Jeremiah 32 - Introduction

Jeremiah 32:1-44. Jeremiah redeems a piece of property belonging to his family. The significance of his act

A considerable part of this ch. is believed by most recent commentators to be a later addition to the historical nucleus of the narrative as found in Jeremiah 32:6. Thus we may consider the following vv. as more or less probably accretions, Jeremiah 32:1 (introductory), 17 23 (the earlier part of Jeremiah's prayer), 28 35 (Jehovah's denunciation of the people's idolatry). See the notes on these passages.

The ch. may be summarized as follows. (i) Jeremiah 32:1. Introductory account of the circumstances under which the events of the ch. occurred. (ii) Jeremiah 32:6. The prophet is invited by his kinsman, Hanamel, to exercise his right as next of kin to buy his field at Anathoth, and recognises it as his duty to do so, having already received a Divine communication announcing the object of his kinsman's coming. He executes the purchase with due legal formalities, and charges Baruch to secure the preservation of the deeds; inasmuch as he has Jehovah's promise that, in spite of present circumstances, land tenure shall again become secure. (iii) Jeremiah 32:16. The prophet addresses Jehovah, the omnipotent, the merciful, the all-knowing, the Deliverer and Preserver of His people in past times, who now for their disobedience are in imminent danger from the Chaldaeans. Can it be that normal security will ever return? The Lord answers that nothing is too hard for Him. (iv) Jeremiah 32:28. The Lord enumerates the people's sins, idolatry and human sacrifices, and declares that the city shall be sacked as requital for its polluting practices. (v) Jeremiah 32:36. Nevertheless, the people shall be brought back from Babylon, and enjoy Jehovah's favour, and secure possession of their land.