---
title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  Ezekiel 17"
description: "CHAPTER 17   :-. PARABLE OF THE
TWO GREAT
EAGLES, AND THE CROPPING
OF THE CEDAR OF
LEBANON. JUDAH
IS TO BE
JUDGED FOR REVOLTING
FROM BABYLON, WHICH
HAD SE"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/ezekiel/17"
---

CHAPTER 17

. PARABLE OF THE
TWO GREAT
EAGLES, AND THE CROPPING
OF THE CEDAR OF
LEBANON. JUDAH
IS TO BE
JUDGED FOR REVOLTING
FROM BABYLON, WHICH
HAD SET
UP ZEDEKIAH
INSTEAD OF JEHOIACHIN, TO
EGYPT; GOD
HIMSELF, AS THE RIVAL
OF THE BABYLONIAN
KING, IS
TO PLANT THE GOSPEL
CEDAR OF MESSIAH.
The date of the prophecy is
between the sixth month of Zedekiah's sixth year of reign and the
fifth month of the seventh year after the carrying away of
Jehoiachin, that is, five years before the destruction of Jerusalem
[HENDERSON].

**2. riddle**—a continued
allegory, expressed enigmatically, requiring more than common acumen
and serious thought. The *Hebrew* is derived from a root,
"sharp," that is, calculated to stimulate attention and
whet the intellect. Distinct from "fable," in that it
teaches not fiction, but fact. Not like the ordinary riddle, designed
to puzzle, but to instruct. The "riddle" is here identical
with the "parable," only that the former refers to the
obscurity, the latter to the likeness of the figure to the thing
compared.

**3. eagle**—the king of birds.
The literal *Hebrew* is, "*the* great eagle." The
symbol of the Assyrian supreme god, *Nisroch;* so applied to
"the great king" of Babylon, his vicegerent on earth
([Jeremiah 48:40](../../../kjv/jeremiah/48/40); [Jeremiah 49:22](../../../kjv/jeremiah/49/22)).
His "wings" are his great forces. Such symbols were
familiar to the Jews, who saw them portrayed on the great buildings
of Babylon; such as are now seen in the Assyrian remains.
**long-winged**—implying
the wide extent of his empire.
**full of feathers**—when
they have been renewed after moulting; and so in the full freshness
of renovated youth ([Psalms 103:5](../../../kjv/psalms/103/5);
[Isaiah 40:31](../../../kjv/isaiah/40/31)). Answering to the many
peoples which, as tributaries, constituted the strength of Babylon.
**divers colours**—the
golden eagle, marked with star-like spots, supposed to be the largest
of eagles [BOCHART].
Answering to the variety of languages, habits, and costumes of the
peoples subject to Babylon.
**came unto Lebanon**—continuing
the metaphor: as the eagle frequents mountains, not cities. The
temple at Jerusalem was called "Lebanon" by the Jews
[EUSEBIUS], because its
woodwork was wholly of cedars of Lebanon. "The mountain of the
Lord's house" ([Isaiah 2:2](../../../kjv/isaiah/2/2)).
*Jerusalem,* however, is chiefly meant, the chief seat of civil
honor, as Lebanon was of external elevation.
**took the highest branch**—King
Jeconiah, then but eighteen years old, and many of the chiefs and
people with him ([2 Kings 24:8](../../../kjv/2-kings/24/8);
[2 Kings 24:12-16](../../../kjv/2-kings/24/12-16)). The *Hebrew*
for "highest branch" is, properly, the *fleece-like tuft*
at the top of the tree. (So in [2 Kings 24:12-12](../../../kjv/2-kings/24/12-12)). The cedar, as a tall tree, is the symbol of kingly
elevation (compare [2 Kings 24:12-12](../../../kjv/2-kings/24/12-12)).

**4. land of traffic . . .
merchants**—Babylon ([2 Kings 24:15](../../../kjv/2-kings/24/15);
[2 Kings 24:16](../../../kjv/2-kings/24/16)), famous for its
transport traffic on the Tigris and Euphrates. Also, by its
connection with the Persian Gulf, it carried on much commerce with
India.

**5. seed of the land**—not a
foreign production, but one native in the region; a son of the soil,
not a foreigner: Zedekiah, uncle of Jehoiachin, of David's family.
**in a fruitful
field**—literally, a "field of seed"; that is, fit for
propagating and continuing the seed of the royal family.
**as a willow**—derived
from a *Hebrew* root, "to overflow," from its fondness
for water ([Isaiah 44:4](../../../kjv/isaiah/44/4)). Judea was
"a land of brooks of *water* and fountains" ([Isaiah 44:4](../../../kjv/isaiah/44/4); compare [John 3:23](../../../kjv/john/3/23)).

**6. vine of low stature**—not
now, as before, a stately "cedar"; the kingdom of Judah was
to be prosperous, but not elevated.
**branches turned toward
him**—expressing the fealty of Zedekiah as a vassal looking up to
Nebuchadnezzar, to whom Judah owed its peace and very existence as a
separate state. The "branches" mean his sons and the other
princes and nobles.
**The roots . . . under him**—The
stability of Judah depended on Babylon. The repetition "branches"
and "springs" is in order to mark the ingratitude of
Zedekiah, who, not content with moderate prosperity, revolted from
him to whom he had sworn allegiance.

**7. another . . . eagle**—the
king of Egypt ([Ezekiel 17:15](../../../kjv/ezekiel/17/15)). The
"long-winged" of [Ezekiel 17:3](../../../kjv/ezekiel/17/3)
is omitted, as Egypt had not such a wide empire and large armies as
Babylon.
**vine . . . bend . . . roots
towards him**—literally, "thirsted after him with its
roots"; expressing the longings after Egypt in the Jewish heart.
Zedekiah sought the alliance of Egypt, as though by it he could throw
off his dependence on Babylon ([2 Kings 24:7](../../../kjv/2-kings/24/7);
[2 Kings 24:20](../../../kjv/2-kings/24/20); [2 Chronicles 36:13](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/36/13);
[Jeremiah 37:5](../../../kjv/jeremiah/37/5); [Jeremiah 37:7](../../../kjv/jeremiah/37/7)).
**water it by . . . furrows of
. . . plantation**—that is, *in* the garden beds (Judea)
wherein (the vine) it was planted. Rather, "*by*" or
"*out of* the furrows." It refers to the waters of
Egypt, the Nile being made to water the fields by means of small
canals or "furrows"; these waters are the figure of the
auxiliary forces wherewith Egypt tried to help Judah. See the same
figure, [Isaiah 8:7](../../../kjv/isaiah/8/7). But see on [Isaiah 8:7](../../../kjv/isaiah/8/7), "furrows *where it grew.*"

**8. It was planted in a good soil**—It
was not want of the necessaries of life, nor oppression on the port
of Nebuchadnezzar, which caused Zedekiah to revolt: it was gratuitous
ambition, pride, and ingratitude.

**9. Shall it prosper?**—Could it
be that gratuitous treason should prosper? God will not allow it.
"It," that is, the vine.
**he . . . pull up**—that
is, the first eagle, or Nebuchadnezzar.
**in all . . . leaves of her
spring**—that is, all its springing (sprouting) leaves.
**without great power or
many**—It shall not need all the forces of Babylon to destroy it;
a small division of the army will suffice because God will deliver it
into Nebuchadnezzar's hand ().

**10. being planted**—that is,
"*though* planted."
**east wind**—The east wind
was noxious to vegetation in Palestine; a fit emblem of Babylon,
which came from the northeast.
**wither in . . . furrows where
it grew**—Zedekiah was taken at Jericho, on Jewish soil (). "It shall wither, although it has furrows from which
it expects continual waterings" [CALVIN],
([Ezekiel 19:12](../../../kjv/ezekiel/19/12); [Hosea 13:15](../../../kjv/hosea/13/15)).

**12. Know ye not**—He upbraided
them with moral, leading to intellectual, stupidity.
**hath taken the king**—Jeconiah
or Jehoiachin ([2 Kings 24:11](../../../kjv/2-kings/24/11);
[2 Kings 24:12-16](../../../kjv/2-kings/24/12-16)).

**13. the king's seed**—Zedekiah,
Jeconiah's uncle.
**taken . . . oath of
him**—swearing fealty as a vassal to Nebuchadnezzar ().
**also taken the mighty**—as
hostages for the fulfilment of the covenant; whom, therefore,
Zedekiah exposed to death by his treason.

**14. That the kingdom might be
base**—that is, low as to national elevation by being
Nebuchadnezzar's dependent; but, at the same time, safe and
prosperous, if faithful to the "oath." Nebuchadnezzar dealt
sincerely and openly in proposing conditions, and these moderate
ones; therefore Zedekiah's treachery was the baser and was a
counterpart to their treachery towards God.

**15. he rebelled**—God permitted
this because of His wrath against Jerusalem ().
**horses**—in which Egypt
abounded and which were forbidden to Israel to seek from Egypt, or
indeed to "multiply" at all ([Deuteronomy 17:16](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/17/16);
[Isaiah 31:1](../../../kjv/isaiah/31/1); [Isaiah 31:3](../../../kjv/isaiah/31/3);
compare [Isaiah 36:9](../../../kjv/isaiah/36/9)). DIODORUS
SICULUS [1.45] says that
the whole region from Thebes to Memphis was filled with royal stalls,
so that twenty thousand chariots with two horses in each could be
furnished for war.
**Shall he prosper?**—The
third time this question is asked, with an indignant denial
understood ([Ezekiel 17:9](../../../kjv/ezekiel/17/9); [Ezekiel 17:10](../../../kjv/ezekiel/17/10)).
Even the heathen believed that breakers of an oath would not "escape"
punishment.

**16. in the place where the king
dwelleth**—righteous retribution. He brought on himself in the
worst form the evil which, in a mild form, he had sought to deliver
himself from by perjured treachery, namely, vassalage ([Ezekiel 12:13](../../../kjv/ezekiel/12/13);
[Jeremiah 32:5](../../../kjv/jeremiah/32/5); [Jeremiah 34:3](../../../kjv/jeremiah/34/3);
[Jeremiah 52:11](../../../kjv/jeremiah/52/11)).

**17. Pharaoh**—Pharaoh-hophra
([Jeremiah 37:7](../../../kjv/jeremiah/37/7); [Jeremiah 44:30](../../../kjv/jeremiah/44/30)),
the successor of Necho ([Jeremiah 44:30](../../../kjv/jeremiah/44/30)).
**Neither . . . make for
him**—literally, "*effect* (anything) *with* him,"
that is, be of any avail to Zedekiah. Pharaoh did not *act in
concert with* him, for he was himself compelled to retire to
Egypt.
**by casting up mounts,**
&c.—So far from Pharaoh doing so for Jerusalem, this was what
Nebuchadnezzar did *against* it ([Jeremiah 44:30](../../../kjv/jeremiah/44/30)). CALVIN MAURER,
&c., refer it to *Nebuchadnezzar,* "when Nebuchadnezzar
shall cast up mounts."

**18. given his hand**—in
ratification of the oath ([2 Kings 10:15](../../../kjv/2-kings/10/15);
[Ezra 10:19](../../../kjv/ezra/10/19)), and also in token of
subjection to Nebuchadnezzar ([Ezra 10:19](../../../kjv/ezra/10/19), *Margin;* [2 Chronicles 30:8](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/30/8),
*Margin;* [Lamentations 5:6](../../../kjv/lamentations/5/6)).

**19. mine oath**—The "covenant"
being sworn in God's name was really *His* covenant; a new
instance in relation to man of the treacherous spirit which had been
so often betrayed in relation to God. God Himself must therefore
avenge the violation of *His covenant* "on the head"
of the perjurer (compare [Psalms 7:16](../../../kjv/psalms/7/16)).

**20. my net**— ([Ezekiel 12:13](../../../kjv/ezekiel/12/13);
[Ezekiel 32:3](../../../kjv/ezekiel/32/3)). God entraps him as he
had tried to entrap others ([Ezekiel 32:3](../../../kjv/ezekiel/32/3)). This was spoken at least upwards of three years before the
fall of Jerusalem (compare [Ezekiel 8:1](../../../kjv/ezekiel/8/1);
[Ezekiel 20:1](../../../kjv/ezekiel/20/1)).
**plead with him**—by
judgments on him ([Ezekiel 20:36](../../../kjv/ezekiel/20/36)).

**21. all his fugitives**—the
soldiers that accompany him in his flight.

**22.** When the state of Israel
shall seem past recovery, Messiah, Jehovah Himself, will unexpectedly
appear on the scene as Redeemer of His people ().
**I . . . also**—God
opposes Himself to Nebuchadnezzar: "*He* took of the seed
of the land and planted it ([Ezekiel 17:3](../../../kjv/ezekiel/17/3);
[Ezekiel 17:5](../../../kjv/ezekiel/17/5)), so will *I,* but
with better success than he had. The branch he plucked (Zedekiah) and
planted, flourished but for a time, to perish at last; *I* will
plant a scion of the same tree, the house of David, to whom the
kingdom belongs by an everlasting covenant, and it shall be the
shelter of the whole world, and shall be for ever."
**branch**—the peculiar
title of Messiah ([Zechariah 3:8](../../../kjv/zechariah/3/8);
[Zechariah 6:12](../../../kjv/zechariah/6/12); [Isaiah 11:1](../../../kjv/isaiah/11/1);
[Isaiah 4:2](../../../kjv/isaiah/4/2); [Jeremiah 23:5](../../../kjv/jeremiah/23/5);
[Jeremiah 33:15](../../../kjv/jeremiah/33/15)).
**a tender one**—Zerubbabel
never reigned as a universal ([Jeremiah 33:15](../../../kjv/jeremiah/33/15)) king, nor could the great things mentioned here be said of
him, except as a type of Messiah. Messiah alone can be meant:
originally "a *tender* plant and root out of a dry ground"
([Isaiah 53:2](../../../kjv/isaiah/53/2)); the beginning of
His kingdom being humble, His reputed parents of lowly rank, though
King David's lineal representatives; yet, even then, God here calls
Him, in respect to His everlasting purpose, "the highest . . .
of the high" ([Psalms 89:27](../../../kjv/psalms/89/27)).
**I . . . will plant it upon an
high mountain**—Zion; destined to be the *moral* center and
eminence of grace and glory shining forth to the world, out-topping
all mundane elevation. The kingdom, typically begun at the return
from Babylon, and the rebuilding of the temple, fully began with
Christ's appearing, and shall have its highest manifestation at His
reappearing to reign on Zion, and thence over the whole earth
([Psalms 2:6](../../../kjv/psalms/2/6); [Psalms 2:8](../../../kjv/psalms/2/8);
[Isaiah 2:2](../../../kjv/isaiah/2/2); [Isaiah 2:3](../../../kjv/isaiah/2/3);
[Jeremiah 3:17](../../../kjv/jeremiah/3/17)).

**23. under it . . . all fowl**—the
Gospel "mustard tree," small at first, but at length
receiving all under its covert (); the antithesis to Antichrist, symbolized by Assyria, of
which the same is said ([Ezekiel 31:6](../../../kjv/ezekiel/31/6)),
and Babylon ([Daniel 4:12](../../../kjv/daniel/4/12)).
Antichrist assumes in mimicry the universal power really belonging to
Christ.

**24. I . . . brought down the
high**—the very attribute given to God by the virgin mother of
Him, under whom this was to be accomplished.
**high . . . low tree**—that
is, princes elevated . . . depressed. All the empires of the world,
represented by Babylon, once flourishing ("green"), shall
be brought low before the once depressed ("dry"), but then
exalted, kingdom of Messiah and His people, the head of whom shall be
Israel ([Daniel 2:44](../../../kjv/daniel/2/44)).

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