Jeremiah 32:10

Verse Jeremiah 32:10. I subscribed the evidence] We have here all the circumstances of this legal act:

1. An offer is made of the reversion of the ground, till the jubilee, to him who would then of right come into possession.

2. The price is agreed on, and the silver weighed in the balances.

3. A contract or deed of sale is drawn up, to which both parties agreeing,

4. Witnesses are brought forward to see it signed and sealed; for the contract was both subscribed and sealed.

5. A duplicate of the deed was drawn, which was not to be sealed, but to lie open for the inspection of those concerned, in some public place where it might be safe, and always to be seen.

6. The original, which was sealed up, was put in an earthen pitcher, in order to be preserved from accidents.

7. This was delivered by the purchaser into the hands of a third party, to be preserved for the use of the purchaser, and witnesses were called to attest this delivery.

8. They subscribed the book of the purchase, perhaps a town book, or register, where such purchases were entered. Baruch was a scribe by profession; and the deeds were delivered into his hands, before witnesses, to be preserved as above.

Perhaps the law, in this case, required that the instrument should be thus lodged. But, in the present case, both the deeds, the original and the duplicate, were put into the earthen pitcher, because the city was about to be burnt; and if lodged as usual, they would be destroyed in the general conflagration. See Jeremiah 32:14.