Jeremiah's vision of two baskets of figs symbolizes two distinct groups among the people of Judah. The good figs represent the exiles taken to Babylon, whom God promised to watch over and eventually restore to their land. In contrast, the bad figs symbolize Zedekiah and those remaining in Jerusalem or dwelling in Egypt, who were destined for severe judgment and dispersion among all kingdoms.
The twenty-fourth chapter is added here as an appendix, because it relates a vision given after the carrying away of Jeconiah, therefore during the early part of Zedekiah's reign. Jeremiah was shown by the Lord, in vision, two baskets of figs set before the temple of the Lord (Jeremiah 24:1).
The fig tree is the well-known symbol of Judah nationally; as the vine is of Israel as a whole. Judah was likened by the Lord JESUS to a
"fig tree planted in a vineyard." (Luke 13:6)
In the vision following, (Jeremiah 24:1-6) one basket contained good fruit; the other bad figs, so bad that they could not be eaten. They set forth the two classes into which the Lord had divided the people. Those carried away captive by the Chaldeans had been sent away
"for their good."
He would watch over them in grace, and eventually restore them (the remnant) to their land, to be once more planted, never to be plucked up again. This last phrase negatives effectually the unworthy theory that would consider the promise fulfilled in the days of Ezra and Nehemiah. Have they not been
"plucked up again?"
Surely. But when the Lord's set time has come, they shall be established in their land never to be rooted out of it again. For in that day GOD will give them a heart to know Himself: they shall be His people and He will be their GOD: for they shall do what the former remnant never did -
"return unto Him with their whole heart" (Jeremiah 24:7).
These then are the good figs to be treasured up by the Lord. The evil figs, which were utterly worthless, typified Zedekiah with the residue of Jerusalem remaining in the land, and those dwelling in defiance of His Word in the land of Egypt. They were to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth
"for their hurt" (as the others "for their good"),
and should be
"a reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse, in all places whither"
He should drive them: ever punished by the sword, famine and pestilence until utterly consumed (Jeremiah 24:8-10). Who but one inspired of GOD could have so faithfully predicted, long before it came to pass, that which, for over two millenniums, has been a matter of history, familiar to all?