2 Kings 25:1 | 2 Chronicles 36:13-16 | Jeremiah 39:1, 52:4, 21:1-22:9, 32:1-44 | Ezekiel 24

It was in the ninth year of king Zedekiah’s reign that he rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar, even though he had taken an oath before God to remain a faithful servant. So, in the winter of that year (around December) Nebuchadnezzar came up from Babylon and laid siege to Jerusalem, which would last for almost 2 years before the city would fall, many people would have died of disease and famine, and even more under the sword of Nebuchadnezzar’s army. God speaks through both Jeremiah and Ezekiel in advance of this destruction, telling everyone that the time of His judgement upon Judah had come, because of all the abominations and sins of both Zedekiah, and all the people.

In the midst of all this, the Lord gives Jeremiah instruction to buy a plot of land, to record the deed, and to have that deed stored away in a waterproof jar, so that in the future years, when his descendants return from Babylon, they will have title to that land, and it will be a testimonial proof to the word of God when they see everything happen exactly as God had spoken.