The Good and Bad Figs

1After Nebuchadnezzar (may Nebo protect the crown) king of Babylon (confusion by mixing) had carried away Jeconiah (Jehoiachin)a son of Jehoiakim (YHWH raises up) king of Judah (praised), as well as the officials of Judah and the craftsmen and metalsmiths from Jerusalem (city of peace), and had brought them to Babylon,b the LORD {YHWH} showed me two baskets of figs placed in front of the temple of the LORD. 2One basket had very good figs, like those that ripen early, but the other basket contained very poor figs, so bad they could not be eaten.

3“Jeremiah (whom YHWH has appointed),” the LORD {YHWH} asked, “what do you see?”

“Figs!” I replied. “The good figs are very good, but the bad figs are very bad, so bad they cannot be eaten.”

4Then the word of the LORD {YHWH} came to me, saying, 5“This is what the LORD, the God {YHWH Elohe} of Israel (he wrestles with God), says: ‘Like these good figs, so I regard as good the exiles from Judah (praised), whom I have sent away from this place to the land of the Chaldeans (the Babylonians).c 6I will keep My eyes on them for good and will return them to this land. I will build them up and not tear them down; I will plant them and not uproot them. 7I will give them a heart to know Me, that I am the LORD {YHWH}. They will be My people, and I will be their God {Elohim}, for they will return to Me with all their heart.

8But like the bad figs, so bad they cannot be eaten,’ says the LORD {YHWH}, ‘so will I deal with Zedekiah (YHWH is righteous) king of Judah (praised), his officials, and the remnant of Jerusalem (city of peace)—those remaining in this land and those living in the land of Egypt (land of bondage). 9I will make them a horror and an offense to all the kingdoms of the earth, a disgrace and an object of scorn, ridicule, and cursing wherever I have banished them. 10And I will send against them sword and famine and plague, until they have perished from the land that I gave to them and their fathers.’”