Jeremiah 24

The Two Baskets of Figs and the Mercy Hidden in Exile

The chapter moves from historical placement after Jehoiachin's exile, to the vision of two baskets of figs, to the LORD's promise of restoration for the good figs, and finally to the judgment of the bad figs.

World English Bible, Public Domain

Jeremiah 24:1-3

God discerns and evaluates His people according to His sovereign purposes, even in the midst of national judgment.

1 Yahweh showed me, and behold, two baskets of figs were set before Yahweh’s temple, after Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and the princes of Judah, with the craftsmen and smiths, from Jerusalem, and had brought them to Babylon.

2 One basket had very good figs, like the figs that are first-ripe; and the other basket had very bad figs, which could not be eaten, they were so bad.

3 Then Yahweh asked me, “What do you see, Jeremiah?” I said, “Figs. The good figs are very good, and the bad are very bad, so bad that can’t be eaten.”

Jeremiah 24:4-7

God uses exile as a means of covenant discipline that ultimately produces repentance, restoration, and renewed relationship with Him.

4 Yahweh’s word came to me, saying,

5 “Yahweh, the God of Israel says: ‘Like these good figs, so I will regard the captives of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans, for good.

6 For I will set my eyes on them for good, and I will bring them again to this land. I will build them, and not pull them down. I will plant them, and not pluck them up.

7 I will give them a heart to know me, that I am Yahweh. They will be my people, and I will be their God; for they will return to me with their whole heart.

Jeremiah 24:8-10

Persistent rebellion against God results in covenant judgment that leads to exile, destruction, and public disgrace.

8 “ ‘As the bad figs, which can’t be eaten, they are so bad,’ surely Yahweh says, ‘So I will give up Zedekiah the king of Judah, and his princes, and the remnant of Jerusalem, who remain in this land, and those who dwell in the land of Egypt.

9 I will even give them up to be tossed back and forth among all the kingdoms of the earth for evil; to be a reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse, in all places where I will drive them.

10 I will send the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, among them, until they are consumed from off the land that I gave to them and to their fathers.’ ”

Key Terms

תְּאֵנִים te'enim H8384
טוֹבִים tovim H2896
רָעוֹת ra'ot H7451
גָּלוּת galut H1546
בָּנָה banah H1129
נָטַע nata H5193
הָרַס haras H2040
נָתַשׁ natash H5428
לֵב lev H3820
יָדַע yada H3045
שׁוּב shuv H7725

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