CHAPTER XIX _This chapter contains two beautiful examples of the parabolic_ _kind of writing; the one lamenting the sad catastrophe of_ _Jehoahaz and Jehoiakim_, 1-9, _and the other describing the desolation and captivity of the_ _whole people_, 10-14. _In the first parable, the lioness is Jer... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 19:2. _WHAT_ IS _THY MOTHER? A LIONESS_] _Judea_ may here be the _mother_; the _lioness_, Jerusalem. _Her lying down among lions_, her having confederacy with the neighbouring _kings_; for _lion_ here means _king_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 19:3. _SHE BROUGHT UP ONE OF HER WHELPS_] _Jehoahaz_, son of Josiah, whose father was conquered and slain by Pharaoh-necho, king of Egypt. _IT LEARNED TO CATCH THE PREY_] His reign was a reign of oppression and cruelty. He made his _subjects_ his _prey_, and devoured their _substance_... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 19:4. _THE NATIONS ALSO HEARD OF HIM_] The king of Egypt, whose subjects were of divers nations, marched against Jerusalem, took _Jehoahaz_ prisoner, and brought him to Egypt. Thus - _HE WAS TAKEN IN THEIR PIT_] Here is an allusion to those _trap-pits_ digged in forests, into which th... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 19:5. _WHEN SHE SAW THAT SHE HAD WAITED_] Being very weak, the Jews found that they could not resist with any _hope_ of success; so the king of Egypt was permitted to do as he pleased. _SHE TOOK ANOTHER OF HER WHELPS_] Jehoiakim. _AND MADE HIM A YOUNG LION._] King of Judea.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 19:6. _AND HE WENT UP AND DOWN AMONG THE LIONS_] He became a perfect heathen, and made Judea as idolatrous as any of the surrounding nations. He reigned _eleven_ years, a monster of iniquity, 2 Kings 23:30, c.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 19:8. _THE NATIONS SET AGAINST HIM_] The Chaldeans, Syrians, Moabites, and Ammonites, and the king of Babylon - king of many nations. _HE WAS TAKEN_] The city was taken by Nebuchadnezzar; and Jehoiakim was taken prisoner, and sent in _chains_ to _Babylon_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 19:9. _THAT HIS VOICE SHOULD NO MORE BE HEARD_] He continued in prison many years, till the reign of Evil-merodach, who set him at liberty, but never suffered him to return to the _mountains of_ _Israel_. "The unhappy fate of these princes, mentioned Ezekiel 19:4; Ezekiel 19:8 Ezekiel... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 19:10. _THY MOTHER_ (Jerusalem) IS _LIKE A VINE IN THY BLOOD_] Of this expression I know not what to make. Some think the meaning is "A vine planted by the waters to produce the _blood of the grape_." See Deuteronomy 32:14. Others, for בדמך _bedamecha, in thy blood_, would read ברמון... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 19:11. _SHE HAD STRONG RODS_] _Zedekiah_, and his many _sons_. _HER STATURE WAS EXALTED_] Zedekiah grew _proud_ of his numerous offspring and prosperity; and although he copied the example of _Jehoiakim_, yet he thought he might safely rebel against the king of Babylon.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 19:12. _BUT SHE WAS PLUCKED UP IN FURY_] Jerusalem; taken after a violent and most destructive siege; Nebuchadnezzar being violently _enraged_ against Zedekiah for breaking his oath to him. _SHE WAS CAST DOWN TO THE GROUND_] Jerusalem was totally ruined, by being burned to the ground.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 19:13. _AND NOW SHE_ IS _PLANTED IN THE WILDERNESS_] In the land of _Chaldea_, whither the people have been carried captives; and which, compared with their own land, was to them a _dreary_ _wilderness_.... [ Continue Reading ]
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 co... [ Continue Reading ]