Commentary on Prov Ecc SoS Isa Jer Lam Eze Dan, Jeremiah · Chapter 24
CHAP. XXIV.
Ver. 1. THe Lord ſhewed me] By ſhewing as well as by ſaying, hath God ever ſignified his minde to his people: by the viſible as well as by the audible Word, as in Sacrifices and Sacraments, for their better confirmation in the Faith.
And behold two baskets] Dodaim, ſo called from Dodim Breaſts: becauſe theſe two baskets reſembled two breaſts.
Were ſet before the Temple] Either viſionally or elſe actually there ſet: whether preſented for firſt-fruits, as Deut. 26.2. or ſet to be ſold in ſuch a publike place.
Before the Temple] To ſhew that the Jews of both ſorts gloried in the ſame God: but were differently regarded by him, and accordingly ſentenced.
After that Nebuchadnezzar] This then was ſhewed to Jeremy about the beginning of Zedekiah's raign.
Had carried away captive Jeconiah] Who was therefore and thenceforth called Jeconiah Aſir, 1 Chron. 3.16. that is, Jeconiah the Priſoner, He was a wicked Prince, and therefore written childleſſe, and threatened with deportation, chap. 22. Howbeit, becauſe by the advice of the Prophet Jeremy he ſubmitted to Nebuchadnezzar, (who carried him away to Babylon, where (ſay the Rabbines) he repented, and was therefore at length advanced by Evil-merod…h, as chap. 5….) he and his company are here comforted, and pronounced more happy (however it might ſeem otherwiſe) then thoſe that continued ſtill in the land. And this, ſay the Hebrews, was not obſcurely ſet forth alſo by thoſe two baskets of figs: whereof that which was worſt ſhewed beſt, and the other ſhewed worſt till they came to be taſted.Raban. Hugo. Lyra.
With the Carpenters] Or Craftsmen, 2 King. 24.14, 16.
And Smiths] Heb. Incloſers, that is, ſay ſome, Gold-ſmiths, whoſe work it is to ſet ſtones in gold. And theſe, thus carried away, are as a type of ſuch, ſaith Oecolampadius, as are penitent and patient till the Lord ſhall turn again their captivity as the ſtreams in the ſouth.
Ver. 2. One basket had very good figs] Maturas & prae…oquas, ripe and ready betimes, burſas melle plenas, as one once called ſuch good Figs, purſes full of Hony.
Paſſerat.Ficus habet lactis nivei, rutilique ſaporem
Mellis, & ambroſiae ſimiles cum nectare ſuccos.
The other basket had very naughty figs] Sowr and ill-taſted, becauſe blaſted, haply, or worm-eaten,In vit. Dion. &c. Of the Athenians Plutarch ſaith, that they were all very good, or ſtark naught; no middle-men: like as that Country alſo produceth both the moſt excellent hony, and the moſt deadly poyſon. Sure it is, that non ſunt media coram Deo, neque placet tepiditas, before God every man is either a good tree yielding good fruit, or an evil tree bearing evil fruit. He that is not with Chriſt is againſt him. He acknowledgeth not a mediocrity, he deteſteth an indifferency in Religion: hot or cold he wiſheth men, and threateneth to ſpue the lukewarm out out of his mouth, Rev 3.15, 16. The beſt that can be ſaid of ſuch Neuter-Paſſives, is, that which Tacitus ſaith of Galba, Magis extra vitia quam cum virtutibus, that they are rather not vitious then vertuous; their goodneſſe is meerly negative. The world cryeth them up for right honeſt men, but God decryeth them for naught, ſtark naught, they may not be endured they are ſo naught. See Luke 16.15.
Ver. 3. What ſeeſt thou Jeremy?] See on chap. 1.11.
The good figs very good] See on ver. 2.
Ver. 4. Again the Word of the Lord] Tranſitio ad Anagogen: the interpretation followeth, whereby will appear the different judgement made of perſons and things, by God and men.
Ver. 5. Like theſe good figs] Quas ſic dat & arbor & aura, when once God hath made the tree good, the fruit will be good.
So will I acknowledge] Heb. know, that is own, or take ſpecial notice of: and this made the difference.
Whom I have ſent out of this place for their good] It is for their good temporal and eternal that God chaſtiſeth his children. Jehoiachin was preferred at length: and as the Jew-Doctours ſay, converted, as Manaſſeh had been before him. Daniel and his aſſociates were ſet over the Kingdome. The Jews got good eſtates and reſpect in the land of their captivity, Jer. 29.4 Eſth. 9. and were at length ſent back with many favours and priviledges, &c.
Ver. 6. For I will ſet mine eyes upon them for good] I will ſee to their ſafety, and provide for their neceſſities: See Pſal. 34.15. with the Note.
Ver. 7. And I will give them an heart to know me] This was better then all the reſt, ſc. a ſanctified uſe of their afflictions. This we ſhould highly prize,Promiſſio Evangelica, ut infra. 31. 33. and pray for.
And they ſhall be my people] This falling out of lovers ſhall but be a renewing of love betwixt us.
For they ſhall return unto me] God muſt ſometimes whip his people to duty, and galter them from evil, as well as entice them, ut uvae dulces ſint & non labruſcae.
Ver. 8. And as the evil figs] Zedekiah and his ſubjects, who were lookt upon as the happier, becauſe at home; and derided, likely, Jechoniah and his concaptives as cowards. Sure it is, that they were not bettered by their brethrens miſeries.
Ver. 9. And I will deliver them] As men throw out naughty figs, rotten apples, or the like. All the figs were carried out, but in diverſe baskets, and for diverſe purpoſes.
To be a taunt and a curſe] As when they were called in ſcorn by the heathen Verpi, Apellae, Recutiti, &c. and were noted, as they are ſtill, for a naſty people.
Ver. 10. And I will ſend the ſword] So chap. 14.15. and 34.17.