a Some think theſe two Baskets of Figs were ſuch as the people had brought for their firſt Fruits, becaule they are mentioned as ſect before the Temple. But this might be no more than a Y:{on, or an appearance of rwo Baskets. b The time of this Viſion was ſome® time betwixt the carrying away of Jeconiah, of which we read, 2 K'gs 24. 12, Oc. and - 2-Chron. 36. 10. and the carrying away of Zedekish bis Uneley which was 11 Years after: In 2 Kings 24. 16. There is a particular mention of the King of Babylen's carrying away the Craftſmen and the Smiths- # thouſand. |
2 One basket had very good figs,even like the figs that
hgs, which could not be eaten, f they were ſo bad 9g.
c God afterwards explaineth to the Prophet, and he to the King's mſs Houſe, the ſignificancy of this Viſion. The Figs firſt ripe are uſu» * * aily beſt : By theſe good Figs, as will appear by the following Verſes are intended, Feconiah or Jehojakin, with the 10000 mentioned, 2 Kings 24. 14+ and the 5000 mentioned, Yer 16. which went with him into Captivity. d By the other Figs which were very bad, and not to be eaten, are ſignified Zedekiah, and the reſidue of the people carried with kim into Captivity. Some may obje&, that Jecon!ah, and the People then carried away, were wicked encugh, why elſe were they carried away, and being ſc, how are they compared uns to good Figs ? Anſw. Though they were bad, yet they might be comparatively good, this people for the 11 Years they continued in- their own Land, after that their Brethren were carried away, not only continuing in their former courſes, but ſtill growing worſe and worſe 2. They ſeem nor to be called good or bad Figs with reſpe& ro their Manners or Quality, bur in reſpe& to what God intended to do ro them, viz. to ule them as bad Figs are uſed, not fit ro be eaten.
3 Then ſaid the LORD unto me, What ſeeſt thou Jeremiah e? and I ſaid, Figs; the good figs, very good ; and the evil, very evil, that cannot be eaten, they are ſo evil.
e Ged having cauſed the Prophet to have ſuch a viſible obje& appear to him, ask'd him, what heſaw ? as Fer. 1. 11+
: 4 Again the word of the LORD came unto me; aying, I - Thus faith the LORD, the God of Iſrael g, Like
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theſe good figs : ſo will I acknowledge || them that are || Or carried captive of Judah bh, whom I have ſence out 92v4-
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g Who havepower to do what pleaſe, and who yet am in Coe venant with /ſrael, and have a kindneſs fer the Seed of my Servant Jacob, hLook as thou approveſt of one of theſe Baskets of Figs, ſoI doapprove of thoſe thar were carried away Captive with Fecox nia, repenting of their finful Courſesz and accepting of that pu« niſhmenc of their iniquity. «s Though Nebuchaduexzar carried them away, it was by Commiſſion from me ; ſo that though he carried, yer I ſent them, For their grod, which words may either refer to the laſt menticned words, intimating that Ged in ſending them away aimed at either their Spiritval gocd, to brirg them ru
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[ , and a 3:1 452nt of their fins: or their tems p 'ra] good, they being only quierty Jed away, withour rhe Mite. ries of Famine, Fire and Sword, beſides carrying away ; which rhoie who remained, and were afterwards carried away with Zedes k:4/2, Experienced: Or elle th:y may be referred to the former worus, I will acknowledge them for their good, that is, I will ſhew them fevour, being of the number of thoſe who were not lead» ers t» fin, tut led away by the 311 Example of others, and who be» ing carried away grew ſenſible of their fins by which they provok- ed me, and ſa ccepted of the punithment of their Iniquities- 6 For I] will ſet mine eyes upon them for good &, * Chap. and] will bring them again to this land Z, and * I will 33-7-x build them, and not pull the down; and 2 will plant +-+ 1% them, and not pluck the up m.
k The Soul looking out at the Eye, diſcovereth its Inclinations, and affe&tion, whether of Love, or Wrath. Hence we read of God's ſetting his Eyes upon people tor evil, Amor 9g. 4. as here of his ferting his Eyes upon them for good. Or elſe it may lignifie God $1&tt1ag himſelf ro do them good, as a Man when he tets upon doing a thing, ſets his Eyes upon it 1n order thereunto- ! Some of them probably returned before the end of the Captivity, ſome ar the end of the 70 Years 9 The meaning of theſe Metaphorical expreſſions is, I will profper them, and provide for them. We read 2 Kings 25. 27« that Evil-Merodath, King of Babylm, in the 375th Year of the Captivity of Jehijekin, lifred his Head up our of Priſon, ſpake kinaly to kim, &c. but this Prophecy was alſo fultilled in Da- niel, Ezra, Nehemiah, Mordecai, and others, who are thought to be carried away with Jeconiah, or the Prophecy may be underſtqod of the Poſterity of thoſe wiio wereat rhis time carried away.
7 And I will give theman heart *to know me, that I am the LORD », and they ſhall be # my people, Chap, 32. and I will be their Gods: for they ball return unto
39. me with their whole heart p. Ezck. 11 # Under the term know me, is here ( as in many other Texts ) 19. & 36, comprehend-d Faith, Love, Obedience, all thoſe morions of the 26, 27 Soul which rationally ſhoutd follow a right comprehending of God + Chap. in Mens knowl:dge. 0 I will be a God in Covenant with them, as 30. 22,.& IT will fulfil what I have promiſed them, ſo they ſhall do what is 31. 33+ & their dury to me. p For or when or after that they ſhall return to 32. 38+ me, nor feignedly, but with their heart, not partially, but with their whole heart. This is promiſed asan effeQ of ſpecial grace, . not of the meer good inclination of their natural Wills, for to the words 1 will give, in the beginning of the Verſe, muſt be unders ſtood oth.rwife God gives ſuch an heart no more to one Man than to another. 8 © And as the evil * figs, which cannot be eaten,
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