All Jerusalem. That is, the upper classes. By “good figs” (Jer. 24:1-7) Jeremiah symbolizes those who were carried away at this time. The prophet Ezekiel was among those carried away into Babylon. The years of his book are counted from the time of Jehoiachin’s captivity (Eze. 1:1—3), 597 B.C. Taking away from Jerusalem its skilled workers would deprive the conquered city of that class of citizens who would be of most service in war, and would provide the conqueror with valuable helpers for his own extensive building enterprises.