Ezekiel 19:7

And he knew their desolate palaces,.... He took notice of the palaces or seats of the richest men of the nation, and pillaged them of their treasure and wealth, and so they became desolate: it may be

And he knew their desolate palaces, and he laid waste their cities; and the land was desolate, and the fulness thereof, by the noise of his roaring.

He, Jehoiakim, knew their desolate palaces, on view; not only heard of them, but setting on them violently, and taking them, he came to know their palaces, which are here called, what he made them, desolate; so the word . Palaces; or it may be rendered widows, and then it will refer to such whose husbands this lion devoured, and thereby occasioned their petitioning to him, and thus he knew them, whom he made desolate; but the former best suits what follows. Laid waste their cities; pilling, polling, and by exactions driving the inhabitants out by his cruelty and tyranny. The land was desolate; the whole land, or the country, sped as ill as the cities, and so it was emptied of men, riches, and strength. By the noise of his roaring; by the perpetual violent threats of this cruel king, which are called his roaring, and so , which terrified his neighbours in the three years’ revolt which are mentioned ,2.

Ezekiel 19:7 And he knew their desolate palaces, and he laid waste their cities; and the land was desolate, and the fulness thereof, by the noise of his roaring.Ver. 7. And he knew their desolate places.] He had made them desolate, and bereft them of their right owners, whom he had devoured, and then seized them for himself. Some read and render it, He knew their desolate widows - i.e., He first killed up their husbands, and then lay with the widows: the men he devoured, the women he deflowered. Such work this wicked prince made, till God took him in hand; as he did also the other three here lamented, of whom may be said, as Plutarch doth of Galba, Otho, and Vitellius, emperors, that they were like kings in a tragedy, which last no longer than the time that they are represented on the stage.

(7) Knew their desolate palaces.—This verse continues to describe the abominations of Jehoiachin’s ways. The word “desolate palaces,” although defended by some authorities, should be rendered, as in the margin, widows. The mention of the king’s violation of these is an unavoidable departure from the figure, such as often occurs in Ezekiel.

5–8. Jehoiachin carried captive to Babylon The second young lion is Jehoiachin. The intermediate prince Jehoiakim could not be included in an elegy, because he died in peace. It is the princes of Israel whom foreign nations captured that are lamented. What is touched upon is more the humiliation and sorrow of Israel, the mother lioness, in her young lions being captured, than the fate of the two persons. The elegy is a national one, cf. on Ezekiel 19:1. 5. And she saw that she had waited—her hope was lost; And she took another of her whelps—she made him a young lion. 6. And he walked among the lions—he grew a young lion, And he learned to catch the prey—he devoured men. 7. And he broke down their palaces—he wasted their cities; And the land and its fulness was desolate—at the noise of his roaring. 8. Then the nations set themselves against him—on every side from the countries. And they spread their net over him—he was taken in their pit. 5. that she had waited] If “she” be subject some such sense as deceived, “disappointed” (Ew.) would be suitable, though to reach this sense by adding “in vain” to waited is hardly permissible. The subject might be “her hope,” and waited might mean tarried, delayed. There might be reference to hope of the return of Jehoahaz, which appears to have been cherished, as Jeremiah takes occasion altogether to cut it off (Jeremiah 22:10-12). Corn. proposes “acted foolishly,” but the word suggested is too strong (Numbers 12:11; Isaiah 19:13; Jeremiah 5:4; Jeremiah 50:36). 6. Jehoiachin ascended the throne on the death of his father at the age of 18. He reigned only 3 months, when Nebuchadnezzar carried him away to Babylon, 2 Kings 24:8 seq.7. knew their desolate palaces] R.V. knew their palaces. The word is usually “widows” as marg., but “palaces,” Isaiah 13:22. Neither translation gives any sense. Better: he broke down their palaces, (change of r for d); or cf. Jeremiah 2:15-16 (marg. fed on), a passage very similar. If “widows” be read the verb would need to be altered to “multiplied,” ch. Ezekiel 12:25, an important passage (Jeremiah 15:8). Corn. (partly Hitz.): and he lay down in his den, he wasted the forests. This keeps up the figure, but requires serious alteration of the reading. Jeremiah 2:15 shews that “young lions” may burn cities, and feed on the crown of the head. 8. in their pit] A well-known method of capturing dangerous beasts. The object to “set” may be voice or shout, Ezekiel 19:4, Jeremiah 7:8.

7. And he knew their desolate palaces, etc. — R.V., “knew their palaces” (or, “widows”). With a change of one letter the text becomes “he brake down,” etc. Cornill, by some further alteration, obtains the reading which Dr.