EZEKIEL CHAPTER 17 Under the parable of two eagles and a vine, EZEKIEL 17:1, is showed God's judgment upon Zedekiah, for revolting from Babylon to Egypt, EZEKIEL 17:11. A promise of Christ's kingdom, EZEKIEL 17:22. No text from Poole on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
These two verses are preface to what follows in the chapter. A RIDDLE; a dark saying, which calls for thorough consideration to understand and apply it, because the meaning is different to the sound of the words. A PARABLE; the same thing redoubled in different words. And it is likely the prophet is... [ Continue Reading ]
A GREAT EAGLE; Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, as EZEKIEL 17:12, compared to a great eagle, king of birds, swift, strong, rapacious, and of a lofty flight. WITH GREAT WINGS; mighty provinces on each side of his kingdom. LONG-WINGED; his kingdom was vastly extended, as DANIEL 3:3, DANIEL 4:1; the gr... [ Continue Reading ]
CROPPED OFF; as a gardener that crops off the goodliest scions, and carrieth them away to graft on some other stock. The top; both the king of Judah, now eighteen years old, and the nobles and chief of the land. INTO A LAND OF TRAFFIC; into Babylon, which was a city of mighty trade, explained timber... [ Continue Reading ]
TOOK; chose out one to be king instead of Jehoiachin. OF THE SEED OF THE LAND; a native, and, which is more, one of the royal family, Mattaniah, whom he called Zedekiah. PLANTED IT; settled him on the throne of Judah. A FRUITFUL FIELD; a field fit for such a design, in the land of Judea. The prophet... [ Continue Reading ]
IT GREW; both the king and kingdom. BECAME A SPREADING VINE; took root, grew up to a tolerable condition of riches, plenty, and prosperity. OF LOW STATURE; but never reached the height of the cedar. Nebuchadnezzar, though he made Zedekiah king, yet kept him subject and dependent. TURNED; they grew a... [ Continue Reading ]
This is the second part of the parable. ANOTHER GREAT EAGLE, i.e. the king of Egypt, whether Apries, or Hophra, or what other was his name we need not curiously inquire, it was king of Egypt, EZEKIEL 17:15. GREAT WINGS: see EZEKIEL 17:3. THIS VINE; Zedekiah, his nobles and people. DID BEND HER ROOTS... [ Continue Reading ]
IT WAS PLANTED by Nebuchadnezzar, in a very hopeful condition, where it might have thrived, been fruitful, and flourished. But they, both king and people, were unthankful, and discontented, and by sinful courses sought to better themselves; they had no great or just cause to complain of Nebuchadnezz... [ Continue Reading ]
SAY THOU; tell them what will be the issue of all this, and tell it to them in my name. SHALL IT PROSPER? this vine, shall Zedekiah aud his people thrive by this? it is a question that must be resolved negatively, and with vehemency. SHALL HE, Nebuchadnezzar, not pull up, utterly overthrow this king... [ Continue Reading ]
Nay, suppose this contrivance were successful, suppose this vine were planted by the help of Egypt, could it possibly prosper? No, no. WHEN THE EAST WIND; when the king of Babylon, which like the blasting wind conms from the north-east, shall but touch it, it will utterly wither. IN THE FURROWS; eve... [ Continue Reading ]
No text from Poole on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
SAY NOW: this is the order God gives to his prophet to explain the riddle. TO THE REBELLIOUS HOUSE; to the house of Judah, which have been, and still are, rebellious against me, and are now entering into rebellion against Nebuchadnezzar. KNOW YE NOT? are ye so blockish that you do not know what is m... [ Continue Reading ]
HATH TAKEN OF THE KING'S SEED; first taken Jehoiachin and his princes captives, and next taken out from amidst the royal seed Mattaniah, and advanced him to the throne in Jerusalem. MADE A COVENANT WITH HIM, by solemn agreement, and on terms approved and accepted by Mattaniah, for performance of whi... [ Continue Reading ]
So plainly and openly did Nebuchadnezzar deal with the Jews. THE KINGDOM; the tributary kingdom, whereof Zedekiah is roitelet. BASE; low in power. LIFT ITSELF UP; rise up into rebellion, or be so considerable as to encourage any neighbour king to assist and confederate with them against Babylon. THA... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT ZEDEKIAH REBELLED; endeavoured to cast off the dominion of the conqueror Nebuchadnezzar, who had advanced him and obliged him. SENDING HIS AMBASSADORS is called bending his roots toward the second eagle. EGYPT; an old bitter enemy, and an impotent and false friend. THAT THEY MIGHT GIVE HIM HORSE... [ Continue Reading ]
As sure as I am God, and live, I will punish this perjury: and here is a particular account of the punishment. IN THE PLACE; Babylon. The king; Nebuchadnezzar. MADE HIM KING; Zedekiah. WHOSE OATH; the oath Nebuchadnezzar imposed. HE DESPISED; contemptuously, without any just cause given; and therefo... [ Continue Reading ]
Let his army be made up of ever so many well-disciplined soldiers, if as many as the Egyptian can vainly promise, or the Jews more vainly hope. Great company possibly may refer to the multitudes which usually attended the march of armies, or else it is a doubling the thing in doubled words. MAKE FOR... [ Continue Reading ]
This verse gives us the reason of this unhappy enterprise, which is summed up in wilful, presumptuous, and most unparalleled perjury. Zedekiah HAD GIVEN HIS HAND; a solemn confirming of the oath, or covenant, and it implies the voluntary act of Zedekiah in swearing, which makes the perjury so much t... [ Continue Reading ]
AS I LIVE: see EZEKIEL 16:48. MINE OATH; made in my name, and of which I am both witness and avenger. HATH DESPISED: see EZEKIEL 16:59, EZEKIEL 17:18. I WILL RECOMPENSE; I will punish, as it deserveth, and it shall appear by the punishment that my hand doth execute it. UPON HIS OWN HEAD; it is proba... [ Continue Reading ]
See EZEKIEL 12:13, where the former part of this verse is word for word. _Plead with him_; or, be judged with him, i.e. the heathen shall both see what I do against this man, they shall consider why I do so, and be judge whether I do more than this perjured king deserves; or, I will punish him with... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL HIS FUGITIVES; not strictly, but in large sense: all, i.e. the greatest part, as. JEREMIAH 13:19, JEREMIAH 44:22 MATTHEW 2:3; MATTHEW 2:5, of those who, at the taking of Jerusalem, attempt to flee with their king. HIS BANDS; his guards, probably of stoutest men, reserved to convey him in safety... [ Continue Reading ]
Whereas the judgments threatened might seem to threaten the utter extirpation of the seed of David, now the Lord is pleased to assure its continuance, and the raising of the Messiah from that house according to promise. Nebuchadnezzar took and planted, and I will also take and plant, saith the Lord,... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE MOUNTAIN; either the church or Jerusalem, whence the law of Christ was to be published, and where the preachers of the gospel were to continue till furnished with abilities for that work. Like a tree that taketh root, and spreadeth forth into branches, so the kingdom of Christ should grow, an... [ Continue Reading ]
THE TREES OF THE FIELD; the great ones on earth, all considering persons. SHALL KNOW; see and confess. THE HIGH TREE; Zedekiah, that would neither hearken to me, my prophets, or to Nebuchadnezzar; or the kingdom of Babylon, which was brought low indeed, when overthrown by Darius and Cyrus. THE LOW T... [ Continue Reading ]