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IERE. 32.7. Buy thee my field that is in Anathoth, for the right of redemption is thine to buy it, &c.
IN this contract and bargaine betweene Ieremie and his Vncles sonne Hanameel, consider first the man∣ner how the contract was written; and secondly, how this testimony is cited by Matthew, Cap. 27.7.
First, for the manner of writing the contract, he who was to buy the ground wrote two Instruments, the one
he sealed with his owne Signet, the other he shewed unclosed to the witnesses, that they might subscribe and beare witnesse of that which was written: this the wit∣nesses did subscribe upon the backe of the inclosed in∣strument, and these two Instruments were almost alike in all things, saue onely that in the sealed Instrument something was concealed from the witnesses, the things concealed were these, the price of the Land, and the time of the redemption, these they concealed, (for none knew these but the buyer and the seller) in case that the Goel or the next of the kindred knowing the time of the redemption, and the price, and the Morgager not being able to redeeme it at the day, it was lawfull for the next of the kindred to haue redeemed it; these two being concealed, there was place still for the poore man to re∣deeme his Land after the day, therefore they set downe in the inclosed Instrument, onely the bare disposition without the price or time of redemption. So amongst the Romanes, when they sealed their latter will, they concealed the name of the heire, lest any wrong should be done unto him.
It may be asked how these words are cited by Ma∣thew, chap. 27.9. [Quest.] Then was fulfilled that which was spo∣ken by Ieremie the Prophet saying, and they tooke the thirtie peices of silver the price of him that was valued, which they of the children of Israel did value, and gaue them for a pot¦ters field, as the Lord appointed me; he alledgeth Ieremie, but the words are spoken by Zecharie, chap. 11.
This testimonie in Mathew is made up of the saying of Ieremie and Zecharie, [Answ.] and yet Ieremie is onely cited by Mathew: for it is the manner of the new Testament to make up one testimonie of two cited out of the old Testament, although written in divers places in the old Testament. Example. Peter Acts 1.20. maketh up but one testimonie of divers places collected out of the
Psalme 69.17. and 109.8. so 1 Pet. 2.7. this testimo∣ny is made up of diverse testimonies out of the Psalme 118.22. and Esay 8.14. So Christ, Math. 21.5. maketh up one testimony out of Esay 62.11. and Zach. 11.11. So Mat. 21.14. made up of Esay 56.7. and Iere. 7.11.
Secondly, this is the manner of the New Testament, when testimonies are cited out of two, they leaue out the one and expresse onely the other, and they cite the whole testimony as written by one: example, Mat. 21.5. there is a testimony cited out of two Prophets, yet they are cited but as one testimony, it is cited out of two Prophets, Esay 62.11. and Zach. 9.9. Yet the Evange∣list saith, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Prophet; the first words are Esayes, the latter are Zacha∣ries, and yet they are cited as if they were the words of Zachary. So Mark. 1.2. As it is written in the Prophets; this testimony is written both in Esay and Malachy, Be∣hold I send my Messenger before thy face, &c. yet Mat. 3.3. Esay is onely cited and not Malachy.
Now let us consider here why the Evangelist citeth here Ieremie rather than Zacharie, the Evangelist would giue a reasō here, not so much why Christ was bought by the Scribes and Pharisies, as of the feild which was bought for such a price; Zachary speaketh nothing of the field that was bought, wherefore it had not beene pertinent for the Evangelist to haue brought in the te∣stimony of Zachary here. Ieremie in his thirtieth second Chapter telleth when the Captivitie was now approa∣ching, he is commanded to buy such a field, and in buy∣ing such a field there was some secret mystery; second∣ly, there was some analogie, for this feild bought by Ie∣remy was a type of the Potters field, whereof Matthew speaketh, and the analogie consisted especially in this, the field which Mathew maketh mentiō of, was bought to be a buriall for strangers, and this was typed in the
field which was bought by Ieremy, for Ieremy was com∣manded to buy this field at that time when he was ta∣ken prisoner, and when there was little or no hope for him to come out of prison, and when the City was be∣sieged by the Chaldeans; the buyer might thinke now that he had but small reason to buy that land, which was presently to be taken by the Chaldeans; Ieremie might haue said unto the Lord, the Citie is to be deli∣vered into the hands of the Chaldeans, and thou bidst me buy the field for so much money, & the Lord saith, I will deliver this Citie into the hand of the Chaldeans; hence it may seeme that this field was bought rather for strangers than for the buyer himselfe, or any that belonged unto him; therefore Lament. 5.2. Ieremie saith, our inheritance is turned to strangers, our houses to Aliants.
But how could Anathoth be turned into a buriall place? [Quest.]
It is answered, [Answ.] the feild which was in Anathoth was assigned to the Levites, Iosh 11.18. These Cities which were assigned unto the Levites, they had no feilds which were arable about them, to beare Corne, but some ground for the feeding of their Cattle; and it is most probable that they had some Gardens wherein they buried their dead; as we reade of Ioseph of Arima∣thea, who had a Garden neare the Citie in which Christ was buried: Secondly, this feild by Matthew is called the Potters feild, & here we may see some resemblance betwixt this feild and the feild spoken of by Ieremie; for after the writs were perfected, Ieremie said to his Scribe Baruch, take these writs and put them in an ear∣then pot, that they may continue there for many dayes, vers. 14. There must be something typed by this, that he biddeth take these writs and put them in an earthen pot, for men use to put their writs in Chests and boxes
and safest places; and as this buying of the field was set downe as an argument to strengthen the Israelites, that they should returne out of the Captivitie, and possesse their own lands; so it was a type of that which Matthew speaketh; & as this feild which Ieremie bought was tur∣ned into the use of strangers, so was the field which Ma∣thew speaketh of made a buriall for strangers; and as the writs were hid in the earthen pot in Ieremies time, so was this feild which Matthew speaketh of, a Potters feild. In Zachary there is no mention made of the buy∣ing of the feild with the thirtie peices of silver, but Mat∣thew speaketh of buying of the feild, and so doth Iere∣mie, therefore the Evangelist pertinently citeth Ieremie and not Zacharie.
[Conclusion.] From the citing of this testimony we may draw this Conclusion, there are many things written in the old Testament, which at the first sight might seeme to look no wayes to the new; but if we looke neerer and neerer unto them, we shall see how they agree together, there∣fore we should search the Scriptures, which beare testi∣mony to Christ, Ioh. 5.39.
Scaliger in Elencho.
Two Instruments writ∣ten at the buying of Land, one closed and another not closed.
What things were con∣cealed from the wit∣nesses in the closed Instrument.
Calius Rodogineus.
The New Testament citeth two places out of the old to make up one testimonie.
The New Testament in citing of two Pro∣phets, expresse him who hath the chiefe part of the testimonie.
Why Matthew rather cites Ieremie than Za∣charie.
What time Ieremiah bought this field.