Ezekiel 17

Chap. XVII. Ver. 1—24. God’s judgments on Judea represented by the parable of two eagles and a vine.—In the fable before us, Nebuchadnezzar is represented as a great eagle which perched on the highest branch of one of the mighty cedars of Lebanon. This branch represents king Jehoiachim, whom he carried off to Babylon, ‘‘a land of traffic: he took also a young shoot, meaning Zedekiah, and, planting it in a fruitful soil, it flourished and became a spreading tree, like a willow growing by the waters. Another eagle is now introduced, to represent the king of Egypt, and the tree or mentioned (Zedekiah) spreads forth its branches toward this second eagle: yet it prospers not; but, being smitten by an eastern wind, withers in the soil wherein it grew.

Such is the outline of this allegory, which is more fully explained in the following part of the chapter. But in the last three verses we read of another branch, which shall be planted in a lofty mountain, and become a lofty cedar, in whose boughs birds of every wing should lodge. Newcome thinks “these verses may have a reference to Zerubbabel, to the Maccabees, to the Messiah, and to the future restoration of the Jews: but Boothroyd remarks, that no king of the house of David, since the captivity, ever answered this description, or was able to afford that protection to the neighbouring powers here implied: he therefore refers the whole exclusively to the Messiah.

Notes on the verses

Ver. 56. For thy sister.—Newcome, “Although thy sister Sodom was not heard of from thy mouth.” Ver. 58. Thou hast borne.—Thou hast already began to receive the punishment! See ver. 59. Ver. 61. Not thy covenant.—The old covenant of Sinai, which thou hast broken, but “* by the new covenant, under the gospel dispensation.” —Newcome. Cul. Chap. XVII. Ver. 2. A riddle.—See Ju. xiv. 12. Newcome renders it ‘‘a dark saying,” as in (Psalms 27:2). Ver. 3. Great eagle.—Nebuchadnezzar, so called from his towering ambition and rapaciousness.—With great wings.—Heb. ‘‘Great of wings.” It is said that they are frequently seven feet in extent.—Extensive empire, both in length and breadth.—Diverse colours.—“An allusion to the various nations which composed the Babylonian empire.”

Michaelis.—Came to Lebanon.—Came against Judah and Jerusalem. A modern traveller (La Roque) found at Lebanon a large number of eagles’ feathers. Orient. Lit. No. 1021. Ver. 4. City of merchants.—[Babylon, which by means of the Euphrates and Tigris, had communication with the richest and most distant nations.]—B. Ver. 5. Seed of the land.—Zedekiah, brother to Jeconiah.—As the parent verb signifies to plant, Newcome thinks the noun here used may signify a scion, or shoot; and by this last word Boothroyd renders it, since the vine is thus propagated, and not by seed: Planted it.—Made him king of Judea.—Great waters.—{Made him dependent on Babylon, the city of great waters, as the willow is on humidity.}—Bagster. Ver. 6. Branches turned, &c.—[The Jewish state had then no height of dominion; and Zedekiah was wholly dependant on Nebuchadnezzar.]—B. Ver. 10. Utterly wither.—[The regal government shall be finally destroyed like a tree blasted by the east wind: Zedekiah shall be the last king; and the monarchy shall terminate with him.]—Bagster. Ver. 14. Base.—Newcome, “Low, or humble.”——That by keeping of his covenant it might stand.—Newcome, ‘That it might keep his covenant, and might stand.” Ver. 17. By casting up mounts, &c.—See (Ezekiel 4:2). Ver. 18. Despised the oath.—(Though Zedekiah’s oath had been given to a heathen, a conqueror, and a tyrant, yet God considered the violation of it a most aggravated sin against him, and determined to punish him for it.)—B. Ver. 19. Mine oath.—Zechariah doubtless swore by the name of the God of Israel.—My covenant.—The Lord regards himself as a party to every covenant made in his name.