The Vision of Two Baskets
Study note
After Nebuchadnezzar carries King Jehoiachin and many leaders away to Babylon, God shows Jeremiah two baskets of figs set before the temple. One basket has very good figs, like early-ripening figs. The other has figs so bad they cannot be eaten.
1 The Lord showed me a vision of two baskets of figs in front of the Lord's Temple. This was after King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had taken away King Jehoiachin son of Jehoiakim. He took him from Judah to Babylon, along with Judah's officials, craftsmen, and metalworkers. The LORD shewed me, and, behold, two baskets of figs were set before the temple of the LORD, after that Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon had carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, and the princes of Judah, with the carpenters and smiths, from Jerusalem, and had brought them to Babylon.
2 One basket was filled with very good figs, like the kind that ripen early in the season. The other basket was filled with very bad figs — so rotten that nobody could eat them. One 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 The Lord asked me, "What do you see, Jeremiah?" I replied, "Figs. The good ones look wonderful, and the bad ones are so rotten they can't be eaten." Then 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.
The Good Figs: The Exiles
Study note
God says the good figs represent those taken into exile in Babylon. He will watch over them for good and bring them back to their land. He will give them a heart to know him, and they will be his people.
4 Then the Lord gave me this message: Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
5 "The Lord, the God of Israel, says: 'The good figs represent the people of Judah I sent away from here as exiles to Babylon. I did it for their own good.'" Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel; Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge them that are carried away captive of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans for their good.
6 "I will watch over them and take care of them, and one day I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up instead of tearing them down. I will plant them instead of pulling them up." For I will set mine eyes upon them for good, and I 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.
7 "I will reshape their hearts so they will truly know who I am — that I am the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, because they will come back to me with all their heart." And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the LORD: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.
The Bad Figs: Those Who Remain
Study note
The bad figs represent King Zedekiah and those who stayed in Jerusalem or fled to Egypt. God will make them an object of horror and disgrace among all nations. He will send sword, famine, and disease until they are destroyed.
8 "But the rotten figs that are too bad to eat -- the Lord says this about them. They stand for King Zedekiah of Judah, his officials, and the people still left in Jerusalem. It does not matter whether they stay here or go to live in Egypt." And as the evil figs, 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 dwell in the land of Egypt:
9 "I will make them an object of horror to every kingdom on earth. People will mock them, insult them, make jokes about them, and curse them wherever I scatter them." And I will deliver 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.
10 "I will send war, hunger, and sickness against them. They will be wiped off the land I gave them and their fathers." And 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.