The LORD shewed me, and, behold, two baskets of figs [were] set before the temple of the LORD, after that Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon had carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, and the princes of Judah, with the carpenters and smiths, from Jerusalem, and had brought them to Babylon.
Ver. 1. The Lord showed me.] By showing as well as by saying, hath God ever signified his mind 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 firstfruits, as Deu 26:2 or set to be sold in such a public place.
Before the temple.] To show 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 showed to Jeremiah about the beginning of Zedekiah's reign.
Had carried away captive Jeconiah.] Who was therefore and thenceforth called Jeconiah Asir, 1Ch 3:16 that is, Jeconiah the Prisoner. He was a wicked prince, and therefore written childless, and threatened with deportation. Jer 22:30 Howbeit, because by the advice of the prophet Jeremiah he submitted to Nebuchadnezzar (who carried him away to Babylon, where, say the Rabbis, he repented, and was therefore at length advanced by Evilmerodah, as Jer 52:31), he and his company are here comforted, and pronounced more happy, however it might seem otherwise, than those that continued still in the land; and this, say the Hebrews, a was not obscurely set forth also by those two baskets of figs, whereof that which was worst showed best, and the other showed worst, till they came to be tasted.
With the carpenters,] Or, Craftsmen. 2 Kings 24:14 ; 2Ki 24:16
And smiths.] Heb., Enclosers - that is, say some, goldsmiths, 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.
a Raban., Hugo., Lyra.