Jer. 24 Under the type of good and bad figs, Jer. 24:1–3, he foreshoweth the return of some from captivity, Jer. 24:4–7, and the ruin of Zedekiah and the rest, Jer. 24:8–10.

The sum of what God by his prophet revealeth in this chapter is, that he would deal more graciously with those carried into captivity with Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, of which read 2 Kings 24:12, 2 Chron. 36:10, than with those that should afterward be carried into captivity with Zedekiah.

God afterwards explaineth to the prophet, and he to the king’s house, the significancy of this vision. The figs first ripe are usually best. By these good figs, as will appear by the following verses, are intended Jeconiah or Jehoiachin, with the ten thousand mentioned 2 Kings 24:14, and the seven…

God having caused the prophet to have such a visible object appear to him, asked him what he saw as Jer. 1:11.

Thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel; who have power to do what I please, and who yet am in covenant with Israel, and have a kindness for the seed of my servant Jacob.

I will set mine eyes upon them for good; the soul looking out at the eye, discovereth its inclinations and affection, whether of love or wrath. Hence we read of God’s setting his eyes upon people for evil, Amos 9:4, as here of his setting his eyes upon them for good.

Under the term know me is here (as in many other texts) comprehended faith, love, obedience, all those motions of the soul which rationally should follow a right comprehending of God in men’s knowledge.

Whither it is probable many of the Jews had fled, upon the coming, or noise of the coming, of the king of Babylon, as they had done before, Isa. 30:2, Isa. 31:1.

The Lord by his prophet expresseth those tremendous judgments which he had designed to bring upon this wicked prince and people in the words of Moses the man of God; as well because the Jews had a great reverence (pretendedly at least) for Moses, how little soever they had for Jeremiah; as to let…

Many of them shall not live to be carried into captivity, but shall die miserably in their own land, if not by the enemies’ sword, yet by the famine and the pestilence, which two things ordinarily attend long sieges.