Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Jeremiah 32:11
So I took the evidence of the purchase, [both] that which was sealed [according] to the law and custom, and that which was open:
11. both that which was sealed and that which was open ] but not implying two documents to be kept separate. They were the two parts of a whole. See on Jer 32:10.
according to the law and custom ] better, with mg. containing the terms and conditions. The former Dr. however renders the injunction, viz. to the seller, bidding him hand over the property, while the latter are the conditions on which it is purchased.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
It is most probable that, upon such bargains and sales amongst the Jews, two instruments were made, the one sealed up, to be kept by the purchaser, the other open, to be showed to the judges, and by them ratified, and that this was the law and custom ordinarily amongst the Jews upon purchases; both which Jeremiah kept, the one for his use, the other to produce in court for ratification. There is no certainty in the guesses that some others make why there were two copies: nothing appeareth but that the prophet bought this little purchase with the same rites and circumstances that men ordinarily in that country made purchases in times of peace and civil order.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
11. evidence . . . sealed . . .openTwo deeds were drawn up in a contract of sale; the one,the original copy, witnessed and sealed with the public seal; theother not so, but open, and therefore less authoritative, being but acopy. GATAKERthinks that the purchaser sealed the one with his own seal;the other he showed to witnesses that they might write their names onthe back of it and know the contents; and that some details, forexample, the conditions and time of redemption were in the sealedcopy, which the parties might not choose to be known to thewitnesses, and which were therefore not in the open copy. Thesealed copy, when opened after the seventy years’ captivity, wouldgreatly confirm the faith of those living at that time. The “lawand custom” refer, probably, not merely to the sealing up of theconditions and details of purchase, but also to the law ofredemption, according to which, at the return to Judea, the deedwould show that Jeremiah had bought the field by his right as next ofkin (Le 25:13-16),[LUDOVICUS DEDIEU].
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
So I took the evidence of the purchase,…. The deed of purchase, the book or bill of sale, the instrument of the bargain, as before mentioned:
[both] that which is sealed, [according] to the law and custom; which was both sealed by the buyer and seller, and was sealed up, and not to be looked into by everyone, only when there might be a necessity; this was the original copy:
and that which was open; the counter part or copy of the former, which though signed and sealed as the other, yet not sealed up, but was open and exposed to view; either for the relations to see what was done, as some; or for the judges, as others, to ratify and make authentic: or, as is most probable, this copy was laid up in some public register, to have recourse unto upon any occasion; however it was, it was according to the laws and customs of those times, which Jeremiah carefully attended to: or, as others, it lay open for the witnesses to sign; so there are three distinct things; first the written contract; then that as signed and sealed by buyer and seller, according to law; and then as signed, but not sealed, by the witnesses.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The Prophet adds, that he wrote a book, that is, the writing of the purchase; for ספר sepher, means in Hebrew, not only a volume, but what we call a document, and the Latins tablets, (tabulas) Then he says that the writing of the purchase was made, and then it was sealed, not as we do by appending a seal to it, but it was closed up, as the custom then was. He also adds, according to the law and custom; and at last he says that another writing was made which remained open; and it is thought that the open writing means what we call a copy; and so the sealed writing was deposited in a chest, and the open copy could be referred to at any time. (62) Though the Prophet alludes to a common custom, yet I doubt not but that he wrote this prophecy on rolls, one sealed and the other open, in order that those who were then living might receive some benefit from his doctrine, and also that the authentic copy, or the original itself, might remain for posterity, as we shall hereafter see. And doubtless God not only intended to strengthen the hope of the faithful after the completed time of exile, as this prophecy would he dormant for seventy years; but he designed also that it should be then of use, so as to be a support to them in their sufferings. There was also another benefit to be derived from this prophecy, even that the Jews while in exile might begin to entertain hope, and remembering this vision, might feel assured that God would be their Deliverer, according to what he had promised.
This then was the reason why two writings of the purchase were made, the sealed and the open. (63) The open had a present benefit, as it would make the faithful to go more willingly into exile, and calmly to submit to the chastisement allotted to them by God; and for this reason the Prophecy was to be open to all. It was also sealed, in order that after the lapse of seventy years it might animate the godly, and inspire them with the hope of their promised deliverance. This, therefore, is the reason, as I think, why the Prophet relates that he made a writing and sealed it, and then that he made another writing which remained open.
(62) There were no doubt two rolls or writings, as it appears clear from Jer 32:14, where the two are distinctly mentioned, “Take these rolls, this roll of the purchase, even the sealed, and this open roll,” etc. The word ספר ought to be rendered throughout either a roll, or a book, or writing, when preceded by an article, and not “evidence,” as in our version.
There seems to be an incongruity in verse the 10 th (Jer 32:10), as rendered by most; the roll is represented as “sealed,” before the “witnesses” are mentioned, and before the money was weighed. The rendering, I conceive, ought to be as follows, “So I wrote in a roll; and I sealed it, when I had made witnesses to witness it, and weighed the money in balances.” The ו may often be rendered “when,” and also “so,” as it is done in the next verse in our version, though there “and” would be more suitable. The “witnesses” are expressly said in ver. 12 (Jer 32:12) to have subscribed, or written in, the book or roll of purchase, which was sealed. — Ed
(63) The 11th verse (Jer 32:11), where the two rolls are first mentioned, is difficult to be rendered. I offer the following literal version of the 11th, 12th, 13th and 14, —
11. And I took the writing of the purchase, — it the sealed, the commandment and the conditions, — and it the open; and I gave the writing of the purchase to Baruch the son of Neriah,
12. The son of Maaseiah, in the sight of Hanameel my uncle’s son, and in the sight of the witnesses who wrote in the roll of the purchase, and in sight of all the Jews who
13. sat in the court of the prison; and I commanded Baruch in their sight,
14. saying, “Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, ‘Take these rolls, — this roll of the purchase, even it the sealed, and this open roll; and put them in au earthen vessel, that they may continue many days.’”
The two rolls are called “the writing of the purchase” in ver. 11, but distinguished, one being “sealed,” and the other “open,” or unsealed. The sealed contained “the commandment,” that is, to purchase, and “the conditions,” literally “ordinances;” which Blayney renders, “the assignment and the limitations,” and the Vulg., “the stipulations and ratifications.” But מצוה never means anything but a precept or a commandment, and חקים are things defined, settled, or appointed, and may be rendered “stipulations.” Thus the contents of the sealed roll are specified, but those of the open roll are not expressly mentioned. — Ed.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(11) Both that which was sealed . . . and that which was open.We are left to conjecture why there were two documents, and why one was sealed and the other open. Possibly, as in modern transactions, one was simply a duplicate copy of the other, the sealed document being the formal evidence of purchase kept by the buyer, and the other left with the vendor for reference. The more probable explanation, however, is that the unsealed document, which the witnesses did not subscribe or see, contained details which did not concern the witnesses, the price paid (though the mention of the witnesses before the weighing of the money militates against this view), the conditions of resumption by the vendor, possibly some reference to the period of seventy years, at the end of which, and not before, the heirs of Jeremiah might expect to enter on possession.
According to the law and custom.Better, to wit, the agreement and the conditions. The whole transaction may be compared, as an example of ancient conveyancing, with the transfer of the field and cave of Machpelah in Genesis 23
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Jer 32:11 So I took the evidence of the purchase, [both] that which was sealed [according] to the law and custom, and that which was open:
Ver. 11. So I took the evidence of the purchase, both that which was sealed, &c. ] There were then two copies of these contracts and covenants, for preventing of later claims and quarrels.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
according to the law. See notes on Jer 32:7.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
according: Luk 2:27, Act 26:3, 1Co 11:16
Reciprocal: Gen 23:20 – were
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jer 32:11. Law and custom means it was not only customary but lawful to perform the transference of real estate from one individual to another.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
32:11 So I took the deed of the purchase, [both] that which was sealed {g} [according] to the law and custom, and that which was open:
(g) According to the custom the instrument or evidence was sealed up with the common seal and a copy of it remained which contained the same in effect but was left open to be seen if anything should be called into doubt.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
Then Jeremiah gave the original purchase document and a copy of it to Baruch ("Blessed") in the sight of all the people who were present. Archaeologists have unearthed similar duplicate deeds in the ancient Near East, one sealed and the other unsealed. [Note: See Harrison, Jeremiah and . . ., p. 141.]