Good Figs, Bad Figs: The next six chapters are written in prose. In this first revelation, Jeremiah receives further divine insight concerning Judah and its future. The time period is likely soon after the exile of Jehoiachin and some of the leading citizens of Judah in 597 B.C. (24:1), but certainly before the final exile of 587/86 B.C. God describes his people with two images, those who went into exile (the good figs) and those who stayed in Judah (the bad figs). The text only mentions that the vision came to Jeremiah, not that he actually reported it to the people. If he did (which is likely) inform the people of this vision, it would be to make the people who remained after the 597 B.C. exile feel badly about their condition. While there is no indication that the hope of the vision was…