Ezekiel 19:14

And fire is gone out of a rod of her branches, which hath devoured her fruit, so that she hath no strong rod to be a sceptre to rule. This is a lamentation, and shall be for a lamentation. FIRE IS GONE OUT OF A ROD OF HER BRANCHES. The Jews' disaster was to be ascribed, not so much to the Chaldeans as to themselves; the "fire out of the rod" is God's wrath kindled by the perjury of Zedekiah ( ), who is meant by the "rod of her branches." "The anger of the Lord" against Judah is specified as the cause why Zedekiah was permitted to rebel against Babylon (; cf. ), thus bringing Nebuchadnezzar against Jerusalem. SO THAT SHE HATH NO STRONG ROD TO BE A SCEPTRE TO RULE - no more kings of David...

Here the Prophet comes down to the close of their woes, when Zedekiah was dragged into captivity, and so the people’s independence was abolished. God had formerly planted that vine, or at least some of the branches, in a desert spot, since first four tribes, and afterwards seven, were led away, and last of all, the greater part of the tribe of Judea; but the little that remained with King Zedekiah perished. He says, therefore, _that the fire went forth from the vine branches: _thus he shows that the last slaughter proceeded only from the people themselves; and lest they should utter their accustomed complaints, the Prophet meets them by saying that they were consumed by intestine fire; that is, their slaughter could not be ascribed to their Chaldaean conquerors, but to themselves; because King Zedekiah, by his own perfidy, had stirred up the king of Babylon against himself; for he might...

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 19:14. _FIRE IS GONE OUT_] A vindictive and murderous disposition has taken hold- _OF A ROD OF HER BRANCHES_] Ishmael, son of Nethaniah, who was of the blood-royal of Judah- _HATH DEVOURED HER FRUIT_] Hath assassinated _Gedaliah_, slain many people, and carried off others into the country of the Ammonites. But he was pursued by Jonathan, the son of Kareah, who slew many of his adherents, and delivered much of the people. _SHE HATH NO STRONG ROD_] None of the blood-royal of Judah left. And from that time not one of her own royal race ever sat upon the throne of Israel. _THIS_ IS _A LAMENTATION_] This is a most lamentable business. _AND SHALL BE FOR A LAMENTATION._] These predictions shall be so punctually

FIRE IS GONE OUT - Compare the marginal reference. Zedekiah is regarded, like Abimelech, as all usurper and the ruin of his people....

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 FIRE IS GONE OUT OF A ROD OF HER BRANCHES,.... By "her branches" are meant the rest of the Jews left in the land; and by the "rod" of them King Zedekiah, now on the throne, when this prophecy was given out; the "fire" said to go out of him signifies his rebellion against the king of Babylon, his breaking covenant and oath with him, which greatly provoked the Lord, and brought down the fire of his wrath upon him, 2 Kings 24:20; [WHICH] HATH DEVOURED HER FRUIT; destroyed the people by sword, famine pestilence, and captivity; yea, the city and temple of Jerusalem, with the palaces and houses therein, were burnt with material fire; their king was taken, and his eyes put out; his sons were slain, and all the princes of Judah: SO THAT SHE HATH NO STRONG ROD [TO BE] A SCEPTRE TO RULE; none to be king, or succeed in the kingdom; and there never was a kin

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.

OF. ROD: or, of the rod: i.e. Zedekiah, who byhis perjury brought about the destruction of Jerusalem by fire,...

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)....