And I subscribed the evidence, and sealed it, and took witnesses, and weighed him the money in the balances.
Jeremiah's purchase of a field or possession in the land was carried out with full legal formality, by signing and sealing the deed of evidence, taking witnesses, and weighing out the money in payment in balances. Anathoth near Jerusalem was his home, and when he attempted to go there he was arrested on the charge of trying to join the Chaldeans and was cast into prison. The book in which this stands is not always arranged in time order, since some chapters from Zedekiah's reign are placed before chapters from the days of Jehoiakim.
Up to chapter 20 the chapters run in fairly chronological order, but from chapter 20 to chapter 46 the time order differs from the written order, so that in time order chapter 32 follows chapter 37 and comes before chapter 33. The transaction belongs to the history of the two years before Jerusalem fell. It belongs with the history of Nebuchadnezzar's repeated sieges of Jerusalem, the carrying away of Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin and Zedekiah with their people to Babylon, the appointment and murder of Gedaliah, and the flight of the remaining people to Egypt for fear of the Chaldees.
The purchase showed faith that repentant Israel would be restored to the promised land and reclaimed from idolatry, and it demonstrated patriotism and hope for the nation. The written and sealed evidence with witnesses taken for a property transaction illustrates the use of witnesses in transactions beyond criminal cases.
Jeremiah's purchase of a field or possession in the land was carried out with full legal formality, by signing and sealing the deed of evidence, taking witnesses, and weighing out the money in payment in balances. Anathoth near Jerusalem was his home, and when he attempted to go there he was arrested on the charge of trying to join the Chaldeans and was cast into prison. The book in which this stands is not always arranged in time order, since some chapters from Zedekiah's reign are placed before chapters from the days of Jehoiakim.
Up to chapter 20 the chapters run in fairly chronological order, but from chapter 20 to chapter 46 the time order differs from the written order, so that in time order chapter 32 follows chapter 37 and comes before chapter 33. The transaction belongs to the history of the two years before Jerusalem fell. It belongs with the history of Nebuchadnezzar's repeated sieges of Jerusalem, the carrying away of Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin and Zedekiah with their people to Babylon, the appointment and murder of Gedaliah, and the flight of the remaining people to Egypt for fear of the Chaldees.
The purchase showed faith that repentant Israel would be restored to the promised land and reclaimed from idolatry, and it demonstrated patriotism and hope for the nation. The written and sealed evidence with witnesses taken for a property transaction illustrates the use of witnesses in transactions beyond criminal cases.