What happensPermalink
During Babylon’s siege, while imprisoned for prophesying Jerusalem’s fall, Jeremiah buys his cousin’s field at Anathoth as God directs. He completes the sale and preserves the deeds, then asks why God told him to buy land Babylon will conquer. God confirms Jerusalem’s fall for Judah’s persistent rebellion, but nothing is too hard for Him. He will gather His people back, give them one heart and one way, make an everlasting covenant with them, and plant them securely. Fields will again be bought and sold.
Why it mattersPermalink
The field purchase gives tangible form to the hope of chapters 30–31. A carefully witnessed deed points beyond the siege to renewed life in the land. God also promises the inward change that will sustain that life: He will put reverence for Him in His people’s hearts and rejoice in doing them good.
Key versePermalink
Fields shall be bought for money, and deeds shall be signed and sealed and witnessed, in the land of Benjamin, in the places about Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, in the cities of the hill country, in the cities of the Shephelah, and in the cities of the Negeb; for I will restore their fortunes, declares the Lord.