INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 24 This chapter contains a vision of two baskets of figs, representing the Jews both in captivity, and at Jerusalem. The vision is declared, Jeremiah 24:1; where both time and place are pointed at, in which the vision was seen, and the nature of the figs described, and wha... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD SHOWED ME,.... A vision, or in a vision, what follows; for by this it appears that what was seen was not real, but what was exhibited in a visionary way by the Lord, and represented to the mind of the prophet: AND, BEHOLD, TWO BASKETS OF FIGS WERE SET BEFORE THE TEMPLE OF THE LORD; or "pot... [ Continue Reading ]
ONE BASKET [HAD] VERY GOOD FIGS, [EVEN] LIKE THE FIGS [THAT ARE] FIRST RIPE,.... As there are some figs that are ripe sooner than others, and which are always the most desirable and acceptable; and such were they that were presented to the Lord, Micah 7:1; these signified those that were carried cap... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN SAID THE LORD UNTO ME, WHAT SEEST THOU, JEREMIAH?.... This question is put, in order that, upon his answer to it, he might have an explication of the vision: AND I SAID, FIGS; THE GOOD FIGS, VERY GOOD; AND THE EVIL, VERY EVIL, THAT CANNOT BE EATEN, THEY ARE SO EVIL; or "so bad", or "because o... [ Continue Reading ]
AGAIN THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME UNTO ME, SAYING. As follows; where an explanation is given of the above vision, to which this is a transition.... [ Continue Reading ]
THUS SAITH THE LORD, THE GOD OF ISRAEL,.... Of all the tribes of Israel; of the ten tribes that had been carried captive long ago by the king of Assyria; and of the other two tribes, part of whom were in Babylon, and the other in Judea, who were not wholly cut off by the Lord; but he still had a reg... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR I WILL SET MINE EYES UPON THEM FOR GOOD,.... His eyes of omniscience, providence, and grace; to communicate good things to them; to take care of them in the furnace of affliction, that they were not lost, but made the better; to watch over them, protect and defend them; to deliver them out of th... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I WILL GIVE THEM AN HEART TO KNOW ME, THAT I [AM] THE LORD,.... God, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, abundant in goodness and truth, pardoning iniquity, transgression, and sin; the unchangeable Jehovah; the everlasting I AM; a covenant keeping God; faithful and true to his promises; able a... [ Continue Reading ]
AND AS THE EVIL FIGS, WHICH CANNOT BE EATEN, THEY ARE SO EVIL,.... Here follows an explication of the evil figs, and an application of them to the wicked Jews: SURELY THUS SAITH THE LORD, SO WILL I GIVE ZEDEKIAH THE KING OF JUDAH; who was then the reigning king of Judah, Jeconiah's father's brother... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I WILL DELIVER THEM TO BE REMOVED INTO ALL THE KINGDOMS OF THE EARTH FOR [THEIR] HURT,.... Jeconiah and the captives with him were only carried into Babylon; but these should be scattered one from another into the several parts of the world. The former were carried captive for their good, and it... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I WILL SEND THE SWORD, THE FAMINE, AND THE PESTILENCE, AMONG THEM,.... Meaning not in other lands, where they should be driven, but while in their own land, by which many should perish; and the rest that escaped these dreadful judgments should be carried captive. The Targum is, "I will send th... [ Continue Reading ]