A commentary upon the whole Old Testament, added to that of the same author upon the whole New Testament published many years before, to make a compleat work upon the whole Bible. Vols. 2-4. Wherein the divers translations and expositions, literall and mysticall, of all the most famous commentators both ancient and modern are propounded, examined, and judged of, for the more full satisfaction of the studious reader in all things, and many most genuine notions inserted for edification in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. A work, the like unto which hath never yet been published by any man, yet very necessary, nor only for students in divinity; but also for every Christian that loveth the knowledge of divine things, or humane, whereof this comment is also full. Consisting of IV parts. I Upon the Pentateuch, or five books of Moses. II Upon the historical part, from Joshua to Esther. III Upon Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Solomons Song. IV Upon all the prophets both great and small. By John Mayer, doctor of divinity.

CHAP. XXXII.

THis Chapter is historical, 1. Shewing how King Zedekiah put Jeremiah in prison, when the City was besieged by Nebuchadnezzar, because he had prophesied that the King should come into his hands, and be carried into Ba∣bylon. For the time, The tenth of Zedekiah, the eighteenth of Nebuchadnezzar, see before Chap. 25. For the Kings coming into his hands, and his being car∣ried * 1.1 into Babylon, he had not spoken of it that we read of, till Chap. 34. 2, 3. and therefore due order is not observed here no more then was Chap. 21. as I have noted there, yea Chap. 39. goeth in order before this, as may there be seen ver. 1. but not the residue of the Chapter, which declareth the accomplish∣ment of that which is here threatned.

Buy thee my field in Anathoth. Here the Lord by commanding Jeremiah to * 1.2 buy a field when the City and whole Kingdom was ready to come into the hands of the Caldees, and he was in prison ready to be brought to execution, when the King would, shewed, as by a sensible sign that the time should come when the Jews should possesse the Land of Canaan again, each one returning to his possession. And according to the course of Law there, two writings were made, one open, the other to be hidden by Baruch, that which was open be∣ing then to be shewed for the comfort of the faithfull; the other hidden, to be brought forth and shewed at the end of seventy years for their further con∣firmation, to stirre them up with more confidence to return. The only doubt here is, How Priests or Levites, such as Hananeel and Jeremiah were, could sell and buy Land, seeing the Tribe of Levi had none inheritance? Sol. They had little pastures about the Cities given them, according to their several Fa∣milies out of the other Tribes, and he that ought one of these might sell it; but in the year of Jubilee it returned again, unlesse it were sold to a Kinsman nearest, and being made over to him it remained to him for ever.

Jeremiah having bought the Land, as the Lord commanded, here prayeth, * 1.3 and hath answer, both touching the giving of the City into the Caldeans hands for their sins, vers. 26. and touching the peoples restitution, vers. 37. to continue in a safe and prosperous estate for ever, adding that he would put his fear into them, and that they should be of one heart.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Vers. 1. Vers. 3, 4.
• * 1.2

  Vers. 7.
• * 1.3

  Vers. 16. Vers. 26.