ירמיהו, פרק ל״ב, פסוק י׳

A detailed and meticulous legal purchase is carried out, observing every commercial custom of the era to ensure the sale is absolutely binding. This exacting process of writing, signing, gathering witnesses, and weighing silver is not merely a technicality. Rather, it serves as a powerful symbol of trust in a future redemption, demonstrating a firm belief that the people of Israel will one day return to their land to buy fields and homes [אברבנאל].

The agreement is recorded on a written scroll that functions as the official legal deed [מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Although the prophet speaks of writing the document himself, he actually instructs others to write it, taking ownership of the action because he initiated its ultimate purpose [מצודת דוד]. The sealing of the document is understood in a few ways. The prophet either personally signs and secures the deed using a seal [רד״ק, מלבי״ם], or he directs the seller of the field to affix his own signature to the contract [מצודת דוד]. To finalize the legal authority of the purchase, witnesses are summoned to observe the proceedings and add their signatures to the deed [רד״ק].

Payment is then made by carefully weighing out the silver. Because minted coins are not yet in use during this period, financial transactions rely on small pieces of silver that must be measured on a scale [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The act of weighing the silver is actually performed twice; it is weighed a second time specifically for the benefit of the newly gathered witnesses [מלבי״ם, אברבנאל]. This public weighing is conducted on highly accurate balances. The process is arranged so that the witnesses can clearly see the silver in the scales without having to closely inspect the weighing mechanism themselves. This absolute transparency is deliberately chosen to prevent any possibility of a future dispute between the buyer and seller regarding the exact amount paid [רד״ק, נחל שורק].