Jeremiah Buys a Field
Jeremiah 39, verse 1. The word came from the Lord to Jeremiah in the tenth year of King Zedekiah of Judah. This was the eighteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. Jeremiah 39, verse 2. The forces of the king of Babylon's army made a fortification against Jerusalem, and Jeremiah was kept in the court of the prison which was in the king's house, Jeremiah 39, verse 3. in which King Zedekiah shut him up, saying, “Why do you prophesy, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Behold, I give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall take it. Jeremiah 39, verse 4. Zedekiah shall not escape from the hand of the Chaldeans, for he shall surely be delivered into the hands of the king of Babylon. He shall speak with him face to face and see him eye to eye. Jeremiah 39, verse 5. Then Zedekiah shall go to Babylon and dwell there.”’” Jeremiah 39, verse 6. Again the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, saying, Jeremiah 39, verse 7. “Behold, Hanamel the son of Shallum, your father's brother, will come to you, saying, ‘Buy yourself my field in Anathoth, for you have the right to receive it as a possession.’” Jeremiah 39, verse 8. So Hanamel the son of Shallum, my father's brother, came to me in the court of the prison and said to me, “Buy my field in Anathoth, which is in the land of Benjamin. The right to buy it is yours and you are the elder.” So I knew this was the word of the Lord. Jeremiah 39, verse 9. Thus I bought the field from Hanamel, the son of my father's brother, and weighed him seventeen shekels of silver. Jeremiah 39, verse 10. I wrote it in a book, sealed it, took the testimony of witnesses, and weighed the money on the scales. Jeremiah 39, verse 11. Then I took the book of the purchase that was sealed Jeremiah 39, verse 12. and gave it to Baruch the son of Neriah, son of Mahseiah, in the sight of Hanamel, the son of my father's brother, and in the sight of the men who stood by and who signed the purchase deed, and in the sight of those Jews in the court of the prison. Jeremiah 39, verse 13. Then I charged Baruch in their sight, saying, Jeremiah 39, verse 14. “Thus says the Lord Almighty: ‘Take this purchase deed and the deed that was read aloud and put it in an earthen vessel, that it may remain many days.’ Jeremiah 39, verse 15. For thus says the Lord: ‘Even fields, houses, and vineyards shall be possessed in this land.’”
Jeremiah's Prayer Acknowledges God's Faithfulness
Jeremiah 39, verse 16. After I gave the book of the purchase to Baruch the son of Neriah, I prayed to the Lord, saying, Jeremiah 39, verse 17. “O Lord, You made heaven and earth by Your great strength and by Your high and uplifted arm. There is nothing hidden from You. Jeremiah 39, verse 18. You grant mercy to thousands, and repay the sins of the fathers into the bosoms of their children after them, the Great and Mighty God, Jeremiah 39, verse 19. the Lord of great counsel and powerful in deeds, the Great God, the Almighty and the Lord of great name. Your eyes are upon the ways of the sons of men, to give everyone according to his way. Jeremiah 39, verse 20. You did signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, even to this day, and in Israel and among the inhabitants of the earth. You made Yourself a name, as it is this day. Jeremiah 39, verse 21. You brought Your people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs and wonders, with a strong hand and a high arm, and with great visions. Jeremiah 39, verse 22. You gave them this land, which You swore to their fathers, a land flowing with milk and honey. Jeremiah 39, verse 23. They went in and took it; but they did not listen to Your voice or walk in Your commandments. They did none of the things You commanded them to do, and it caused all of these calamities to happen to them. Jeremiah 39, verse 24. Behold, a multitude comes against this city, and the city is given into the hands of the Chaldeans who wage war against it, with the power of sword and famine. As You have spoken, thus it has happened. Jeremiah 39, verse 25. You did say to me, ‘Buy for yourself the field for silver.’ So I wrote the book, sealed it, and took the testimony of witnesses. Yet the city has been given into the hand of the Chaldeans.”
Jerusalem Will Fall
Jeremiah 39, verse 26. The word of the Lord came to me, saying, Jeremiah 39, verse 27. “I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Shall anything be hidden from Me? Jeremiah 39, verse 28. Therefore thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘This city shall certainly be delivered into the hands of the king of Babylon, and he shall take it. Jeremiah 39, verse 29. For the Chaldeans shall come and wage war against this city. They shall burn this city with fire, and burn up the houses in which they burnt incense to Baal on their housetops, and poured drink offerings to other gods to provoke Me. Jeremiah 39, verse 30. For the children of Israel and the children of Judah alone did evil in My sight from their youth. Jeremiah 39, verse 31. For this city provoked My wrath and anger from the day they built it even to this day, so I removed it from My presence, Jeremiah 39, verse 32. because of all the evils of the children of Israel and Judah which they did to provoke Me—they and their kings, and their rulers, priests and prophets, and the men of Judah and those living in Jerusalem. Jeremiah 39, verse 33. They turned their back to Me and not their face. I taught them early in the morning, yes I taught them, but they did not listen to take hold of the instruction. Jeremiah 39, verse 34. Instead, they put their unclean defilements in the house in which My name is called. Jeremiah 39, verse 35. They built altars to Baal in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to offer their sons and daughters to King Molech, which things I did not command; nor did such things come into My heart, for them to do this abomination to cause Judah to sin.’
God Reaffirms His Covenant
Jeremiah 39, verse 36. “Now thus says the Lord God of Israel against this city of which you say, ‘It shall be delivered into the hands of the king of Babylon by sword, famine, and banishment’: Jeremiah 39, verse 37. ‘Behold, I will gather them out of every land where I scattered them in My wrath and anger and in great provocation. I will bring them back to this place and will cause them to dwell in confidence. Jeremiah 39, verse 38. They shall be to Me as a people, and I shall be as God to them. Jeremiah 39, verse 39. I will give them another way and a different heart, to fear Me all their days, for their good and for the good of their children after them. Jeremiah 39, verse 40. I will make an everlasting covenant with them, by which I will not turn away from them. I will put My fear into their heart so they may not depart from Me. Jeremiah 39, verse 41. I will visit them to do good to them, and I will plant them in this land in faithfulness, and with all My heart and soul.’ Jeremiah 39, verse 42. “For thus says the Lord: ‘As I have brought all these great calamities upon this people, so I will bring upon them all the good things I have spoken. Jeremiah 39, verse 43. Fields will yet be bought in the land of which you say, “It is impassable for men and cattle, for they were delivered into the hands of the Chaldeans.” Jeremiah 39, verse 44. But they shall buy fields with money, and you will write a book, seal it, and take the testimony of witnesses in the land of Benjamin and round about Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah and the mountains, and in the cities of the lowland, and the south; for I will turn back their captivity.’”