Yeremia 32:23-25

32:23 But when they came in and took possession of it, they did not obey you or live as you had instructed them. They did not do anything that you commanded them to do. ¹  So you brought all this disaster on them. 32:24 Even now siege ramps have been built up around the city ²  in order to capture it. War, ³  starvation, and disease are sure to make the city fall into the hands of the Babylonians ⁴  who are attacking it. ⁵  Lord, ⁶  you threatened that this would happen. Now you can see that it is already taking place. ⁷  32:25 The city is sure to fall into the hands of the Babylonians. ⁸  Yet, in spite of this, ⁹  you, Lord God, ¹⁰  have said to me, “Buy that field with silver and have the transaction legally witnessed.”’” ¹¹ 

[32:23]  ¹ tn Or “They did not do everything that you commanded them to do.” This is probably a case where the negative (לֹא, lo’) negates the whole category indicated by “all” (כָּל, kol; see BDB 482 s.v. כָּל 1.e(c) and compare usage in Deut 12:16; 28:14). Jeremiah has repeatedly emphasized that the history of Israel since their entry into the land has been one of persistent disobedience and rebellion (cf., e.g. 7:22-26; 11:7-8). The statement, of course, is somewhat hyperbolical as all categorical statements of this kind are.

[32:24]  ² tn Heb “Siege ramps have come up to the city to capture it.”

[32:24]  ³ tn Heb “sword.”

[32:24]  ⁴ tn Heb “The Chaldeans.” See the study note on 21:4 for further explanation.

[32:24]  ⁵ tn Heb “And the city has been given into the hands of the Chaldeans who are fighting against it because of the sword, starvation, and disease.” The verb “has been given” is one of those perfects that view the action as good as done (the perfect of certainty or prophetic perfect).

[32:24]  ⁶ tn The word “Lord” is not in the text but is supplied in the translation as a reminder that it is he who is being addressed.

[32:24]  ⁷ tn Heb “And what you said has happened and behold you see it.”

[32:25]  ⁸ tn Heb “The Chaldeans.” See the study note on 21:4 for further explanation.

[32:25]  ⁹ tn Heb “And you, Lord Yahweh, have said to me, ‘Buy the field for…’ even though the city will be given into the hands of the Babylonians.” The sentence has been broken up and the order reversed for English stylistic purposes. For the rendering “is sure to fall into the hands of” see the translator’s note on the preceding verse.

[32:25]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “Lord God.” For the rendering of this title see the study note on 1:6.

[32:25]  ¹¹ tn Heb “call in witnesses to witness.”