Jer 32: "Only a few months remain for Jerusalem before the
thunder of the Babylonian cavalry will be heard, and the crash of falling bricks
will signal the commencement of the captivity. Most of the inhabitants had
resigned themselves to their fate, and expressed anger against Jeremiah because
of his constant prophecies and warnings. The events of this chapter follow those
of Jer 37:21. Jeremiah had sought his liberty. The king Zedekiah had taken him
from out of the dungeon, but had imprisoned him in the course of the palace
prison-house, not so severe a restraint. Then occurred a most unusual incident,
which demonstrated Jeremiah's hope beyond the captivity of Babylon! He purchased
the field of Hanameel (vv 6-12), in spite of his own words that Jerusalem would
pass into the house of the oppressing Gentile. He sought an inheritance in
Yahweh's land -- a realization that yet remains for a future time. Jeremiah
witnessed for the future (vv 13-15), he prayed for further enlightenment (vv
16-25). Yahweh replied, 'Behold the severity' (vv 26-35), and spoke concerning:
'Behold the goodness' (vv 36-44). Despite terrible sins, gross ingratitude,
shocking perversion of Truth, Yahweh remembers His covenant and will restore His
people -- a fact that permits every son and daughter of Yahweh to take comfort
in their shortcomings, to seek His mercy and to trust in His promises"
(GEM).
Jer 32:7
AS NEAREST RELATIVE: Jeremiah's older brother Azariah
(1Ch 6:13,14) must have died by this time.
Jer 32:11
SEALED COPY... UNSEALED COPY: One for public, and one
for private use.
Jer 32:12
BARUCH: A friend of Jeremiah (Jer 36:26), who wrote
(Jer 36:1-8) and read (Jer 36:10) Jeremiah's prophecy; he was taken to Egypt
with Jeremiah (Jer 43:1-7).
Jer 32:17
"At the very time when the Chaldeans surrounded Jerusalem, and
when the sword, famine and pestilence had desolated the land, Jeremiah was
commanded by God to purchase a field, and have the deed of transfer legally
sealed and witnessed. This was a strange purchase for a rational man to make.
Prudence could not justify it, for it was buying with scarcely a probability
that the person purchasing could ever enjoy the possession. But it was enough
for Jeremiah that his God had bidden him, for well he knew that God will be
justified of all His children... This gave a majesty to the early saints, that
they dared to do at God's command things which carnal reason would condemn.
Whether it be a Noah who is to build a ship on dry land, an Abraham who is to
offer up his only son, or a Moses who is to despise the treasures of Egypt, or a
Joshua who is to besiege Jericho seven days, using no weapons but the blasts of
rams' horns, they all act upon God's command, contrary to the dictates of carnal
reason; and the Lord gives them a rich reward as the result of their obedient
faith. Would to God we had in the religion of these modern times a more potent
infusion of this heroic faith in God. If we would venture more upon the naked
promise of God, we should enter a world of wonders to which as yet we are
strangers. Let Jeremiah's place of confidence be ours -- nothing is too hard for
the God that created the heavens and the earth" (CHS).