Jeremiah 24:1
ยถ 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.
The LORD {H3068} shewed {H7200} me, and, behold, two {H8147} baskets {H1736} of figs {H8384} were set {H3259} before {H6440} the temple {H1964} of the LORD {H3068}, after {H310} that Nebuchadrezzar {H5019} king {H4428} of Babylon {H894} had carried away captive {H1540} Jeconiah {H3204} the son {H1121} of Jehoiakim {H3079} king {H4428} of Judah {H3063}, and the princes {H8269} of Judah {H3063}, with the carpenters {H2796} and smiths {H4525}, from Jerusalem {H3389}, and had brought {H935} them to Babylon {H894}.
It was after N'vukhadretzar king of Bavel had carried Y'khanyahu the son of Y'hoyakim, king of Y'hudah, along with the leaders of Y'hudah, the artisans and the skilled workers into exile from Yerushalayim and brought them to Bavel, that ADONAI gave me a vision. There, in front of the temple of ADONAI, two baskets of figs were placed.
After Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had carried away Jeconiah son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, as well as the officials of Judah and the craftsmen and metalsmiths from Jerusalem, and had brought them to Babylon, the LORD showed me two baskets of figs placed in front of the temple of the LORD.
Jehovah showed me, and, behold, two baskets of figs set before the temple of Jehovah, 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 craftsmen and smiths, from Jerusalem, and had brought them to Babylon.
Cross-References
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Jeremiah 29:2 (5 votes)
(After that Jeconiah the king, and the queen, and the eunuchs, the princes of Judah and Jerusalem, and the carpenters, and the smiths, were departed from Jerusalem;) -
2 Chronicles 36:10 (4 votes)
And when the year was expired, king Nebuchadnezzar sent, and brought him to Babylon, with the goodly vessels of the house of the LORD, and made Zedekiah his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem. -
2 Kings 24:12 (3 votes)
And Jehoiachin the king of Judah went out to the king of Babylon, he, and his mother, and his servants, and his princes, and his officers: and the king of Babylon took him in the eighth year of his reign. -
2 Kings 24:16 (3 votes)
And all the men of might, [even] seven thousand, and craftsmen and smiths a thousand, all [that were] strong [and] apt for war, even them the king of Babylon brought captive to Babylon. -
Jeremiah 22:24 (2 votes)
[As] I live, saith the LORD, though Coniah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah were the signet upon my right hand, yet would I pluck thee thence; -
Jeremiah 22:28 (2 votes)
[Is] this man Coniah a despised broken idol? [is he] a vessel wherein [is] no pleasure? wherefore are they cast out, he and his seed, and are cast into a land which they know not? -
Amos 7:7 (2 votes)
Thus he shewed me: and, behold, the Lord stood upon a wall [made] by a plumbline, with a plumbline in his hand.
Commentary
Jeremiah 24:1 introduces a profound prophetic vision given to the prophet Jeremiah by the Lord. This verse sets the historical and symbolic stage for understanding God's distinct judgments and future plans for the people of Judah amidst the unfolding Babylonian exile.
Context
This vision is precisely dated to a critical moment in Judah's history: after Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon had carried away captive Jeconiah (also known as Jehoiachin), along with the princes of Judah, and skilled craftsmen like carpenters and smiths, from Jerusalem to Babylon. This first major deportation occurred in 597 BC. The scene of the vision is significant: "two baskets of figs were set before the temple of the LORD." This immediate post-exile setting is crucial, as the vision will differentiate between those already exiled and those remaining in Judah, revealing God's surprising perspective on each group. This period was marked by political turmoil and the decline of the Southern Kingdom, a direct consequence of Judah's persistent disobedience to God's covenant, as warned by prophets like Jeremiah himself. For more on the early stages of this captivity, see 2 Kings 24:15.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The Hebrew word for "shewed me" (ืึดืจึฐืึทื ึดื, hir'ani) comes from the root ืจืื (ra'ah), meaning "to see" or "to appear." Here, in the Hiphil stem, it signifies "to cause to see" or "to show," clearly indicating that God was the active agent in presenting this vision to Jeremiah. The term "Nebuchadrezzar" is an alternative spelling of Nebuchadnezzar, reflecting variations in transliteration from the original Akkadian name, but referring to the same powerful Babylonian king who played a central role in Judah's judgment.
Significance and Application
Jeremiah 24:1 sets the stage for a message of nuanced judgment and surprising hope. It reminds us that even in times of profound national crisis or personal upheaval, God sees, knows, and has a distinct plan. The immediate context of the two baskets of figs is crucial for understanding God's assessment of different groups of people during the exile. For us today, this verse emphasizes that God's perspective on our circumstances may differ greatly from our own. What seems like a disaster (being carried away captive) might, in God's eyes, be a path to preservation or a necessary discipline for future restoration, while what seems like security (remaining in Jerusalem) could lead to further judgment. It calls us to trust God's sovereign hand, even when His methods are perplexing, and to seek His perspective on life's challenges.
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