This chapter describes a prophetic action by Jeremiah which must have seemed incomprehensible to most of those around him because of the circumstances in which it took place. During the seige of Jerusalem by the Babylonians, Jeremiah had been imprisoned because of the anger and hatred of the court officials and princes of the court, which had influenced King Zedekiah. They were angered by his prophecies of the destruction of the city and his suggestion to the king, that he should surrender to the Babylonians (27: 12). Jeremiah was imprisoned in a courtyard of the royal palace. In the presence of witnesses he went through the detailed procedure of buying a piece of land. He then gave the documents of purchase to Baruch the scribe and told him to seal them in a clay jar to preserve them safely for the future. At a time when Judah was in the hands of the Babylonians a land transaction seemed absolutely pointless, but what Jeremiah did signified his hope for the future. He was affirming not only that members of his family would return from the exile and would claim the land which he had bought, but that normal life would be restored to Judah.

32: 1-15 describes the purchase procedure.

32: 16-25. Jeremiah prays to God, praising him and accepting the command to carry out the land transaction in this time of war and impending disaster. Verse 24 describes vividly what was actually happening. -

32: 36-44. In the word ofthe Lord which comes to Jeremiah, in answer to his prayer, the impending destruction of the city is affirmed, but so is the restoration of the people after their punishment is ended. Verses 42-44 relate to the prophetic sign ofthe land transaction. Verses 40-41 relate to a new covenant which God will make with his restored people.