The Book of the Prophet Jeremiah
Jeremiah 24
Chapter XXIV · Vol. III, pp. 1260–1261
1 Under the type of good and bad figs, 4 the prophet foreshoweth the restoration of them that were in captivity, 8 and the desolation of Zedekiah and the residue of Jerusalem.
1 The LORDa showed me, and, behold, two baskets of figs were set before the temple of the LORD,1 after that bNebuchadrezzar king of Babylon had carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and the princes of Judah, cwith the carpenters and smiths,2 from Jerusalem, and had brought them to Babylon.
a ch.1.11-15; 11.18. Am.7.1,4;8.1, with De.26.2.
1 An allusion to the first-fruits presented before the LORD in his temple, De.26.2.—C.
b 2 Ki.24.12-15. 2 Ch.36.6. ch.29.2; 22.24-26. Eze.19.9.
c 1 Sa.13.19.
2 He had enslaved such artisans in particular, probably because they were most required in his dominions, for the work 'of that great Babylon which he built,' Da.4.30, and partly because, by their removal, he might render the formation of arms for rebellion more difficult.—C.
2 Oned basket had very good figs, even like the figs that are first ripe; and the other basket had very naughty figs, which could not be eaten, they were so bad.3
3 Then said the LORD unto me, eWhat seest thou, Jeremiah? And I said, Figs; the good figs, very good; gand the evil, very evil, that cannot be eaten, they are so evil.
e Je.1.11,13. Am.7.8; 8.2. Zec.4.2;5.2. Eze.8.6.
g Mat.25.32,33.
4 Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
5 Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel; Like these good figs, hso will I acknowledge them4 that are carried away captive5 of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans ifor their good.
h ver.6,7. Zec.13.9. He.2.11,12;11.16. Ps.1.6;37.18;135.4.
4 Many godly Jews had been carried away previously, among whom were Daniel and Ezekiel, Ezr.1.1-3. Da.1.1-7. These godly men the Lord loved, and he chastened them for their good, for their 'growth in grace.'—C.
5 Heb. the captivity.
i ver.6,7. Ps.94.12; 119.67,71. Ro.8.28. He.12.5-10. Re.3.19.
6 For jI will set mine eyes upon them for good, and kI will bring them again to this land: and I will build them, and not pull them down; and I will plant them, and not pluck them up.6
j Ps.34.15. 2 Ch.16.9. Ne.5.19.
k ch.23.3;33.7; 29.2-19; 12.15; 42.10. Is.60.21;65.22. Ja.1.17. Ps.84.11.
6 It is certain that the survivors of these captives were restored under Zerubbabel, &c., and so that part of the prophecy was fulfilled. But has it been fulfilled when it promised to 'build and not pull down; to plant, and not pluck up?' Have not these very men, in their descendants, been as a building laid in ruins, as a tree uprooted? True. But before this judgment came, in part, because 'blindness, in part, had happened to Israel' (Ro. 11. 25), God had gathered out of them 'a remnant, according to the election of grace' (Ro. 11. 5, 7), who became 'God's husbandry and God's building' (1 Co. 3. 9. Ep. 2. 21), a temple never to be pulled down (1 Co. 3. 16); a tree never to be plucked up (Ro. 11. 17,29). Its farther accomplishment abides God's good time; but the mercy promised is as certain as the mercy already received, Ro.11.26.—C.
7 And lI will give them an heart to know me, that I am the LORD; and nthey shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their owhole heart.
8 And as the evil pfigs, which cannot be eaten, they are so evil; surely thus saith the LORD, So will I give Zedekiah the king of Judah, and his princes, and the residue of Jerusalem, that remain in this land, and them that qdwell in the land of Egypt;
p ch.29.16-19;21.4-10; 32.28-35; 34.17-22; 35.17;37.6-10,17;38.18-23;39.1-9;xliii.xliv.
q ch.xlii.xliii.
9 And I will deliver them to rbe removed7 into all the kingdoms of the earth for their hurt, to be a reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse, in all places whither I shall drive them.
r De.28.25,27. 1 Ki.9.7. Ps.44.13,14. 2 Ch.7.20. ch.15.4; 26.6; 42.18; 44.12,22; 19.8;29.18; 25.18.
7 Heb. for removing or vexation.
Notes
Reflections.—Greatly mysterious are the ways of God's providence. The most afflictive are often the most useful. The same dispensation is to some a blessing and to others a ruinous plague. And all ought to be taken as out of God's own hand. Exact is his knowledge of and care for his people in the worst of times. It is he who, by his blessed grace, must renew our heart; and draw us to himself, as well as receive us with open arms to his favour, and to the enjoyment of all the privileges of his people. But, alas! what judgment, in time and eternity, must await impenitent transgressors! And when some are signally punished, others should learn to avoid their wickedness.