Yirmeyah 24:2

2 One basket had figs tovot me’od, even like the figs that are early ripening; and the other basket had figs ra’ot me’od, which could not be eaten, they were so bad.

Yirmeyah 24:2 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 24:2

One basket [had] very good figs, [even] like the figs [that
are] first ripe
As there are some figs that are ripe sooner than others, and which are always the most desirable and acceptable; and such were they that were presented to the Lord, ( Micah 7:1 ) ( Deuteronomy 26:2 ) ; these signified those that were carried captive into Babylon with Jeconiah, among whom were some very good men, as Ezekiel, and others; and all might be said to be so, in comparison of those that were at Jerusalem, who were very wicked, and grew worse and worse: and the other basket [had] very naughty figs, which could not be
eaten, they were so bad;
as nothing is more sweet and luscious, and agreeable to the taste than a sound ripe fig, and especially a first ripe one; so nothing is more nauseous than a naughty rotten one: these signified the wicked Jews at Jerusalem indulging themselves in all manner of sin; so those who seemed to be the worst, through their being carried captive, were the best; and those who, seemed to be the best, by their prosperity, were the worst. This is to be understood in a comparative sense, as Calvin observes; though this does not so much design the quality of persons, as the issue of things, with respect unto them. The captivity of the one would issue in their good, and so are compared to good figs; when the sins of the other would bring upon them utter ruin and destruction without recovery, and therefore compared to bad figs that cannot be eaten.

Yirmeyah 24:2 In-Context

1 4 Hashem showed me, and, hinei, two baskets of figs were set in front of the Heikhal Hashem; after that Nevuchadretzar Melech Bavel had carried away into the Golus Melech Yehudah Yechanyah ben Y’hoyakim, and the sarim (princes) of Yehudah, with the craftsmen and artisans, from Yerushalayim, and had brought them to Babylon.

2 One basket had figs tovot me’od, even like the figs that are early ripening; and the other basket had figs ra’ot me’od, which could not be eaten, they were so bad.

3 Then said Hashem unto me, What seest thou, Yirmeyah? And I answered, Figs; the good figs, very good; and the bad, very bad, that cannot be eaten they are so bad.

4 Again the Devar Hashem came unto me, saying,

5 Thus saith Hashem Elohei Yisroel; Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge them that of Yehudah are carried away unto the Golus, whom I have sent out of this place into the Eretz Kasdim (Chaldeans) for their good.