duty to buy it, keeping the property within the clan. Anathoth was Jeremiah's home village, a settlement of priests about three miles northeast of Jerusalem, territory that by this point in the siege was in Babylonian hands, which is what makes the purchase so strange.

8Just as the LORD had said, my cousin Hanameel came to me in the guards' courtyard. He said, 'Please buy my field at Anathoth, in the territory of Benjamin. You have the right to inherit it and the right to buy it back. Buy it for yourself.' Then I knew this really was a message from the LORD.

8So 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.

Note"My uncle's son" is simply a cousin. The relationship is spelled out because it is what gives Jeremiah the legal standing to buy.

9So I bought the field at Anathoth from my cousin Hanameel, and I weighed out the payment for him: seventeen shekels of silver.

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

NoteCoined money did not yet exist in Judah. Silver was traded by weight, so the seventeen shekels were literally weighed out on a balance. A shekel was a weight of roughly two-fifths of an ounce, about eleven or twelve grams.

10I signed the deed and sealed it, brought in witnesses, and weighed out the silver on the scales.

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

11Then I took both copies of the purchase deed: the sealed one, which held the terms and conditions required by law and custom, and the open one.

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

NoteLegal deeds were commonly written out twice on a single sheet. One copy was rolled up and sealed with clay so its terms could not be altered, and the duplicate was left open for consultation. The sealed copy was broken open only if the terms were later disputed.

12I handed the purchase deed to Baruch son of Neriah, son of Maaseiah. I did this while my cousin Hanameel watched, and the witnesses who had signed the deed, and all the Jews sitting in the guards' courtyard.

12And 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.

NoteBaruch was a professional scribe, a trained writer and record-keeper, who acted as Jeremiah's secretary and kept his documents.

13With all of them watching, I gave Baruch these instructions:

13And I charged Baruch before them, saying,

14"This is what the LORD of Armies, the God of Israel, says: Take these documents, both the sealed copy and the open copy of the purchase deed, and put them in a clay jar so they will last a long time.

14Thus 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.

NoteSealed clay jars were the standard way to archive papyrus and leather documents for the long term; the same method preserved the Dead Sea Scrolls for two thousand years. "The LORD of Armies" (older versions: "the LORD of hosts") is a title picturing God as commander of vast forces, whether armies of heaven or of Israel.

15For this is what the LORD of Armies, the God of Israel, says: Houses and fields and vineyards will be bought again in this land."

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

16After I had given the purchase deed to Baruch son of Neriah, I prayed to the LORD. I said:

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

17"Oh, Lord GOD! You made the heavens and the earth by your great power and your outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.

17Ah 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:

Note"Outstretched arm" is a fixed Hebrew phrase for power openly and publicly exerted, drawn from the language of the exodus from Egypt. It does not describe a gesture.

18You show faithful love to thousands, but you also repay the guilt of the fathers into the laps of their children after them. You are the great and mighty God, and your name is the LORD of Armies.

18Thou 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,

Note"Faithful love" translates the Hebrew word hesed, which means loyal commitment within a relationship rather than warm feeling. "Thousands" is unspecified in the Hebrew and can mean thousands of people or thousands of generations. "Into the laps of their children" uses a commercial image: the loose fold of a garment at the waist was where a person received a payment poured out to them.

19You plan greatly and act powerfully. Your eyes are open to everything people do. You give each person what his conduct deserves and what his actions have earned.

19Great 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:

20You performed signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, and you go on doing so to this day, both in Israel and among all people. You have made a name for yourself, as is still true today.

20Which 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;

21You brought your people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs and wonders, with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, and with great terror.

21And 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;

22You gave them this land that you had promised on oath to their ancestors, a land rich with milk and honey.

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

Note"Flowing with milk and honey" is a set phrase for land good enough to support herds and produce a surplus, milk from goats and cattle, honey either wild or boiled from dates. It describes fertility, not literal streams.

23They came in and took it as their own. But they did not obey your voice or live by your law. They did none of what you commanded them to do. So you have brought all this disaster on them.

23And 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:

24Look at the ramps of earth piled up against the city to capture it. Because of the sword, the famine, and the plague, the city is being handed over to the Chaldeans who are attacking it. What you said would happen has happened, and you see it.

24Behold 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.

NoteBesieging armies heaped up long ramps of packed earth against a city wall so that battering rams and troops could reach the top. "Sword, famine, and plague" is a standard three-part formula for how people die in a siege: killed in the fighting, starved while shut in, or carried off by disease in the crowded city.

25Yet you, Lord GOD, said to me, 'Buy the field for silver and bring in witnesses,' even though the city is being handed over to the Chaldeans."

25And 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.

26Then the message of the LORD came to Jeremiah:

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

27"I am the LORD, the God of every living thing. Is anything too hard for me?

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

28So this is what the LORD says: I am about to hand this city over to the Chaldeans and to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he will capture it.

28Therefore 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:

29The Chaldeans who are attacking this city will come in, set it on fire, and burn it down, along with the houses where the people burned incense to Baal on the roofs and poured out drink offerings to other gods, making me angry.

29And 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.

NoteHouses had flat roofs used as extra living space, and worship conducted there was directed at the sky and its gods. Baal was the storm and fertility god of Canaan and Phoenicia, the chief rival to the worship of the LORD in Israel. A drink offering was wine poured out on the ground or an altar as a gift to a god.

30The people of Israel and the people of Judah have done nothing but evil in my sight from their youth. The people of Israel have done nothing but make me angry by what their hands have made, says the LORD.

30For 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.

31This city has stirred up my anger and my fury from the day it was built until now. So I am going to remove it from my sight,

31For 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,

32because of all the evil the people of Israel and the people of Judah have done to make me angry. They did it, and so did their kings, their officials, their priests, their prophets, the men of Judah, and the people living in Jerusalem.

32Because 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.

33They turned their backs to me and not their faces. I taught them again and again, starting early, but they would not listen or accept correction.

33And 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.

Note"Starting early" renders a Hebrew idiom, literally rising early to do something: that means acting persistently and urgently, over and over. It is not a statement about the time of day.

34They set up their detestable idols in the house that bears my name, and so they made it unclean.

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

Note"The house that bears my name" is the temple in Jerusalem. The word translated "detestable idols" is a strong term for images and objects belonging to other gods' worship; setting them inside the temple made it ritually unclean and unfit for use.

35They built the worship sites of Baal in the Valley of Ben Hinnom, where they made their sons and daughters pass through the fire to Molech. I never commanded this. It never entered my mind that they would do such a detestable thing and lead Judah into sin.

35And 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.

Note"Worship sites" (older versions: "high places") were open-air shrines, often on raised ground or built-up platforms, with altars and standing stones. The Valley of Ben Hinnom ran along the southern edge of Jerusalem. Molech was a god associated with child sacrifice; the phrase "pass through the fire" is disputed, taken by some as describing children burned as offerings and by others as a dedication rite involving fire.

36Now then, about this city that you say will be handed over to the king of Babylon by sword, famine, and plague, this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says:

36And 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;

37I will gather them back from all the countries where I drove them in my anger, my fury, and my great rage. I will bring them back to this place and let them live in safety.

37Behold, 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:

38They will be my people, and I will be their God.

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

39I will give them one heart and one way of living, so that they will always respect me, for their own good and for the good of their children after them.

39And 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:

NoteThe Hebrew word rendered "respect" is the ordinary word for fear, but when used of God it covers awe and reverence, taking someone seriously, rather than being frightened of him.

40I will make a lasting agreement with them: I will never stop doing good for them. And I will put respect for me in their hearts, so they will never turn away from me.

40And 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.

NoteA covenant was a formal binding agreement, sworn and permanent, of the kind kings made with each other or with their subjects. "Lasting" or "everlasting" describes an agreement with no built-in end date rather than one that has been calculated to run forever.

41I will be glad to do them good, and I will firmly plant them in this land, with all my heart and all my soul.

41Yea, 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.

42For this is what the LORD says: Just as I brought all this great disaster on this people, so I will bring on them all the good that I promised them.

42For 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.

43Fields will be bought again in this land that you say is empty ruins, with no people or animals left, handed over to the Chaldeans.

43And 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.

44People will buy fields for silver, sign deeds, seal them, and bring in witnesses. They will do this in the territory of Benjamin, in the areas around Jerusalem, in the towns of Judah, in the hill country towns, in the western foothill towns, and in the towns of the southern desert. For I will bring them back from captivity, says the LORD."

44Men 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.

NoteThe list names the standard geographic divisions of Judah: the central hill country around Jerusalem, the western foothills between the hills and the coastal plain, and the dry southern region, the Negev. "Bring them back from captivity" translates a phrase that can mean either returning exiles or restoring a people's fortunes generally; both senses are present in the Hebrew.