CHAPTER XVII _This chapter begins with a new allegory or parable_, 1-10; _to which an explanation is immediately subjoined_, 11-21. _In the remaining verses the prophet, by a beautiful metaphor,_ _makes an easy and natural transition to the Messiah, and_ _predicts the security, increasing prosp... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 17:2. _SON OF MAN, PUT FORTH A RIDDLE_] Riddle, [Anglo-Saxon] or [A.S.], Anglo-Saxon, from [A.S.] to _divine_; a thing that must be curiously _investigated_ and _sifted_, to find out the meaning; and hence, _riddle_, a sort of coarse sieve to clean corn, to separate coarse chaff and st... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 17:3. _A GREAT EAGLE_] Nebuchadnezzar. See Jeremiah 48:40; Jeremiah 49:22; Daniel 7:4. And see here, Ezekiel 17:12, where it is so applied. _GREAT WINGS_] Extensive empire. _LONG-WINGED_] Rapid in his conquests. _FULL OF FEATHERS_] Having multitudes of subjects. _DIVERS COLOURS_] P... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 17:4. _THE TOP OF HIS YOUNG TWIGS_] The princes of Judah. _A LAND OF TRAFFIC_] Chaldea. _A CITY OF MERCHANTS_] Babylon; for which this city was the most celebrated of all the cities of the east. Its situation procured it innumerable advantages; its two rivers, the _Tigris_ and _Euphr... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 17:5. _THE SEED OF THE LAND_] Zedekiah, brother of Jehoiachin. _PLANTED IT IN A FRUITFUL FIELD_] Made him king of Judea in place of his brother. _PLACED_ IT _BY GREAT WATERS_] Put him under the protection of Babylon, situated on the confluence of the _Tigris_ and _Euphrates_. And _S... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 17:6. _A SPREADING VINE OF LOW STATURE_] The Jewish state having then no height of dominion, it must abide under the wings or branches of the Chaldean king. _WHOSE BRANCHES TURNED TOWARD HIM, AND THE ROOTS - UNDER HIM_] Zedekiah was wholly dependent on Nebuchadnezzar, both for his ele... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 17:7. _ANOTHER GREAT EAGLE_] Pharaoh-hophra, or Apries, king of Egypt. _WITH GREAT WINGS_] Extensive dominion. _AND MANY FEATHERS_] Numerous subjects. _DID BEND HER ROOTS_] Looked to him for support in her intended rebellion against Nebuchadnezzar.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 17:8. _IT WAS PLANTED IN A GOOD SOIL_] Though he depended on Babylon, he lived and reigned as Nebuchadnezzar's vicegerent in the land of Judea.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 17:9. _SHALL IT PROSPER?_] Shall Zedekiah succeed in casting off the yoke of the king of Babylon, to whom he had _sworn_ fealty? _SHALL HE NOT PULL UP THE ROOTS_] Nebuchadnezzar will come and dethrone him. _AND CUT OFF THE FRUIT_] The children of Zedekiah. _THE LEAVES_] All the nobl... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 17:10. _SHALL - UTTERLY WHITHER_] The _regal_ government shall be no more restored. Zedekiah shall be the _last king_, and the monarchy shall finally terminate with him.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 17:12. _KNOW YE NOT WHAT THESE THINGS_ MEAN?] They are explained in this and the following verses.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 17:14. _THAT THE KINGDOM MIGHT BE BASE_] Have no political _consequence_, and at last sink into a _miserable government_ under Gedaliah.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 17:15. _SENDING HIS AMBASSADORS INTO EGYPT_] Zedekiah must have sent his ambassadors into Egypt, between the _sixth_ month of his _sixth_ year, and the _fifth_ month of his _seventh_ year. Compare Ezekiel 8:1, with Ezekiel 20:1.-See _Newcome_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 17:16. _IN THE MIDST OF BABYLON HE SHALL DIE._] His eyes were put out; he was carried to Babylon, and never returned.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 17:18. _SEEING HE DESPISED THE OATH_] This God particularly resents. He had bound himself by oath, in the presence of Jehovah, to be faithful to the covenant that he made with Nebuchadnezzar, and he took the first opportunity to break it; therefore he shall not escape.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 17:20. _I WILL SPREAD MY NET UPON HIM_] Ezekiel 12:13.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 17:21. _ALL HIS FUGITIVES_] All who attempted to escape with him, and all that ran to Egypt, c., shall fall by the sword.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 17:22. _I WILL ALSO TAKE OF THE HIGHEST BRANCH OF THE HIGH_ _CEDAR_] I will raise up _another monarchy_, which shall come in the _line of David_, namely, the _Messiah_; who shall appear as a _tender_ _plant_, as to his incarnation; but he shall be _high_ and _eminent_; his Church, the... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 17:23. _IN THE MOUNTAIN OF THE HEIGHT OF ISRAEL_] He shall make his appearance at the _temple_, and found his Church at _Jerusalem_. _SHALL BRING FORTH BOUGHS_] Apostles, evangelists, and their successors in the Gospel ministry. _AND BEAR FRUIT_] Multitudes of souls shall be converte... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 17:24. _ALL THE TREES OF THE FIELD SHALL KNOW_] All the people of Israel and of Chaldea. _I THE LORD HAVE BROUGHT DOWN THE HIGH TREE_] Have dethroned Jehoiachin. _HAVE EXALTED THE LOW TREE_] Put Zedekiah, brother of Jehoiachin, in his place. _HAVE DRIED UP THE GREEN TREE_] Zedekiah,... [ Continue Reading ]