Jeremiah 32:6-15

Jeremiah, after a premonition of the coming opportunity (subsequently confirmed as being of Divine origin, Jeremiah 32:8) uses the right of redemption belonging to the next-of-kin (Leviticus 25:25; Ruth 4:3 ff.) to buy family property in Anathoth (Jeremiah 32:11) from his cousin Hanamel; he duly executes the purchase with all legal precision. By this prophetic act, he exhibited his confidence that land now in the enemy's occupation would ultimately be restored to Israel (cf. Livy 26:11 for a similar incident).

Jeremiah 32:9. The weight of uncoined metal named would be worth about £ 2. 6s. 9 d. to-day, but the exchange value then would be much greater; cf. 2 Samuel 24:24.

Jeremiah 32:11. Read as mg.

Jeremiah 32:14. Excavation has revealed the similar Babylonian custom of keeping in an earthen vessel a tablet enclosed in an outer envelope, itself inscribed in duplicate. Baruch, with whom the deeds were deposited, was the prophet's secretary (Jeremiah 36), faithful companion (Jeremiah 43:3), and, probably, future biographer.