The riddle of the great eagle (1) Ezekiel 17:1 introduction. The great, broadwinged, speckled eagle came to Lebanon, and broke off the top of the cedar, carrying it to the merchant-land, Babylon the captivity of Jehoiachin by Nebuchadnezzar. (2) Ezekiel 17:5. He took also of the seed of the land a... [ Continue Reading ]
_a riddle_ As requiring interpretation; the passage is also called a "parable," as containing a similitude or comparison. The eagle is Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. Conquerors are often compared to the eagle, Deuteronomy 28:49; Isaiah 46:11; Jeremiah 4:13; Jeremiah 48:40; Hosea 8:1; Lamentations... [ Continue Reading ]
_longwinged_ With long pinions. The eagle was also of "divers colours" or speckled, with reference possibly to the very diverse nationalities included in the Babylonian empire. _came unto Lebanon_ The figure of the eagle coming to Lebanon and cropping off the highest branch and top of the young twig... [ Continue Reading ]
Nebuchadnezzar then took Mattaniah, son of Josiah, and made him king under the name of Zedekiah. The "seed of the land" is the native royal house. _he placed_it] The unknown form so rendered might be a verb, cf. Hosea 11:3. LXX. omits; Ew. conjectures slip, or cutting. The comparison to the willow... [ Continue Reading ]
_of low stature_ This refers to the dependent nature of Zedekiah's kingdom, as tributary to the lord superior. Cf. Isaiah 16:8: Hosea 10:1. _whose branches turned_ Or, THAT ITS BRANCHES MIGHT TURN … and the roots thereof BE.... [ Continue Reading ]
The other great eagle, which however is not described with such imposing epithets as the former, is the king of Egypt. The vine bent its roots toward him sought to draw nourishment from him. _by the furrows_ Rather: FROM THE BEDS OF ITS PLANTATION i.e. where it was planted. The words are connected... [ Continue Reading ]
The happy condition of Zedekiah's monarchy under the king of Babylon, had he been content with his subordinate role as a feudatory prince.... [ Continue Reading ]
Threat of punishment because of his treachery. The vine shall be pulled up and utterly withered Zedekiah's monarchy shall be taken away before the king of Babylon. _shall he not pull up_ The subject is most naturally the king of Babylon, who planted it; the words might be used in the sense of the _... [ Continue Reading ]
Destruction under another figure, that of the east wind, before which vegetation crumbles into dust. Cf. ch. Ezekiel 19:12; Hosea 13:15; Isaiah 27:8; Isaiah 40:7; Job 27:21.... [ Continue Reading ]
Interpretation of the riddle 12. _the rebellious house_ i.e. Israel, ch. Ezekiel 2:5. _king of Babylon is come_ Better past tenses throughout: CAME … and took; so Ezekiel 17:13 and TOOK. On the captivity of Jehoiachin, cf. 2 Kings 24:11 _seq_.; Jeremiah 24:1; Jeremiah 29:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
_the king's seed_ the ROYAL SEED, lit. seed of the kingdom. See on _Eze 17:5_; cf. 2 Kings 24:17; Jeremiah 37:1. _an oath of him_ Cf. 2 Chronicles 36:13. _he hath also taken_ he TOOK ALSO. On "mighty of the land," cf. Ezekiel 17:12. Probably the more influential classes are included, those who if l... [ Continue Reading ]
_might be base_ i.e. humble, and without pretension; cf. ch. Ezekiel 29:14. It was with this purpose that Nebuchadnezzar carried away the mighty of the land. He also hoped that the kingdom would "stand;" it was no doubt his policy to have a dependent, friendly state on the frontier of Egypt. The wor... [ Continue Reading ]
Cf. 2 Kings 24:20. The king of Egypt referred to was Pharaoh Hophra, Jeremiah 44:30; Jeremiah 37:5 _seq_. The indignation of Ezekiel against Zedekiah arises greatly from his regarding the subjection of Jerusalem to Babylon as a thing determined by Jehovah. Hence the covenant broken by Zedekiah is no... [ Continue Reading ]
Zedekiah, being carried to Babylon, shall die there.... [ Continue Reading ]
The aid of Pharaoh shall be in vain; cf. Jeremiah 37:5, and the pathetic references to the hopes and disappointments of the besieged during the last days of Jerusalem in Lamentations 4:17. On "mounts," &c., cf. ch. Ezekiel 4:2.... [ Continue Reading ]
_spread my net_ Cf. ch. Ezekiel 12:13; Hosea 7:12. _plead with him_ i.e. there subject him to the consequences of his treachery, bringing it thereby to his knowledge that he is suffering the penalty of it, cf. Ezekiel 20:35-36; Ezekiel 38:22; Jeremiah 2:35.... [ Continue Reading ]
_all his fugitives_ The form of word does not otherwise occur, but has been so understood by some ancient versions. Others as Targ., Syr., assume a transposition of two letters and render: _his choice men_; and so many moderns (cf. ch. Ezekiel 23:7; Daniel 11:15). This last reading is found in a num... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will also take_ I WILL TAKE "I" emphatic. The figure refers to the house of David, cf. Ezekiel 17:2; Isaiah 53:2. _high mountain_ This belongs partly to the figure of the cedar, but indicates also the conspicuousness to the eyes of the nations of this great cedar; Isaiah 2:2.... [ Continue Reading ]
Promise of a new and universal Messianic kingdom in Israel The attempt of the king of Babylon to set up a kingdom in Israel miscarried; he who set up the kingdom took it away. The shoot planted by him was smitten by the east wind and withered. But Jehovah himself will plant a shoot of the high ceda... [ Continue Reading ]
_mountain of the height_ Cf. ch. Ezekiel 20:40; Ezekiel 40:2. _fowl of every wing_ As fowls flock to a great tree so all peoples will put their trust in the shadow of this great monarchy in the land of Israel; ch. Ezekiel 31:6; Daniel 4:12; Matthew 13:32.... [ Continue Reading ]
As this kingdom is compared to a cedar other kingdoms are likewise called trees; cf. ch. Ezekiel 31:5; Ezekiel 31:8; Ezekiel 31:14; Ezekiel 31:16; Ezekiel 31:18. Kings and kingdoms are hardly distinguished, the kingdom is but the expression of the king. Then all shall know that this great result is... [ Continue Reading ]