John Calvin Commentary Jeremiah 24:8

"And as the bad figs, which cannot be eaten, they are so bad, surely thus saith Jehovah, So will I give up Zedekiah the king of Judah, and his princes, and the residue of Jerusalem, that remain in this land, and them that dwell in the land of Egypt," — Jeremiah 24:8 (ASV)

God, after having promised to deal kindly with the captives, now declares that He would execute heavier punishment on King Zedekiah and all the people who still remained in their own country.

We have stated why God showed this vision to the Prophet: so that He might support the minds of those who saw nothing but reasons for despair, and also, on the other hand, that He might correct the pride of those who flattered themselves about their own situation, because God had delayed His vengeance against them.

Then the Prophet, after giving comfort to the miserable exiles, now speaks against Zedekiah and his people, who boasted that God was favorable to them, and that they had not only been fortunate but also wise in remaining in their own country.

He then says that Zedekiah and his princes, and all who remained in Judea, were like the bad figs, which could not be eaten because of their bitterness. I have said that this refers to punishment and not to guilt. They had sinned, I admit, most grievously; but we are to consider the Prophet's intention. The meaning then is, that though the condition of those who had been driven into captivity was harder at present, yet God would deal more severely with those who remained, because He had spared them for a time, and they did not repent, but hardened themselves more and more in their wickedness.

Now we know that Zedekiah was placed over the kingdom of Judah when Jeconiah surrendered himself to Nebuchadnezzar. He was Jeconiah's uncle and reigned for eleven years; during that time, he ought to have been at least wise at another's expense. For Eliakim, who was also called Jehoiakim, had been punished, and not only once; but Nebuchadnezzar, after plundering the temple, made him tributary to himself on his return to Chaldea.

At last, after being often deceived by him, Nebuchadnezzar became extremely displeased with Jehoiakim. Jehoiakim's son, who had reigned with his father, voluntarily surrendered himself into the power and will of the conqueror three months after his father's death. Mattaniah, of whom the Prophet speaks here, reigned afterwards.

So, he says, will I render Zedekiah (called previously Mattaniah) the king of Judah, and his princes, and the remnants of Jerusalem, who remain in this land (for the greater part had been led into exile), and those who dwell in the land of Egypt, for many had fled there; and we know that they were allied with the Egyptians, and that through a false confidence in them they often rebelled.

And this was also the reason why the prophets so sharply rebuked them: they relied on Egypt's help and sought shelter under its protection. Therefore, when they found themselves exposed to their enemies' will, they fled into Egypt. But Nebuchadnezzar afterwards, as we shall see, conquered Egypt also. Thus it happened that they were only for a short time beyond the reach of danger. But just as fugitive slaves, when recaptured, are then treated more severely by their masters, so also King Nebuchadnezzar's rage became more violent against them.