Jeremiah 24
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1Yahweh 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. 2One 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. 3Then 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.” 4Yahweh’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. 6For 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. 7I 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. 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. 9I 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. 10I 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.’”
World English Bible (public domain)
“"Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Like these good figs, so I will regard as good the exiles from Judah, whom I have sent away from this place to the land of the Chaldeans."”
Jeremiah 24:5
Summary
Jeremiah 24 presents a vision given to the prophet by the Lord, regarding two baskets of figs placed before the temple. One basket contains very good figs, while the other contains very bad figs that cannot be eaten. The Lord uses this imagery to convey a message about the exiles in Babylon and those who remain in Jerusalem. The good figs represent the exiles taken to Babylon, whom God will watch over, promising to restore and build them up. He assures them that they will return with a heart to know Him, becoming His people once more. In contrast, the bad figs symbolize the remaining people in Judah and Jerusalem, as well as those who fled to Egypt; they will face devastation, disgrace, and suffering. The chapter underscores God's sovereignty in judgment and restoration, highlighting His ability to see beyond present circumstances to a hopeful future. With this vision, God reassures His people of His steadfast love and ultimate plan for their welfare.
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