XIX. This chapter forms the close of this long series of prophecies, and consists of a lament over the fall of the royal family of Israel and over the utter desolation of the nation itself. It fitly closes the series of warnings, and takes away any lingering hope of escape from the Divine judgments... [ Continue Reading ]
THY MOTHER. — Mother stands for the whole national community — the theocracy, as is plain from Ezekiel 19:10. This was represented, since the captivity of the ten tribes, by Judah; and her “princes,” of the line of David, were the legitimate kings of the whole nation. The figure of the lion is a com... [ Continue Reading ]
IT BECAME A YOUNG LION. — There can be no doubt (see Ezekiel 19:4) of the reference of this to Jehoahaz. After the death of Josiah, “the people of the land took Jehoahaz, the son of Josiah... and made him king” (2 Kings 23:30). In Ezekiel 19:6 Jehoiachin is also spoken of particularly. These two are... [ Continue Reading ]
BROUGHT HIM WITH CHAINS UNTO THE LAND OF EGYPT. — Jehoahaz was conquered by Pharaohnecho, deposed, and carried captive (2 Kings 23:33; 2 Chronicles 36:4). “Chains” is literally _nose-rings,_ keeping up the figure of the lion. In the first part of the verse also there is allusion to the custom of ass... [ Continue Reading ]
ANOTHER OF HER WHELPS. — After the three months’ reign of Jehoahaz, his brother Jehoiakim was appointed king by Pharaoh (2 Kings 23:34). He was conquered and “bound in fetters” by Nebuchadnezzar, with the intention of carrying him to Babylon (2 Chronicles 36:7): he died, however, in disgrace in Jeru... [ Continue Reading ]
KNEW THEIR DESOLATE PALACES. — This verse continues to describe the abominations of Jehoiachin’s ways. The word “desolate palaces,” although defended by some authorities, should be rendered, as in the margin, _widows._ The mention of the king’s violation of these is an unavoidable departure from the... [ Continue Reading ]
THE NATIONS. — As in Ezekiel 19:4, for one nation: in that case Egypt, in this Babylon. The plural is naturally used, as several nations were concerned in the whole history, of which single particulars only are here mentioned.... [ Continue Reading ]
BROUGHT HIM TO THE KING OF BABYLON. — 2 Kings 24:8. Jehoiachin reigned only three months when Jerusalem was conquered by Nebuchadnezzar. He “went out to the king of Babylon,” but only because he could not help doing so, and was carried to Babylon and put in prison, where he was still living at the t... [ Continue Reading ]
A VINE IN THY BLOOD. — The figure here changes to the more common one of a vine, yet by no means the “vine of low stature” of Ezekiel 17:6; it is rather a _strong and goodly vine._ The phrase “in thy blood” is obscure, and has occasioned much perplexity to the commentators. Some of the ancient versi... [ Continue Reading ]
THICK BRANCHES should rather be translated _clouds._ It is a hyperbolical expression in the figure, to express the excellence of the vine of Israel.... [ Continue Reading ]
SHE WAS PLUCKED UP. — With the captivity of Jehoiachin and a part of the people the desolation had begun. Much still remained to be accomplished, but it was now close at hand; and the prophet speaks of it in the past tense, as if he saw it already fulfilled.... [ Continue Reading ]
IN A DRY AND THIRSTY GROUND. — Such was Babylon to Israel in its national relations, and even after the return from the exile the Jews never rose again to much importance among the nations of the earth; but meantime they were being disciplined, that at least a few of them might be prepared for the p... [ Continue Reading ]
FIRE IS GONE OUT OF A ROD OF HER BRANCHES. — The rods, as shown in Ezekiel 19:11, are the royal sceptres of her kings. It was by the sin and folly of these kings, together with the sins and follies of the whole people, that judgment was drawn down upon them. Many of them did their full share of the... [ Continue Reading ]