INTRODUCTION TO EZEKIEL 19 The subject matter of this chapter is a lamentation for the princes and people of the Jews, on account of what had already befallen them, and what was yet to come, Ezekiel 19:1. The mother of the princes is compared to a lioness, and they to lions; who, one after another,... [ Continue Reading ]
MOREOVER, TAKE THOU UP A LAMENTATION,.... These words are directed to the Prophet Ezekiel, to compose a doleful ditty, a mournful song, such as was used at funerals; and by it represent the lamentable state of the nation of the Jews and their governors, in order to affect them with it, with what was... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SAY, WHAT [IS] THY MOTHER?.... That is, say so to the then reigning prince, Zedekiah, what is thy mother like? to what is she to be compared? by whom is meant, not the royal family of David only, or Jerusalem the metropolis of the nation, but the whole body of the people; and so the Targum inter... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SHE BROUGHT UP ONE OF HER WHELPS,.... Or sons, as the Targum: or, "made him to ascend" t, as the word signifies; to mount the throne; this was Jehoahaz, whom the people of the land took and anointed him, and made him king in the stead of Josiah his father, 2 Kings 23:30; IT BECOME A YOUNG LION... [ Continue Reading ]
THE NATIONS ALSO HEARD OF HIM,.... The neighbouring nations, particularly the Egyptians; the fame of his behaviour reached them; they were informed how he used his own subjects, and what designs he had formed, and what preparations he was making against his neighbours; wherefore they thought it prop... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW WHEN SHE SAW,.... That is, his mother, as the Syriac version expresses it; not his natural mother; as the mother of Sisera looked out and waited for him; but the congregation of Israel, as Jarchi interprets it, the body of the Jewish people: THAT SHE HAD WAITED; for the return of Jehoahaz out o... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE WENT UP AND DOWN AMONG THE LIONS,.... The kings, as the Targum; kings of neighbouring nations, as Pharaoh king of Egypt, and Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and sometimes he was subject to the one, and sometimes to the offer: and his going up and down among them may denote his continuance as... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE KNEW THEIR DESOLATE PALACES,.... He took notice of the palaces or seats of the richest men of the nation, and pillaged them of their treasure and wealth, and so they became desolate: it may be rendered, he "knew their widows" x: or, "his own widows"; whom he made so; he slew the men to get th... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN THE NATIONS SET AGAINST HIM,.... Or, "gave against him" y; that is, their voice, as Kimchi; they called to one another, to gather together against him; they gave their counsel against him; they, joined together, agreed, and combined against him, and disposed their armies, and set them in array... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY PUT HIM IN WARD IN CHAINS,.... Or "in an enclosure"; or "in a collar with hooks" b; put a collar of iron, as is said, about his neck, which had hooks in it, and to those hooks chains were put, in which he was led a prisoner; and it is certain that he was bound in fetters, in order to be car... [ Continue Reading ]
THY MOTHER [IS] LIKE A VINE IN THY BLOOD,.... Another simile is here made use of, relating to the same persons; the same that were compared to a lioness are here compared to a vine, as the people of the Jews frequently are, Psalms 80:8; the same person is here addressed, the then reigning prince, Ze... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SHE HAD STRONG RODS FOR THE SCEPTRES OF THEM THAT BEAR RULE,.... That is, many sprung from her, and rose up in that nation who were fit to hold sceptres to be kings, rulers and governors, and were such. So the Targum. "and there were in her strong rulers, kings that were, highly to subdue kingd... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT SHE WAS PLUCKED UP IN FURY,.... This vine being turned into a degenerate plant of a strange vine; or the people of the Jews becoming wicked, disobedient to God, and disregarding his laws and ordinances, the wrath of God came upon them, and let in the Assyrians among them, who carried off ten tri... [ Continue Reading ]
AND NOW SHE [IS] PLANTED IN THE WILDERNESS,.... In the land of Babylon, which though a very fruitful country, yet, because of the hardships and miseries which the Jews were exposed unto in it, was a wilderness to them: IN A DRY AND THIRSTY GROUND; which is a periphrasis or description of a wilderne... [ Continue Reading ]
AND FIRE IS GONE OUT OF A ROD OF HER BRANCHES,.... By "her branches" are meant the rest of the Jews left in the land; and by the "rod" of them King Zedekiah, now on the throne, when this prophecy was given out; the "fire" said to go out of him signifies his rebellion against the king of Babylon, his... [ Continue Reading ]