Ezekiel 19:1-14

EZEKIEL—NOTE ON Ezekiel 19:1 Ezekiel presents two further political allegories (vv. Ezekiel 19:1 and vv. Ezekiel 19:10). The whole is presented as a lamentation (v. Ezekiel 19:1), a distinctive form of Hebrew poetry. Both allegories refer to a mother (vv. Ezekiel 19:2, Ezekiel 19:10). One cannot be certain whether a literal queen mother is in view (then most likely Hamutal; 2 Kings 23:31; 2 Kings 24:18), or whether this is a symbolic reference to the nation of Judah (compare Genesis 49:9 and “mother” of Babylon as a nation, Jeremiah 50:12). The first cub (Ezekiel 19:3) applies most closely to Jehoahaz, who was taken captive to Egypt by Pharaoh Neco (2 Kings 23:31). The second cub’s identity in Ezekiel 19:5 is much more problematic. Jehoiachin is most likely (2 Kings 24:12).