Chanamel, the son of your uncle Shalum, will come to you and say,
"Buy my land in Anatot, for you are next in succession to redeem it by purchase." Jeremiah 32:7 (The Israel Bible™)
הִנֵּה חֲנַמְאֵל בֶּן־שַׁלֻּם דֹּדְךָ בָּא אֵלֶיךָ לֵאמֹר קְנֵה לְךָ אֶת־שָׂדִי אֲשֶׁר בַּעֲנָתוֹת כִּי לְךָ מִשְׁפַּט הַגְּאֻלָּה לִקְנוֹת
hi-NAY kha-nam-AYL ben sha-LUM do-d’-KHA BA ay-LE-kha lay-MOR k’-NAY l’-KHA et sa-DEE a-SHER ba-a-na-TOT KEE l’-KHA mish-PAT ha-g’-u-LAH lik-NOT
At a time of impending destruction, Yirmiyahu (Jeremiah) is told to redeem his family’s property. This symbolic purchase reflects not only the biblical law that land could be redeemed by relatives (see Leviticus 25, Ruth 4), but it also demonstrates Yirmiyahu’s total faith that even though the exile to Babylonia is quickly approaching, it will in fact be only temporary. The sale also demonstrates, with poetic words and symbolic action, the eternal connection between the Jewish people and the land.
Though currently on the brink of exile, they remain attached to their land, with the deed preserved in an earthenware vessel. Today we are in a difficult time for society and for many it is hard to remember a time where things were so bleak. We must remember that even in the darkest and most difficult times that God will restore the land, rebuild the Temple, and restore a peaceful world!