1Under the type of good and bad figs 4the prophet foresheweth the restoration of them that were in captivity, 8and the desolation of Zedekiah and the residue of Jerusalem.
1THE LORD 1shewed me, and, behold, two baskets of figs were set before the temple of the LORD, after that Nebuchadrezzara king of Babylon had carried away captive 2Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, and the princes of Judah, with the 3carpenters and smiths, from Jerusalem, and had brought them to Babylon.
1 Namely, a vision, or in a vision, such things as follows. Compare Jer. 11:18, and see Gen. 15 on verse 1; Gen. 46 on verse 2; Amos 7:1, 4, 7; 8:1.
a 2 Kings 24:15; 2 Chron. 36:10.
2 See Jer. 22:24.
3 Hebr. the carpenter or workman (signifying both carpenters and smiths), and the smith or properly the lock-maker. Other, porter, likewise rich merchant, as one who locks up many wares or has locked up to keep them for sale. Also 2 Kings 24:16; Jer. 29:2.
2One basket had very good figs, even like the figs that are 4first ripe: and the other basket had very naughtyb figs, which could not be eaten, they were so bad.
4 Compare Micah 7:1 with the annotations.
b worthless, bad
3Then said the LORD unto me, What seest thou, Jeremiah? And I said, Figs; the good figs, very good; and the evil, very evil, that cannot be eaten, they are so evil.
4¶Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
5Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel; 5Like these good figs, so will I 6acknowledge them 7that are carried away captive of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans 8for their good.
5 Some augment these words thus: As these figs are good; or, as thou knowest these good figs, etc. Also verse 8.
6 Esteem them as gracious and acceptable, take care for them. See Psalm 1 on verse 6.
7 Hebr. the captive carrying away, leading away; as elsewhere often.
8 These words may in a good sense be joined to the word acknowledge, or to the words sent out; for, God knows His own for their good, and He had sent away and chastened those who were His own (whom He had among the captives) for their good, intending to restore again and to build up His church from among them, as follows.
6For I will set mine 9eyes upon them for good, and I will bringc them again to this land: and I will 10build them, and not pull them down; and I will plant them, and not pluck them up.
9 Compare 1 Kings 8 on verse 29; Psalm 32 on verse 8. Likewise Jer. 39:12; 40:4. As on the contrary to set the eyes against a man, is taken in a bad sense. See Amos 9:4. The manner of speech in the Hebrew is alike, but is expounded by that which is joined with it, and the Hebrew particle signifies upon, over, and also against, according to the nature of the thing.
c Jer. 16:15.
10 Compare Psalm 28 on verse 5.
7Andd I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the LORD: ande they shall be 11my people, and I will be 12their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.
d Deut. 30:6; Jer. 32:39; Ezek. 11:19; 36:26, 27.
e Jer. 30:22; 31:33; 32:38.
11 See Lev. 26 on verse 12.
12 See Gen. 17 on verse 7.
8¶Andf as the evil figs, which cannot be eaten, they are so evil; 13surely thus saith the LORD, So will I 14give Zedekiah the king of Judah, and his princes, and the residue of Jerusalem, that remain in this land, and them that 15dwell in the land of Egypt:
f Jer. 29:17.
13 Or, for.
14 Or, appoint, order; other, deliver up, and the next verse begins thus: I will, I say, deliver them up, etc. Compare Jer. 29:17.
15 That is, shall dwell then. See 2 Kings 25:26; Jeremiah chapters 43 and 44.
9Andg I will 16deliver them to be removed 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.
g Deut. 28:25, 37; 1 Kings 9:7; 2 Chron. 7:20; Jer. 15:4; 29:18; 34:17; 42:18.
16 Or, appoint, etc. See Deut. 28 on verse 25; Jer. 15:4.
10And I will send the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, among them, till they be consumed from off the land that I gave unto them and to their fathers.