Jeremias 32:10

And I subscribed the evidence... — Literally, as in the margin, I wrote in the book — the last word being used for any kind of document, as for an indictment in Jó 31:35, and here for a deed of conveyance. The minuteness with which the transaction is recorded is every way remarkable, partly as showing that the prophet was careful that no legal formality should be lacking to give validity to the purchase; partly, as the next verse shows, because there was a secret, unattested, unsealed (and in that sense “open”) document, which the witnesses did not subscribe, and with the contents of which they were probably not acquainted. The sealed document was one closed up as a safeguard against fraudulent alterations (comp. Isaías 29:11). In the weighing of the money we see an indication of the old practice — probably consequent on the practice of “clipping” coined money — of dealing even with the current coin as if it were bullion, just as bankers weigh a parcel of sovereigns now before giving credit for the amount. (Comp. Gênesis 23:16; Zacarias 11:12.)