Ezekiel 17

Under the parable of an eagle fetching the Cedar branch from Libanon and planting a new wine as also another great eagle to whom that vine bowed itself God presenteth before his people the captive carrying away of King Jochonia and others by king of Babel the ordaining of Zedikia to be king in his stead and Zedikias perjury and revolt unto the king of Egypt verse 1,2,3 for which God foretelleth that he should be forsaken of Egypt and of his own people and should be carried away captive to Babel 15 Nevertheless hepromiseth new Evangeheal Cedar-branch for the salvation of his people 22.

1. And the word of the Lord came unto me saying :

2. Child of man put forth a riddle [see judges 14. on verse 12] and use a similitude [or parable that is a relation which is throughout compared with another to give it more cleanness and strength and it may otherwise also be called an allegory so below chap 20 .49 and 24.3 Matth 13.3 ,13 Heb parable a parable]unto the house of Israel [or concerning the house of Israel.]

3. And say thus saith the Lord an eagle that was great [meaning Nebuchadnezzar king of Babel see below verse 12] great of wings long of wings full of feathers [having great power a large extended kingdom and abundance of all kind of richies]which had divers color [the Hebrew word signifieth properly that which is made with the needle of divers colours as broidered work above chap 16.10 ,13 but here by way of comparison it is used to signifie fair speckled and mix-colour feathers as if so be they were embroidered] came upon Libanon [meaning the land of Pelistines which northward was bordered with mount Libanon see 1 Kings 4 on vers 33] and took the uppermost branch of a Cedar [by this is signified by king Jojachin otherwise also called Jechonias 1Chron 3 on vers 16 who was Nebuchadnezzar carried away captive to Babel 2 Kings 24:12 ,2 Chrons 36.10 the Cedar was a figure of the kingdom of the Jews compare Numb 24.6 Amos 2:9.]

4. He pluck off the top of his young branches [these signifieth the princes ,Lords and Nobles ,that with King Jojachin went into captive in Babel 2 Kings 24:12]and brought it into a land of traffic [here in the original word Chenaan which properly signifieth merchants see Job 40.25 and the annotate understand now hereby Babylon where traffic or merchandising was much used by reason of multitude of men that dwelt there and that from all countries conversed and traded there] he set in a city of merchants [namely Babel others of grocers and drugsters as 1 Kings 10:15 so might the city of Babel be called because it was full of manner of spices ,drugs and costly wares serving not only for necessity and delight but also for delicacy and excess .]

5. He [to wit the fore mentioned eagle King Nebuchadnezzar] took also of the seed of the land [that is also that were born in the land of Juda meaning Muttania the uncle of Jechonia that is his father Jojachins brother called by Nebuchadnezzar’s Zedekia 2Kings 24 .17]and laid it in a seed field [that is he made Zedekia king of Juda] he took he set it by many waters that is in a covenant place that it might grow well ]with great prudence [that is on wise and well advised conditions others as a willow tree that delighteth to grow by the waters]

6. And it [to wit that seed King Zedekia] sprung forth and became a luxuriant wide –spreading vine the meaning is that the king prospered and was happy in his kingdom as long as he continued faithful to the King of Babel ]but low of stock [to wit as being under the power and command of the king of Babel unto whom he was constrained to pay a yearly tribute [Heb low of stature ,tallness pitch so below cha 19 .11 and 31.3 ,5 ,10]looking with its branches towards him [to wit of whom he had its plantation and under whose protection it lay hid] because the roots thereof were under him so it became a vine which brought forth branches and cist forth springs .

7. There was yet a great eagle [namely Pharaoh King of Egypt see below verse 15 and 17]great of wings and abounding in feathers [compare above the annotate on verse 3]and behold this vine [that is King Zedekia]did bend her roots towards him [to wit the eagle the king of Egypt understand by the vine roots of the ambassadors whom King Zedekia sent secretly unto the King of Egypt to make a covenant with him to the end that he might help him against the King of Babel whose tributary and vassal he was and whom he was now revolted compare below verse 15 Jerem 2.18]cast forth her branches towards him that he [meaning the same eagle]might water it [to wit the fore mentioned vine King Zedekia towards the beds of plantation that is towards the entries and passages that lead to the places of her plantation the Hebrew particle rendered here towards is taken in like signification Judges 7:3,17 see the annotate .This now looketh at the custom of Egypt where when the river Nilus overflowed they made rivers trenches and furrows to let out the water throughout the whole land and to spread it abroad into all places so did likewise King Zedekia desire and request that the King of Egypt will send his forces and soldiers unto him to help him against the King of Babel others by the beds of her plantation to wit so as that his land being watered by the King of Egypt he then thereby might grow up of her plantation to wit of the vine plantation to wit in the place where it was planted to wit in Judea.]

8. It was planted [to wit by King Nebuchadnezzar] in a good soil by many waters to bring forth branches and to bear fruits that it might become a glorious vine.

9. Say thus the Lord LORD shall it [to wit the vine that was planted by the first eagle King Nebuchadnezzar]not pluck up the roots thereof [to wit of the vine understand king Zedekia as above with all his strength and whole kingdom]and cut off the fruit that it grow dry ?it shall wither in all the leaves of her spring and that [so is the letter V an taken for and that Jerem17.10]not by a great arm nor by much people to carry it away from the roots thereof [that is without the necessity of making use of a mighty army to do it for the Lord himself will be against Zedekia for his wickedness and perjury.]

10. Yea behold shall it being planted prosper ?[this question implieth a strong negation]shall it not utterly wither [Heb withering wither]when the east winds toucheth it ? [This question implieth a strong affirmation understand here by the east wind the King of Babel that should destroy King Zedekia all his strength and the city of Jerusalem as the fruits are destroyed by the east winds Genesis 41:6]on the beds of her spring [that is wherein it buddeth to growth so above verse 7 the beds of her plantation that is wherein it was planted]shall it wither [on the beds &c t wit wherein it planted that it might be well watered and might grow well or it shall wither and perish together with the furrows that is the land of Juda likewise wherein it standeth or the furrows that is the means whereby he will seek to get help from Egypt shall likewise perish.]

11. Afterward the word of the Lord came unto me saying

12. Say now to that rebellious house [Heb that house of rebellion understand the tribe of kingdom of Juda see above chap 2on verse 5] know ye not what these things [to wit which I have put forth unto you concerning two Eagles]are?[or mean signify ,imply] say behold [here followeth the exposition of the propounded parable] the King of Babel is come to Jerusalem and hath taken the King thereof [namely Jojachin 2 Kings 24:12 ,2 Chrons 36.10 see above on verse 3]and the princes thereof [which verse 4 are compare to the uppermost tender branches of Libanon]and hath carried them to Babel [here followeth the exposition of the propound parable .]

13. Moreover he hath taken of the royal seed called above verse 5 the seed of the land namely of Juda Heb seed of kingdom he nameth Zedekia see above on verse 5 ]and made a covenant with him [see Jerem 34.18]and hath brought him to an oath [or made him to enter into an oath to wit whereby Zedekia cursed himself if he did not keep his word and did not continue loyal compare above chap 16 on verse 59 some conceive that this phrase to cause one to enter into an oath hath the respect into an ancient custom whereby those that made a covenant with each other flew beasts divided them into pieces and then passed between divided pieces or parts see Genes 15 on verse 17]and he hath taken away [to wit for pledges or hostages]the mighty of the land [to wit which might have assisted King Zedekia both with counsel and action for to strengthen the kingdom of Juda against the king of Babel ,and cause it at length to fall of from him .]

14. That the kingdom might be low not lifting itself up and that keeping his covenant [to wit the King of Babel covenant understand the promises of subjection and fealty ,which Zedekia and the Lords of the land had made unto the King of Babel] it might stand .

15. But he rebelled against him sending his messengers into Egypt that they might allow him horses and much people ;[see Jerem 37.5] shall he prosper ?shall he escape that doth such things ?yea shall he break the covenant [to wit which he hath made with king Nebuchadnezzar]and escape?

16. As true as I live saith the Lord LORD if he shall not die in place of king that made him king to wit in the places where King Nebuchadnezzar dwelleth that is Babel as is here said in the end of the verse ]whose oath he despised and whose covenant he brake by him in the midst of Babel [that is in the same place or city as was said even now consequently not in his own country the meaning is that he should certainly die there though he should not see the land because his eyes before the time should be blinded in Ribla 2Kings 25,6,7 Jerem 32.5 and34.3,5 and 52.11 .]

17. Neither shall Pharoah by his great army and multitude of warlike assembly perfom anything with him in war [with him that is with Zedekia to wit to help him by joining his forces with Zedekias forces or against him that is against King Nebuchadnezzar to oppose him and to drive him away from Jerusalem]when they shall cast up [Heb pour out so 2 Samuel 20:15 2Kings 19.32]a mount and when they shall build forths [which the king of Babel should do] to cut off many souls [that is many men .]

18. For he [namely KingZedekia despised the oath or curse breaking the covenant whereas lo he had given his hand [to wit to the King of Babel to assure him that he will strongly keep and maintain the covenant that he made with him see of such giving a hand for assuring of that which a mna saith or promiseth 2Kings 10.15 2 Chrons 30.8 Ezra 10:19 seeing he hath done all these things he shall not escape .

19. Therefore thus saith the Lord LORD as true as I live if I render not mine oath [God calleth the oath that Zedekia had mad unto the King of Babel his own oath because it was made with calling upon his name and in the like sense the covenant which he had made with the same king .Understand under the word oath the punishment of breaking the oath [thathe hath despised and my covenant thathe hath broken upon his head [that is if I recompence it not with punishments see 1 Kings 8:32 so above chap 9.10 and 11 verse 21 and 16.43 and below chap22.31 an abrupt kind of oath .]

20. And I will sprad forth my net upon him [to wit upon King Zedekia see of this phrase above chap 12 on verse 13 and below chap 32.3] so that he shall be taken in my snare and I will cause him to be brought to Babel and I will plead with him there [to wit over and above the judgments which]caused to pass upon him at Ribla 2 Kings 25:6,7 for after that he lay in prison in Babel till he died Jerem 5.11 God is said to plead with man or to enter into judgments with him when by his punishments he convinceth him of his sins and as it were disgraceth him ashamed in a court of justice so Isaiah 66:16 below chap 20.35 and 38.22 see futher hereof below chap 20.35 ]for his transgression whereby hehath transgressed against me .

21. Moreover all his fugitive [see of these 2Kings 25.5 and Jerem 52.8 with all his hands [that is multitudes and companies of soldiers see above chap 12 on verse 14] shall fall by the sword [that is die or be slain in war or perish by weapons of war see Levit 26 .7]and they that remain shall be scattered into all winds [that is into all corners of the world see above chap 5 on verse 10] and ye shall know that I am the Lordhave spoken it .

22. Thus saith the Lord I will also take [to wit a young sprig or twig which is here immediately called a tender branch] of the uppermost branch [that is of the royal stock] of the high Cedar [that is of the kingdom of Juda see above on verse 3 or thus of high branch of the Cedar ;or of this uppermost branch of the Cedar that was high] which I will set [that is which I will plant] I will crop off from the uppermost part of his young twig a tender one [hereby is meant Zerubbabel and his successors but especially Christ of whom they were types Christ is called a branch of a sprig Isa 11 .1 and 60.21 Zach 6.12]upon an high and exalted mountain [meaning the true Zion that is the true Jewish and the Christian church and congregession of saints see Isaiah 2:2 and 1.9 and 20.40 Mich 4.1.]

23. Upon the mountains of the height of Israel [that is which shall be exceeding high understand this highest as well as the renowned and large diffusive of the kingdom of Christ as of the eminent of height and dignity of the mercies and benefits of Christ that therein shall be obtained] will I plant itand it shall bring forth broughs and bear [Heb make]fruit[see of this fruit Psal 85.10 &c Isaiah 11:2 &c Daniel 9:24]and it shall become a glorious Cedar [understand not an outward or earthly glory butan inward or heavenly glory of which see Psal 110.1 &c Ephesians 1:20 &c Philip 2.9,10 ,11] that under it shall dwell all fowl of all manner of wings [that is not only Israelites and Jews but also Gentiles]in the shadow of the branches theeof shall they dwell .

24. So all the trees of the fields [that is men who are also called because they ought to bring good fruits Psal 1.3 Isaiah 56:3 Matth 7.17 ,18,19 some understand roperly kings that among other men are eminent in highness Daniel 4:17 ,19] shall know that I the Lord have abased the high tree [this may corporallybe understood by the Babylonians and then monarchy which was destroyedby Cyrus ;and spiritual of the devil and his kingdom which was destroyed by Christ]have exalted the low tree [this may be also corporally understood of the Jews when they returned out of the Babylonian captivity and spiritually of all the elect and believers that were redeemed by Christ from the power of the devil] have dried up the green trees and have made the dry tree flourishing [the former is related in other words] I the Lord have spoken it and will do it .