Ezekiel 19:11

And she had strong rods for the sceptres of them that bare rule, and her stature was exalted among the thick branches, and she appeared in her height with the multitude of her branches. SHE HAD STRONG RODS FOR THE SCEPTRES - princes of the royal house of David. The vine shot forth her branches like so many "sceptres," not creeping lowly on the ground like many vines, but trained aloft on a tree or wall. The mention of their former royal dignity, contrasting sadly with her present sunken state, would remind the Jews of their sins, whereby they had incurred such judgments. HER STATURE WAS EXALTED - (). AMONG THE THICK BRANCHES - i:e., the central stock or trunk of the tree shot up highest "among its own branches" or offshoots surrounding it. Emblematic of the numbers and resources of the peoples. Hengsten...

He adds, _she had branches_, that is, vine twigs, _for the scepters of those who bear rule_. Those who translate with or above the scepters of rulers do not seem to me to comprehend the Prophet’s meaning. I have no doubt he intends that scepters were gathered from these vine branches, or rather that they were so formed as to be like royal scepters. Although this translation seems rather rough, yet the sense is not doubtful; because the Prophet means that kings were taken from the people just as branches from the vine, as God chose king’s from David to Zedekiah. In this sense he says _that the vine branches became scepters of the rulers. _He afterwards adds_, her stature was conspicuous, that she was remarkable for her loftiness even in the multitude of the vine branches. _This is extended to the whole body of the people. Since mention is made of the king, there is no doubt that God comme...

10-14 Jerusalem was a vine, flourishing and fruitful. This vine is now destroyed, though not plucked up by the roots. She has by wickedness made herself like tinder to the sparks of God's wrath, so that her own branches serve as fuel to burn her. Blessed be God, one Branch of the vine here alluded to, is not only become a strong rod for the sceptre of those that rule, but is Himself the true and living Vine. This shall be for a rejoicing to all the chosen people of God throughout all generations....

Verse Ezekiel 19:11. _SHE HAD STRONG RODS_] _Zedekiah_, and his many _sons_. _HER STATURE WAS EXALTED_] Zedekiah grew _proud_ of his numerous offspring and prosperity; and although he copied the example of _Jehoiakim_, yet he thought he might safely rebel against the king of Babylon....

SCEPTRES - Genesis 49:10. THE THICK BRANCHES - Or, the clouds; so Ezekiel 31:3, Ezekiel 31:10, Ezekiel 31:14....

EXPOSITION EZEKIEL 19:1 The two sections of this chapter—Ezekiel 19:1, Ezekiel 19:10 -are respectively two parables of the same type as that of Ezekiel 2:10. The former telling nearly the same story under a different imagery, the latter a reproduction of the same imagery, with a slightly different application. Lamentation. The same word as that used in Ezekiel 2:10. The whole chapter finds a parallel in Jeremiah's review of Josiah's successors ...

AND SHE HAD STRONG RODS FOR THE SCEPTRES OF THEM THAT BEAR RULE,.... That is, many sprung from her, and rose up in that nation who were fit to hold sceptres to be kings, rulers and governors, and were such. So the Targum. "and there were in her strong rulers, kings that were, highly to subdue kingdoms;'' such as David, Solomon, and at hers after them: or this may refer to the times of Josiah, and at his death, who left behind him several sons, who became kings, besides other princes of the blood; as his brother Mattaniah, who also was king: and some even carry this to Zedekiah himself, who had many children, who seemed to be strong rods, fit for sceptres, or sceptre bearers; that is, to be kings. The allusion seems to be to the sceptres of the ancients, which were no other than walking sticks, cut off of the stems or branches of trees, and decorated with gold, or studded with golden na...

JUDAH THE VINE. The figure changes, as in Genesis 49:8, from lion to vine, and the king whose destiny is foreshadowed is this time Zedekiah. Judah is described as a fruitful vine, one of whose mighty branches (Zedekiah) became a royal sceptre (Ezekiel 19:11). But the vine was violently uprooted, hurled to the ground, withered by the fury of the scorching east wind a plain allusion to the destruction of Judah by Babylon. It is to be noted, however, that the fire which consumed her issued from one of her own branches a pointed allusion to the treachery of Zedekiah, at which Ezekiel has already expressed his horror (Ezekiel 17:19). Thus no more than his predecessors will Zedekiah save the state: he and it will perish.

The fate of Zedekiah and his country, on which he has brought ruin Israel was once a spreading vine by great waters; her branches rose into the clouds, and her rods were rulers" sceptres a powerful race of kings rose out of her. Now she is torn up and thrown down, carried into the wilderness, and planted in a dry and barren soil. A fire also has gone out from one of her strong rods which has consumed her. Her last prince, Zedekiah, has finally broken the state to pieces (cf. ch. 17)....

AND SHE HAD STRONG RODS— Zedekiah had many sons, who were like branches coming forth from the tree whereof the prophet speaks here. This vine exalted and flattered herself with the multitude of her branches; Zedekiah forgot God, and imitated the crimes of Jehoiachim, whom the Scripture reproaches with pride, ambition, cruelty, and injustice. See Jeremiah 22:13; Jeremiah 22:30. In several countries they join the vines to trees, about which they wind themselves, and run very high. See Michaelis....