_Son of man, put forth a riddle_ A continued metaphor or figurative speech: an allegory. The prophets frequently delivered their instructions in this way, as being well calculated both to engage the attention of their hearers or readers, and to make a deep and lasting impression on their minds. It w... [ Continue Reading ]
_A great eagle with great wings_ The eagle is the king of birds, swift, strong, and rapacious. And this great eagle, according to all interpreters, represents Nebuchadnezzar. Its “greatness, long wings, beautiful, abundant, and well-coloured plumage, denote the force and greatness of his empire, the... [ Continue Reading ]
_There was also another great eagle_ Namely, Pharaoh, king of Egypt, with whom Zedekiah made an alliance; whereupon that king sent an army to raise the siege of Jerusalem, 2 Chronicles 36:13; Jeremiah 37:5; Jeremiah 37:7. _With great wings and many feathers_ Having a great army and many people to su... [ Continue Reading ]
_Say_ Tell them what shall be the issue of all this, and tell it to them in my name. _Shall it prosper?_ Can it be that such breach of faith and such ingratitude should prosper? No, it cannot be: God will never suffer it. Zedekiah, besides the obligation of an oath, was bound to the king of Babylon... [ Continue Reading ]
_Say now to the rebellious house_ To the house of Judah, which have been and still are rebellious against me, and are now entering into a rebellion against Nebuchadnezzar. This is God's order to his prophet to explain the riddle. _Know ye not what these things mean?_ Will you not apply your minds to... [ Continue Reading ]
_But he rebelled in sending into Egypt, that they might give him horses_ Egypt was a country abounding in horses, of which there was great scarcity in Judea. This was not only a violation of his oath and covenant, but likewise a breach of that part of the Jewish law which forbade their king to fetch... [ Continue Reading ]
_As I live, saith the Lord_, &c. This intimates how highly God resented the crime, and how sure and severe the punishment of it would be. _He swears in his wrath_, as he did, Psalms 95:11. Observe, reader, as God's promises are confirmed with an oath, for comfort to the saints, so are his threatenin... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will also take of the highest branch_, &c. God, having spoken of Jerusalem, in the first part of this chapter, under the figure of a cedar, and the king of it as the highest branch of the cedar, here carries his view to farther scenes, and, after having acquainted his prophet with the fate of Zed... [ Continue Reading ]
_All the trees of the field_ All the nations of the world; _shall know that I the Lord have brought down the high tree_ Have subdued and degraded the enemies of my people; _have exalted the low tree_ Have advanced my church, and made it flourish; _have dried up the green tree,_ &c. The same thing ex... [ Continue Reading ]