Jeremiah 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.