Ezekiel 19:10-14

B. Dirge over Judah's Collapse 19:10-14

TRANSLATION

(10) Your mother was like a vine in your blood, planted by waters; she was fruitful and full of branches because of much water. (11) And she had strong rods to be scepters for rulers; and her height was exalted among the branches, and she was in her height, in the multitude of her tendrils. (12) But she was plucked up in fury, she was cast down to the ground, and the east wind dried up her fruit; her strong rod was broken and withered, the fire consumed her. (13) And now she is planted in the wilderness, in a dry and thirsty land. (14) And fire has gone out from the rod of her branches, it has consumed her fruit, so that she does not have a strong rod as a scepter to rule. This is a lamentation and it became a lamentation.

COMMENTS

The figure changes in Ezekiel 19:10. The mother is now the state of Judah, and she is compared to a vine rather than a lioness. The vine had its blood, i.e., sap, and was full of vigor. Because this vine was planted near abundant water the vine was fruitful (Ezekiel 19:10). The allusion is to former days when the nation prospered under the rule of righteous kings. The vine put forth strong rods strong and resolute kings who ruled over the nation. Among the other thick branches (prosperous nations) Judah had a position of honor (Ezekiel 19:11).

Judah the exalted vine was plucked up and cast down to the ground. The present lowly position of the nation could only be due to divine determination. The east wind (Nebuchadnezzar and his armies) dried up the fruit of that ignoble vine. Enormous tribute to Babylon over several years had drained the royal coffers of Judah. The strong rod of that branch the last king of Judah had been broken off and withered by that mighty king from the east. The fire of war and divine judgment had consumed Zedekiah. He lost his crown and his eyesight before being carried away in humiliation to Babylon (Ezekiel 19:12).

That once luxuriant vine planted by many waters is now forcibly transplanted to the wilderness of exile in Babylon (Ezekiel 19:13). The fire which would ultimately destroy the nation had gone OUT of the rod. Zedekiah's rebellion against Babylon was the cause of the ruin which engulfed the nation of Judah. With the deportation of Zedekiah the royal house of David was reduced to insignificance so that there is in her no strong rod to assume the rule (Ezekiel 19:14).

Chapter 19 is a prophetic lamentation spoken before the final calamity took place. What is here recorded as prophecy became the general theme of the national lamentation after the disaster had transpired (Ezekiel 19:14).

REVIEW QUESTIONS

1.

With what seven false attitudes does Ezekiel deal in Chapter s 12-19? How does he respond to each attitude?

2.

How would Ezekiel respond to modern sociologists who would blame anti-social behavior on environmental factors?

3.

Explain the proverb the fathers have eaten sour grapes, but the teeth of the children have been set on edge.

4.

How did Ezekiel describe a righteous man?

5.

What did Ezekiel have to say about the results of true repentance?

6.

How would Ezekiel respond to the Calvinistic doctrine of once saved, always saved?

7.

How did Ezekiel expect his hearers to acquire a new heart and a new spirit?

8.

To what animal does Ezekiel liken the house of David in chapter 19?

9.

What king of Judah is represented by the first young lion mentioned in chapter 19? What was his fate?

10.

Identify the second young lion raised by the Davidic lioness. What punishment came upon the land because of his actions?

11.

To what plant does Ezekiel liken Judah in chapter 19? What had been the fate of that plant?

12.

Who was the strong rod which was to be broken off the vine tree?