Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Jeremiah 32:12
And I gave the evidence of the purchase unto Baruch the son of Neriah, the son of Maaseiah, in the sight of Hanameel mine uncle’s [son], and in the presence of the witnesses that subscribed the book of the purchase, before all the Jews that sat in the court of the prison.
12. Baruch ] the first mention of the prophet’s faithful amanuensis.
mine uncle’s son] See on Jer 32:7. From this v. together with ch. Jer 51:59 we gather that Seraiah, chief chamberlain to Zedekiah, was Baruch’s brother.
in the court of the guard ] See on Jer 32:2.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
This
Baruch (as appeareth from Jer 36:4,26) was a scribe, and an attendant upon Jeremiah, and one who wrote things for him, and from his mouth. He made this purchase with all the usual formalities; to make it public, he signed and sealed it before witnesses, and delivered it to Baruch, to keep in the presence of them all, and in the presence of the Jews who casually were in the place when the thing was done.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
12. BaruchJeremiah’samanuensis and agent (Jer 36:4,c.).
before allIn saleseverything clandestine was avoided publicity was required. So here,in the court of prison, where Jeremiah was confined, there weresoldiers and others, who had free access to him, present (Jer38:1).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And I gave the evidence of the purchase,…. Both that which was sealed and that which was open; both the original and the copy; or the whole, as signed, sealed, and witnessed:
unto Baruch the son of Neriah, the son of Maaseiah; this Baruch, as appears from other places in this book, was one that attended on Jeremiah, was his scribe or amanuensis, and did business for him of one kind or another, and is described here by his pedigree; and it was the more necessary now to make use of him in this affair, because the prophet was confined, and could not go out of the court of the prison; to him he gave the above deed:
in the sight of Hanameel mine uncle’s [son]; of whom the purchase was made: the word “son” is not in the text, which has led some to think that both were present at this bargain, both the uncle and the uncle’s son; or that Hanameel was both uncle and uncle’s son to Jeremiah, as Jarchi; but there is no need to suppose that; the word “son” may easily be supplied from what is before said:
and in the presence of the witnesses that subscribed the book of the purchase; the same that the prophet subscribed; so that the book the witnesses subscribed was not a separate book, as some have thought; for there was but one book or deed in all, besides the copy that was taken of it:
before all the Jews that sat in the court of the prison; where Jeremiah was; and who probably came to visit him, and to hear the word of the Lord from his mouth; unless we can suppose that these were fellow prisoners, or were set as spies upon him, to watch him what he said and did.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
He afterwards adds, that he gave both to his scribe Baruch, the son of Neriah, the son of Maaseiah, in the presence of Hanameel, and in the presence of the witnesses who had subscribed the writings, and in the presence of all who stood there, that is, in the court of the prison. Hence we may again plainly conclude, that he is narrating a real history, and not a vision exhibited to him: the seller, Hanameel, was present together with witnesses and other Jews; and he says that he gave up the writing with certain orders, for otherwise it would have been merely the delivering up of a book. If he had only deposited it with Baruch, the people would have learnt nothing; but the orders are added, I charged Baruch, saying, etc. We hence may also conclude, that this oracle was given to the Prophet, not only that it might continue for posterity, even after the time of exile was completed, but that it might also be then published and made known to all the Jews. He then says, Thus saith Jehovah He had not yet shewn the design of the prophecy; but when he said that the affair was carried on by the command of God, he rendered them all attentive. Take, he says, these writings, and put them in an earthen or a potter’s vessel It seems strange that he did not bid him to put them in another kind of vessel, for that vessel might become decayed, and so the writings might have perished. But we know that even the most precious treasures are deposited in earthen vessels. It is then no wonder that God commanded the prophecy to be put in an earthen vessel. Were any one disposed to understand something more refined, it might be said, that the promise, which apparently was not very firm, was an earthen vessel; for what is more frail than a voice which is dissipated into air? The Jews were driven into exile; they had heard from the mouth of Jeremiah, that the prefixed period was seventy years: but they might, in the meantime have despaired, since only the sound of the voice had reached their ears. However this may be, since the oracle, which was a pledge of deliverance, had been laid up in an earthen vessel, it remained safe and undecayed, because the treasure had been deposited there by God’s command.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(12) Baruch the son of Neriah, the son of Maaseiah.This is the first mention of a man who played a more or less prominent part in connection with Jeremiahs later work. Nothing is known of his father or grandfather, but the fact that both are named indicates that he belonged to the nobler families of Judah; and this is confirmed, partly by the fact that his brother Seraiah (Jer. 51:59, where see Note) held a high position in the court of Zedekiah, partly by Josephus, who describes him as of a very illustrious house, and highly educated (Ant. x. 6, 12). The mention of Chelcias (the Greek form for Hilkiah) among his ancestors, in the apocryphal book that bears his name (Bar. 1:1), may indicate a connection with the family of the high-priest in the reign of Josiah (2Ki. 22:4-14), and we may find in this fact an explanation of his regard tor Jeremiah. In relation to the prophet, he appears in Jer. 36:4 as acting as his secretary, as accused of instigating Jeremiah to preach submission to the Chaldans (Jer. 43:3), as sharing his sufferings and dangers (Jer. 36:26), and, according to Josephus (as above), as thrown into prison with him. He was probably an influential member of the Chaldan party in the court of Judah, protesting against the policy which courted an alliance with Egypt and entered into intrigues and schemes of rebellion against the power of Babylon. The book that bears his name is probably pseudonymous, but it bears witness, in the very fact of its being ascribed to him, to the importance of the position which he occupied in the politics of the time. Here he is present as at least visiting the prophet in prison, even if he did not share his imprisonment, and Jeremiah hands over the deeds of conveyance to his custody.
Before all the Jews that sat in the court of the prison.The incidental mention of these is interesting, as showing the freedom of access which was permitted to the prisoner. Looking to the freedom and fulness of the prayer that follows (Jer. 32:17-25), it is a legitimate inference that they formed, as it were, a congregation of disciples, on whom the prophet sought to impress, by the transaction of the purchase, his own sure and certain hope of the restoration of his people.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Jer 32:12 And I gave the evidence of the purchase unto Baruch the son of Neriah, the son of Maaseiah, in the sight of Hanameel mine uncle’s [son], and in the presence of the witnesses that subscribed the book of the purchase, before all the Jews that sat in the court of the prison.
Ver. 12. And I gave the evidences of the purchase unto Baruch. ] Who was Jeremiah’s household servant, and his scribe or notary, such as was afterwards Paulus Coneordiensis to Cyprian.
In the sight of Hanameel, &c.
Before all the Jews who sat in the court of the prison.
a Fuller’s Church Hist.
b Acts and Mon., 1457.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
uncle’s son. Hebrew text reads “uncle”. But some codices, with Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read “uncle’s son”, as in verses: Jer 32:8, Jer 32:9.
subscribed. Some codices, with three early printed editions, Aramaean, Syriac, and Vulgate, read “[whose names] were written”.
before. Some codices, with Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read “and before”.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Baruch: Jer 32:16, Jer 36:4, Jer 36:5, Jer 36:16-19, Jer 36:26, Jer 43:3-6, Jer 45:1-5
Neriah: Jer 51:59
and in: 2Co 8:21
Reciprocal: Gen 23:18 – all Jer 32:10 – I
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jer 32:12. In the sight was to have the force of a record as for a deed to the property. This was not only to make the sale legal, but for its effect on the public as to Jeremiahs faith in his own predictions.