Chapter 32: A Field of Hope Amid Siege
(44 Pesukim)
Overview
During Babylon’s siege of Jerusalem, Yermiyahu is imprisoned for prophesying the city’s fall. In this dark moment, Hashem commands him to perform a symbolic act—buying a field—to demonstrate that restoration will follow judgment. The chapter blends despair, obedience, prayer, and a sweeping promise of renewal.
- Context: Siege and Imprisonment (32:1-5)
- In tenth year of reign of Zedekiah’s, the king of Judah, which was Nebuchadnezzar’s eighteenth year of reign, Babylon besieged Jerusalem.
- At that time Yermiyahu was confined in the palace courtyard in Jerusalem because he foretold the following prophecy of doom. He was imprisoned by Zedekiahu the king of Judah for saying the following:
- Fall of Jerusalem: The city of Jerusalem will fall to the king of Babylon.
- Fall of Zedekiah: Zedekiah will be captured by the Casdians and taken to Babylon. He will remain there until Hashem shows him mercy.
- Resistance is futile as their war against the Casdians will be unsuccessful.
- The Command to Buy a Field (32:6-15)
- Hashem then told Yermiyahu the following prophecy:
- “Your cousin Chanamel the son of Shalum will come to you and offer you to purchase his field in Anathoth— being that you have the legal rights to redeem it.”
- Shortly afterwards, indeed Chanamel arrived as foretold and offered me to buy the field being that I am the closest relative to redeem it, confirming Hashem’s word.
- Yermiyahu buys the field for 17 shekels of silver.
- Proof of the sale: Yermiyahu signs the deed, and secures witnesses for the transaction.
- Safeguarding the deed: Yermiyahu then took the deed in front of the witnesses and in front of Chanamel and in front of all the people who were there and gave it to Baruch Ben Niryah for safekeeping. He instructed Baruch based on the prophecy from God that he is to take the scrolls and store the documents in a clay jar for long-term preservation.
- The reason for this instruction was because God was message that? “Houses, fields, and vineyards will again be bought in this land.”
- Yermiyahu’s Prayer (32:16-25)
- Yermiyahu that recited the following prayer after having handed the scrolls to Baruch:
- Acknowledging Hashem’s power, justice, and past wonders—especially the Exodus: Oh God, you have created the heaven and the earth. Nothing is beyond your capabilities. You do kindness for the thousands, and give retribution against sons for following after the sins of their fathers. You always watch over all the actions of men and make man pay for his ways. You made many miracles and wonders in the land of Egypt as well as today in the land made for yourself a name of fame. You took your nation the Jewish people out from Egypt with great wonders and with a strong hand and brought them here to the promised land a land of milk and honey.
- Confessing Israel’s disobedience and the calamity now unfolding: You inherited the land, yet you did not follow in the voice and instructions of God. Because of this, I gave the city over to the Casdian’s who will take over the city with the sword, hunger and pestilence which you witness.
- Expressing perplexity: “You Hashem told me to buy land, yet the city is under siege and will be given over to the Casdians!”
- Hashem’s Response (32:26-36)
- Hashem appeared to Yermiyahu to tell him the following in response to his question:
- “I am the God of all flesh—is the future hidden from Me?”
- Judgment is certain:
- The city of Jerusalem will be given over to the Casdians and be captured by Nevudchanetzar the king of Babylon. The Casdians will burn down the city, burning down the roofs which were used to offer incense to the idolatry of Baal and spilled libations towards other deities.
- Generations have provoked Hashem with evil: From the day of My youth, I have watched the people of Israel and Judah do what is evil in My eyes, provoking Me with the work of their hands. This city has stirred My anger from the day it was built, driving Me to remove it from before My face. All of them—kings, officers, priests, prophets, and the people of Judah and Jerusalem—have provoked Me with their wrongdoing. They turned their backs to Me instead of their faces, and though I taught them again and again, they refused to listen or accept instruction.
- The Temple was defiled by idolatry and child sacrifice: They defiled My house with their abominations, and they built altars to Baal in the Valley of Hinnom, even passing their sons and daughters through fire to Molech—something I never commanded nor even conceived—bringing guilt upon Judah.
5. Hashem promises restoration: (32:37-41)
- Hashem promises that He will gather His people from all nations where He scattered them, and they will become to Him His nation and He will be to them their God.
- Hashem will implant in the hearts of each and every one of them to fear Him throughout all of their days in order to benefit them and their descendents.
- They will live securely in the land.
- Everlasting covenant: Hashem will create an everlasting covenant with them from which He will never turn away from doing good.
- His law will be in their hearts; they will fear Him and remain faithful.
- Hashem will rejoice to plant them firmly in the land with all His heart and soul.
- Symbol of Hope (32:42-44)
- Just as Hashem brought disaster, He will bring good:
- So says God: just as I have brought this great evil so too I will bring to this great thickness of the verses certain waivers from human good
- Fields will be bought again in Judah—in Benjamin, Jerusalem, the hill country, the lowlands, and the Negev.
- Life will return.
