Jeremiah 32 A Call to Repentance

1 Jeremiah Buys a Field
This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord in the tenth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar.

2 The army of the king of Babylon was then besieging Jerusalem, and Jeremiah the prophet was confined in the courtyard of the guard in the royal palace of Judah.

3 Now Zedekiah king of Judah had imprisoned him there, saying, “Why do you prophesy as you do? You say, ‘This is what the Lord says: I am about to hand this city over to the king of Babylon, and he will capture it.

4 Zedekiah king of Judah will not escape out of the hands of the Babylonians but will certainly be handed over to the king of Babylon, and will speak with him face to face and see him with his own eyes.

5 He will take Zedekiah to Babylon, where he will remain until I deal with him, declares the Lord. If you fight against the Babylonians, you will not succeed.’”

6 Jeremiah said, “The word of the Lord came to me:

7 Hanamel son of Shallum your uncle is going to come to you and say, ‘Buy my field at Anathoth, because as nearest relative it is your right and duty to buy it.’

8 “Then, just as the Lord had said, my cousin Hanamel came to me in the courtyard of the guard and said, ‘Buy my field at Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin. Since it is your right to redeem it and possess it, buy it for yourself.’
“I knew that this was the word of the Lord;

9 so I bought the field at Anathoth from my cousin Hanamel and weighed out for him seventeen shekels of silver.

10 I signed and sealed the deed, had it witnessed, and weighed out the silver on the scales.

11 I took the deed of purchase—the sealed copy containing the terms and conditions, as well as the unsealed copy—

12 and I gave this deed to Baruch son of Neriah, the son of Mahseiah, in the presence of my cousin Hanamel and of the witnesses who had signed the deed and of all the Jews sitting in the courtyard of the guard.

13 “In their presence I gave Baruch these instructions:

14 ‘This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Take these documents, both the sealed and unsealed copies of the deed of purchase, and put them in a clay jar so they will last a long time.

15 For this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Houses, fields and vineyards will again be bought in this land.’

16 “After I had given the deed of purchase to Baruch son of Neriah, I prayed to the Lord:

17 “Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.

18 You show love to thousands but bring the punishment for the fathers’ sins into the laps of their children after them. O great and powerful God, whose name is the Lord Almighty,

19 great are your purposes and mighty are your deeds. Your eyes are open to all the ways of men; you reward everyone according to his conduct and as his deeds deserve.

20 You performed miraculous signs and wonders in Egypt and have continued them to this day, both in Israel and among all mankind, and have gained the renown that is still yours.

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

22 You gave them this land you had sworn to give their forefathers, a land flowing with milk and honey.

23 They came in and took possession of it, but they did not obey you or follow your law; they did not do what you commanded them to do. So you brought all this disaster upon them.

24 “See how the siege ramps are built up to take the city. Because of the sword, famine and plague, the city will be handed over to the Babylonians who are attacking it. What you said has happened, as you now see.

25 And though the city will be handed over to the Babylonians, you, O Sovereign Lord, say to me, ‘Buy the field with silver and have the transaction witnessed.’”

26 Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah:

27 “I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?

28 Therefore, this is what the Lord says: I am about to hand this city over to the Babylonians and to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, who will capture it.

29 The Babylonians who are attacking this city will come in and set it on fire; they will burn it down, along with the houses where the people provoked me to anger by burning incense on the roofs to Baal and by pouring out drink offerings to other gods.

30 “The people of Israel and Judah have done nothing but evil in my sight from their youth; indeed, the people of Israel have done nothing but provoke me with what their hands have made, declares the Lord.

31 From the day it was built until now, this city has so aroused my anger and wrath that I must remove it from my sight.

32 The people of Israel and Judah have provoked me by all the evil they have done—they, their kings and officials, their priests and prophets, the men of Judah and the people of Jerusalem.

33 They turned their backs to me and not their faces; though I taught them again and again, they would not listen or respond to discipline.

34 They set up their abominable idols in the house that bears my Name and defiled it.

35 They built high places for Baal in the Valley of Ben Hinnom to sacrifice their sons and daughters to Molech, though I never commanded, nor did it enter my mind, that they should do such a detestable thing and so make Judah sin.

36 “You are saying about this city, ‘By the sword, famine and plague it will be handed over to the king of Babylon’; but this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says:

37 I will surely gather them from all the lands where I banish them in my furious anger and great wrath; I will bring them back to this place and let them live in safety.

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

39 I will give them singleness of heart and action, so that they will always fear me for their own good and the good of their children after them.

40 I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire them to fear me, so that they will never turn away from me.

41 I will rejoice in doing them good and will assuredly plant them in this land with all my heart and soul.

42 “This is what the Lord says: As I have brought all this great calamity on this people, so I will give them all the prosperity I have promised them.

43 Once more fields will be bought in this land of which you say, ‘It is a desolate waste, without men or animals, for it has been handed over to the Babylonians.’

44 Fields will be bought for silver, and deeds will be signed, sealed and witnessed in the territory of Benjamin, in the villages around Jerusalem, in the towns of Judah and in the towns of the hill country, of the western foothills and of the Negev, because I will restore their fortunes, declares the Lord.”

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Analysis of Jeremiah Chapter 32

Jeremiah Chapter 32 presents a profound moment in the life of the prophet Jeremiah, where the themes of faith, hope, and divine promise come to the forefront. This chapter is set in the historical context of the siege of Jerusalem by the Babylonians and presents metaphorical and prophetic acts that convey the themes central to the book of Jeremiah. This analysis will explore the depths of these themes and unravel the rich layers of meaning in the text.

Context and Setting (Verses 1-5)

The opening verses of Chapter 32 set the stage by detailing the historical and political environment. The chapter begins by stating that it is the tenth year of King Zedekiah of Judah and the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. Jerusalem is under siege, and Jeremiah finds himself imprisoned in the court of the guard in the royal palace of Judah.

Verse 1: The chronological markers position the events at around 587 BCE, a tumultuous period leading up to the fall of Jerusalem.
Verse 2: The specific mention of Jeremiah’s imprisonment introduces the powerful motif of the prophet’s suffering and persecution for his unyielding messages from God.
Verses 3-5: King Zedekiah’s anger is revealed, as he detains Jeremiah for prophesying the inevitable fall of Jerusalem and the capture of the king by the Babylonians.

These initial verses establish a backdrop of dire circumstances, highlighting the tension between Jeremiah’s prophetic duty and the political pressures of his time. The stark realism of the siege and imprisonment underscores the gravity of the ensuing prophetic act.

The Symbolic Act: Jeremiah Buys a Field (Verses 6-15)

In verses 6-15, amidst the siege and desolation, a seemingly peculiar command from God emerges: Jeremiah is instructed to buy a field in Anathoth. This transaction is laden with deep symbolic meaning.

“For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Houses and fields and vineyards shall again be bought in this land.” (Jeremiah 32:15)

Verse 6: Jeremiah affirms the Lord’s communication, emphasizing his role as God’s mouthpiece.
Verses 7-8: The specific instruction to buy the field from his cousin Hanamel, hence fulfilling the right of redemption, aligns with Levitical laws on property redemption (Leviticus 25:25).
Verses 9-12: The detailed account of the purchase process, including weighing out the silver and drafting the deed, underscores the gravity and legality of the act.
Verse 13-15: The command to place the deeds in an earthenware jar to ensure their longevity conveys a powerful message of hope: despite the imminent destruction, God promises a future restoration.

This purchase act serves as a tangible sign of hope and faith in God’s promises. Amidst the imminent downfall, Jeremiah’s obedience and investment in the land symbolize an unshakeable belief in God’s plan for restoration. This prophetic act is a testament to the covenant faithfulness of God, who promises to restore houses, fields, and vineyards in the future.

Jeremiah’s Prayer and God’s Response (Verses 16-35)

After executing the symbolic purchase, Jeremiah turns to prayer—a profound and heartfelt dialogue with God spanning verses 16-25. This prayer is marked by a deep theological reflection and a raw grappling with the present reality.

Verse 17: Jeremiah begins with praise, recognizing God’s sovereignty and mighty deeds in creation: “Ah, Lord God! It is you who made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm!”
Verses 18-20: He acknowledges God’s steadfast love, justice, and mighty acts toward the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Verses 21-23: Jeremiah recounts the Exodus, the giving of the Promised Land, a re-affirmation of God’s enduring covenant with His people.

As the prayer progresses, Jeremiah pours out his concerns:

Verses 24-25: He candidly acknowledges the current bleak situation—Jerusalem’s siege and the looming destruction. The final verse expresses a paradox of faith, as Jeremiah has obeyed God’s command to buy the field amidst apparent doom.

Verses 26-35 shift to God’s response, where He reaffirms His sovereign plans and reasserts His righteous judgment tempered with mercy.

Verses 26-27: God’s rhetorical question, “Is anything too hard for me?” reinforces His omnipotence and faithfulness to His prophetic promises.
Verses 28-35: A detailed recount of Judah’s sins, including idolatry, social injustice, and pervasive wickedness, justifies the impending judgment. Yet, even amidst this indictment, the ultimate goal is not perpetual desolation but redemptive correction.

God’s response in these verses underscores the holistic nature of His judgment and redemption. He neither glosses over sin nor abdicates His commitment to restoration.

The Promise of Restoration (Verses 36-44)

The final section of Chapter 32 (verses 36-44) pivots from judgment to a vision of hope and restoration, encapsulating the heart of Jeremiah’s prophetic message.

Verses 36-37: Here, God acknowledges the desolation but promises regathering of His people from all lands to which they have been driven—a reversal of fortune.
Verses 38-41: The future vision is elaborated. The people will once again be God’s own, living in a renewed covenant relationship marked by an “everlasting covenant.” God vows to plant them securely, rejoicing in doing them good.
Verses 42-44: The closing verses reiterate the symbolic significance of Jeremiah’s field purchase. Fields will be bought again, and the economic and social fabric of the land will be restored, pointing to a holistic restoration encompassing both spiritual and material realms.

This final section illuminates the dual nature of Jeremiah’s prophecy—a message of both impending judgment and certain hope. Through the lens of the New Covenant, it prefigures the ultimate restoration and redemption through Christ.

Conclusion

Chapter 32 of Jeremiah is a treasure trove of theological insights and prophetic symbolism. It captures the interplay of divine judgment and mercy, underscoring God’s unwavering faithfulness amid human unfaithfulness. The act of buying the field, framed by Jeremiah’s heartfelt prayer and God’s redemptive assurance, stands as a powerful testament to hope and faith in God’s covenant promises.

In sum, the chapter invites readers to grapple with the realities of divine justice and grace, invoking a call to faithfulness and trust in God’s redemptive plan—a message that resonates with profound relevance to this day.

Understanding the Key Messages in Jeremiah 32: Insights and Explanation

In Jeremiah 32, the prophet is imprisoned by King Zedekiah for his prophecies of Babylon's conquest. Despite the looming destruction, God tells Jeremiah to purchase a field in his hometown as a sign of hope. Through this act, God reassures His people of their future restoration.

Notes

This chapter highlights God's promise of restoration and faithfulness, even in the midst of challenging circumstances.