Jeremias 24
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Jeremias 24:1-3
24:1 "Nebuchadnezzar" See SPECIAL TOPIC: KINGS OF NEO-BABYLON ▣ The "captivity" of this Judean King Jehoiachin specifically dates this strophe as 597 B.C. (cf. 2 Kgs. 24:10-16; 2 Chr. 36:9-10). This king goes by three names. Jeconiah, 24:1; 27:20; 28:4; 29:2 Coniah, 22:24,28; 37:1 Jehoiachin, 52:31; 2 Kings 24-25 SPECIAL TOPIC: KINGS OF THE DIVIDED KINGDOM ▣ "craftsmen" This term (BDB 360, cf. Jer. 29:2) refers to an engraver of gems (cf. Exod. 28:11) stone (cf. 2 Sam. 5:11) wood (cf. Jer. 10:3) metal (cf. Jer. 10:9) It can also denote an "idol-maker" (cf. 2 Kgs. 24:14,16; Isa. 44:11; 45:16). ▣ "smith" This ambiguous term (BDB 688, KB 604 II) may refer to a metal worker (NJB, NET) possibly "builders" or "engineers" "harem" (REB textual marginal note) ▣ "two baskets of figs" This is another visual image to communicate God's message vividly to the people of Judah who were left in Jerusalem. Amos used the same type of imagery in Amos 8:1-3. ▣ "set before the temple of the Lord" These baskets of figs represented two groups of people. They were seen as offerings to YHWH (cf. Deut. 26:2-11), to use for His purposes. good figs ‒ those Judeans already exiled bad figs ‒ those Judeans left in Palestine 24:2 "very bad figs" These figs are characterized in two ways. very good figs NOUN, BDB 1061, "figs" ADJECTIVE, BDB 373 II, "good" ADVERB, BDB 547, "very" very bad figs NOUN, BDB 1061, "figs" ADJECTIVE, BDB 948, "bad" ADVERB, BDB 547, "very" bad PREPOSITION, "so" NOUN, BDB 947, "bad" These same inedible, rotten figs are mentioned in Jer. 29:17.
Jeremias 24:4-7
24:5 "Lord" This is the title for the Covenant God (cf. Gen. 2:4). SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, D. ▣ "God" This is the SINGULAR form of the title for Deity in Gen. 1:1 (Elohim). SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, C. ▣ "of Israel" See SPECIAL TOPIC: ISRAEL (the name). ▣ The good figs are, surprisingly, the Judeans taken into exile. One would have thought the ones left in Palestine were the favored ones, but not so. YHWH will work with the exiles to whom Ezekiel ministered in Babylon that YHWH Himself left the temple and traveled east (cf. Ezek. 1; 10) ▣ "Chaldeans" See SPECIAL TOPIC: CHALDEANS 24:6-7 List the promises YHWH makes to the Judeans in exile. He will regard them as "good" (BDB 373 II, III) He will set His eyes on them for good (see SPECIAL TOPIC: GOD DESCRIBED AS HUMAN) He will bring them back to Judah He will build them up and not overthrow them He will plant them and not pluck them up He will give them a heart to know Him Jer. 24:7 has several covenant terms. It speaks of a new day of faithfulness and devotion (cf. Ezek. 36:22-36; Jer. 31:31-34). YHWH will give them a "new heart" and a "new mind." The phrases "build them up" (BDB 124, KB 139); "not overthrow them" (BDB 248, KB 256); "plant them" (BDB 642, KB 694); and "not pluck them up" (BDB 684, KB 737) are also used in Jeremiah's call in Jer. 1:10. Here these VERBS are preceded by a vision, but there they are preceded by two visions (an almond rod and a boiling pot). 24:6 "for good" This common ADJECTIVE (BDB 373 II, III; NIDOTTE, vol. 2, pp. 353-356) is also used to describe "one basket of figs" (i.e. those Judeans taken into exile by Neo-Babylon). This root has a wide semantic field (i.e. BDB 373-376). In this context, it denotes that the welfare and happiness will be with the exiles and not those Judeans who remain (i.e. Jer. 21:10; Amos 9:4). 24:7 "I will give them a heart to know Me" Notice the new faith necessary to be YHWH's covenant people is not based in human covenant performance, but is a gift from YHWH. This is the essence of the New Covenant (cf. Jer. 31:31-34; 32:40; Ezek. 36:22-36). This new way of fellowship and intimacy with the Creator is often called "a personal faith relationship." It is more lthan ritual and liturgy. SPECIAL TOPIC: Heart SPECIAL TOPIC: Know SPECIAL TOPIC: Call On HIs Name SPECIAL TOPIC: Seek the Lord ▣ "they will return to Me" This VERB (BDB 996, KB 1427, Qal IMPERFECT) is used to express true repentance. This involves the mystery of foreknowledge, human free will and predestination. SPECIAL TOPIC: REPENTANCE (OT) SPECIAL TOPIC: PREDESTINATION [CALVINISM] vs HUMAN FREE WILL [ARMINIANISM] SPECIAL TOPIC: ELECTION/PREDESTINATION AND THE NEED FOR A THEOLOGICAL BALANCE) ▣ "with a whole heart" This is a Hebrew idiom of complete devotion (cf. Jer. 3:10; 1 Sam. 7:3; 1 Chr. 22:19; 2 Chr. 22:9; Joel 2:12-14). It was used of David's devotion to YHWH but not Solomon who, in his old age, became involved in idolatry (cf. 1 Kings 11). SPECIAL TOPIC: HEART
Jeremias 24:8-10
24:8-10 The royal family of Zedekiah and all his helpers will be abandoned (BDB 678, KB 733, Qal IMPERFECT). This VERB has a wide semantic field. The context requires "give over" (cf. Num. 21:3,29; Deut. 7:2,23; 31:5; Jdg. 20:13; etc.). This is so shocking in light of 2 Samuel 7; 1 Chronicles 17! 24:8 "the remnant of Jerusalem" Here, the phrase is negative and refers to those left in Jerusalem. SPECIAL TOPIC: REMNANT (three senses). ▣ "the ones who dwell in the land of Egypt" Who these are depends on to whom verses 8-10 refer. It probably refers to those in Zedekiah's day, after the exile of 597 B.C. If so, then who are "the ones"? those taken into exile by Pharaoh Necho II along with Jehoahaz (609 B.C.; cf. 2 Kgs. 23:31-34) pro-Egypt supporters who fled when they saw Babylon invading a future reference to those who fled to Egypt after the murder of Gedaliah (cf. Jeremiah 40-41) 24:9-10 These two verses describe what YHWH will do to those who remain in Judah and those who fled to Egypt. make them a terror (lit. "horror," BDB 266, cf. Jer. 15:4; 29:18; 34:17) make them an evil (BDB 949, cf. Deut. 31:17,21; Jer. 4:6; 5:12; 19:3; 36:31) make them a reproach (BDB 357, cf. Deut. 28:37; 1 Kgs. 9:7; Ps. 44:13-14) make them a proverb (BDB 605) make them a taunt (BDB 1042) make them a curse (BDB 887, cf. Jer. 25:18; Isa. 65:15; Ezeh. 8:13) send the sword send the famine send the pestilence This was because of their continuing, unrepentant covenant disobedience. YHWH revoked the covenant promises made to their forefathers (cf. Jer. 24:10). Instead of the "nations" seeing YHWH's mercy, grace, and justice in the covenant people, they saw His judgment (cf. Deut. 28:25,37; Ezek. 36:22-23). This very purpose in YHWH's calling Abraham (cf. Gen. 12:3) has been compromised! SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN