From every human point of view this purchase of land in territory already under the control of the Babylonians, appeared to be an act of folly. The prophet himself had been foretelling the destruction of Jerusalem, the desolation of Judea, and the utter ruin of the kingdom. He had been prophesying a long period of captivity in faraway Babylon. Already advanced in years, he could never hope to receive personal benefit from the purchase he had made. However, his study of the prophecies that were recorded in the Scriptures had created within his heart a firm conviction that the Lord purposed to restore to the children of the captivity their ancient possession of the Land of Promise. With the eye of faith Jeremiah saw the exiles returning at the end of the years of affliction and reoccupying the land of their fathers. Through the purchase of the Anathoth estate he would do what he could to inspire others with the hope that brought so much comfort to his own heart.

Menneskelig set så det tåbeligt ud at købe jord i et land, som allerede var under babylonernes kontrol. Profeten havde selv forudsagt, at Jerusalem og Judæa ville blive ødelagt, og at landet ville gå fuldstændig til grunde. Han havde også forudsagt, at folket skulle leve i landflygtighed i Babylon i et længere åremål. Han var allerede højt oppe i årene og kunne ikke gør sig håb om at få personlig fordel af den ejendom, som han havde købt. Men ved at studere profetierne havde han fået den overbevisning, at det var Herrens vilje at give sine landflygtige børn deres gamle ejendom, Det forjættede Land, tilbage. Jeremias så med troens øje de landflygtige vende hjem og tage deres fædres land i besiddelse igen, efter at deres trængsler var til ende, Hans formål med at købe ejendommen i Anatot var at indgyde andre det samme håb, som fyldte hans eget hjerte med så megen trøst.