1 The LORD H3068 shewed H7200 me, and, behold, two H8147 baskets H1736 of figs H8384 were set H3259 before H6440 the temple H1964 of the LORD, H3068 after H310 that Nebuchadrezzar H5019 king H4428 of Babylon H894 had carried away captive H1540 Jeconiah H3204 the son H1121 of Jehoiakim H3079 king H4428 of Judah, H3063 and the princes H8269 of Judah, H3063 with the carpenters H2796 and smiths, H4525 from Jerusalem, H3389 and had brought H935 them to Babylon. H894
2 One H259 basket H1731 had very H3966 good H2896 figs, H8384 even like the figs H8384 that are first ripe: H1073 and the other H259 basket H1731 had very H3966 naughty H7451 figs, H8384 which could not be eaten, H398 they were so bad. H7455
3 Then said H559 the LORD H3068 unto me, What seest H7200 thou, Jeremiah? H3414 And I said, H559 Figs; H8384 the good H2896 figs, H8384 very H3966 good; H2896 and the evil, H7451 very H3966 evil, H7451 that cannot be eaten, H398 they are so evil. H7455
4 Again the word H1697 of the LORD H3068 came unto me, saying, H559
5 Thus saith H559 the LORD, H3068 the God H430 of Israel; H3478 Like these good H2896 figs, H8384 so will I acknowledge H5234 them that are carried away captive H1546 of Judah, H3063 whom I have sent H7971 out of this place H4725 into the land H776 of the Chaldeans H3778 for their good. H2896
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Jeremiah 24
Commentary on Jeremiah 24 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 24
Jer 24:1-10. The Restoration of the Captives in Babylon and the Destruction of the Refractory Party in Judea and in Egypt, Represented under the Type of a Basket of Good, and One of Bad, Figs.
1. Lord showed me—Am 7:1, 4, 7; 8:1, contains the same formula, with the addition of "thus" prefixed.
carried … captive Jeconiah—(Jer 22:24; 2Ki 24:12, &c.; 2Ch 36:10).
carpenters, &c.—One thousand artisans were carried to Babylon, both to work for the king there, and to deprive Jerusalem of their services in the event of a future siege (2Ki 24:16).
2. figs … first ripe—the "boccora," or early fig (see on Isa 28:4). Baskets of figs used to be offered as first-fruits in the temple. The good figs represent Jeconiah and the exiles in Babylon; the bad, Zedekiah and the obstinate Jews in Judea. They are called good and bad respectively, not in an absolute, but a comparative sense, and in reference to the punishment of the latter. This prophecy was designed to encourage the despairing exiles, and to reprove the people at home, who prided themselves as superior to those in Babylon and abused the forbearance of God (compare Jer 52:31-34).
5. acknowledge—regard with favor, like as thou lookest on the good figs favorably.
for their good—Their removal to Babylon saved them from the calamities which befell the rest of the nation and led them to repentance there: so God bettered their condition (2Ki 25:27-30). Daniel and Ezekiel were among these captives.
6. (Jer 12:15).
not pull … down … not pluck … up—only partially fulfilled in the restoration from Babylon; antitypically and fully to be fulfilled hereafter (Jer 32:41; 33:7).
7. (Jer 30:22; 31:33; 32:38). Their conversion from idolatry to the one true God, through the chastening effect of the Babylonish captivity, is here expressed in language which, in its fulness, applies to the more complete conversion hereafter of the Jews, "with their whole heart" (Jer 29:13), through the painful discipline of their present dispersion. The source of their conversion is here stated to be God's prevenient grace.
for they shall return—Repentance, though not the cause of pardon, is its invariable accompaniment: it is the effect of God's giving a heart to know Him.
8. in … Egypt—Many Jews had fled for refuge to Egypt, which was leagued with Judea against Babylon.
9. removed, &c.—(Jer 15:4). Calvin translates, "I will give them up to agitation, in all," &c.; This verse quotes the curse (De 28:25, 37). Compare Jer 29:18, 22; Ps 44:13, 14.