1.
And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
The LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .
2.
Son of man, put forth a riddle, and speak a parable unto the house of Israel;
Son of man . See note on Ezekiel 2:1 .
riddle = enigma. Hebrew. chidah = a difficult or per plexing problem put forth for solution. Occurs in Judges 14:1 Judges 14:2 , Judges 14:13 , Judges 14:14 , Judges 14:15 , Judges 14:16 , Judges 14:17 , Judges 14:18 , Judges 14:19 (= riddle). Numbers 12:8 . 1Ki 10:5 . 2 Chronicles 9:1 (= dark sayings). Psalms 49:4 .Proverbs 1:6 , &c. Distinct from a "parable". Compare Psalms 78:2 (= dark sayings). Daniel 8:23 .Habakkuk 2:6 (= "proverb").
parable = the comparing of one thing with another. Not the same as "riddle" (enigma).
3.
And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; A great eagle with great wings, longwinged, full of feathers, which had divers colours, came unto Lebanon, and took the highest branch of the cedar:
the Lord GoD . Hebrew. Adonai Jehovah . See note on Ezekiel 2:4 .
A great eagle. Tho king of Babylon.
longwinged = long-pinioned, as in Ezekiel 17:7 .
feathers = plumage.
the highest branch. Jeleoiachin (i.e. Jeconiah, or Coniah). See Ezekiel 17:12 ; find Jeremiah 22:23 , Jeremiah 22:24 .
4.
He cropped off the top of his young twigs, and carried it into a land of traffick; he set it in a city of merchants.
top = topmost.
traffick . Babylon.
5.
He took also of the seed of the land, and planted it in a fruitful field; he placed it by great waters, and set it as a willow tree.
the seed of the land. Zedokiah. See Ezekiel 17:6 and Ezekiel 17:13 . Nebuchadnezzar did not set up a Chaldean king over Judah, but nourished Zedekiah, as verses: Ezekiel 17:5 , Ezekiel 17:6 show.
6.
And it grew, and became a spreading vine of low stature, whose branches turned toward him, and the roots thereof were under him: so it became a vine, and brought forth branches, and shot forth sprigs.
turned toward him . Zedekiah being dependent upon Nebuchadnezzar.
7.
There was also another great eagle with great wings and many feathers: and, behold, this vine did bend her roots toward him, and shot forth her branches toward him, that he might water it by the furrows of her plantation.
another great eagle. Pharaoh Hophra, king of Egypt.
bend her roots : i.e. looked for succour to Egypt. Compare verses: Ezekiel 17:5 , Ezekiel 17:8
water it. From the Nile.
8.
It was planted in a good soil by great waters, that it might bring forth branches, and that it might bear fruit, that it might be a goodly vine.
soil = field.
9.
Say thou, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Shall it prosper? shall he not pull up the roots thereof, and cut off the fruit thereof, that it wither? it shall wither in all the leaves of her spring, even without great power or many people to pluck it up by the roots thereof.
Shall it prosper? &c. This is Jehovah's sentence on the perfidy of Zedekiah in breaking his oath to Nebuchadnezzar. Compare Ezekiel 17:13 and the Structure (S1, S2, S3). Those who interpret this enigma of Zedekiah's daughters are hereby warned that their interpretation shall not prosper. See notes on Ezekiel 17:22 and Ezekiel 17:24 .
spring = sproutings.
10.
Yea, behold, being planted, shall it prosper? shall it not utterly wither, when the east wind toucheth it? it shall wither in the furrows where it grew.
behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .
it : i.e. the vine.
wind . Hebrew. ruach , App-9 .
11.
Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
12.
Say now to the rebellious house, Know ye not what these things mean? tell them, Behold, the king of Babylon is come to Jerusalem, and hath taken the king thereof, and the princes thereof, and led them with him to Babylon;
rebellious house . See note on Ezekiel 2:5 .
13.
And hath taken of the king's seed, and made a covenant with him, and hath taken an oath of him: he hath also taken the mighty of the land:
taken , &c. Compare 2Ki 24:30 .
covenant . . . oath. See note on Ezekiel 16:59 .
taken an oath . See 2 Chronicles 36:13 .
14.
That the kingdom might be base, that it might not lift itself up, but that by keeping of his covenant it might stand.
base = low.
15.
But he rebelled against him in sending his ambassadors into Egypt, that they might give him horses and much people. Shall he prosper? shall he escape that doeth such things? or shall he break the covenant, and be delivered?
he rebelled , &c. See 2Ki 24:20 . 2 Chronicles 36:13 .
16.
As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely in the place where the king dwelleth that made him king, whose oath he despised, and whose covenant he brake, even with him in the midst of Babylon he shall die.
saith the Lord GOD = [is] Adenai Jehovah's oracle.
in the midst of Babylon , &c. Compare Ezekiel 12:13 .
17.
Neither shall Pharaoh with his mighty army and great company make for him in the war, by casting up mounts, and building forts, to cut off many persons:
company = gathered force.
make for him = help him
persons = souls. Hebrew. nephesh . App-13 .
18.
Seeing he despised the oath by breaking the covenant, when, lo, he had given his hand, and hath done all these things, he shall not escape.
lo. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .
given his hand. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6 , for making a covenant (2 Kings 10:13 .Ezra 10:19 . Jeremiah 50:15 ).
19.
Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; As I live, surely mine oath that he hath despised, and my covenant that he hath broken, even it will I recompense upon his own head.
20.
And I will spread my net upon him, and he shall be taken in my snare, and I will bring him to Babylon, and will plead with him there for his trespass that he hath trespassed against me.
spread My net upon him. Compare Ezekiel 12:13 ; Ezekiel 32:3 . plead = reckon. Compare Ezekiel 20:36 ; Ezekiel 38:22 .
trespass that he hath trespassed . See note on Ezekiel 15:8 .
21.
And all his fugitives with all his bands shall fall by the sword, and they that remain shall be scattered toward all winds: and ye shall know that I the LORD have spoken it.
all his fugitives. Compare Ezekiel 12:14 .
ye shall know, &c. See note on Ezekiel 6:7 .
22.
Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will also take of the highest branch of the high cedar, and will set it; I will crop off from the top of his young twigs a tender one, and will plant it upon an high mountain and eminent:
the highest branch. Sets forth the restoration of the kingdom in the Messiah.
branch. Compare Jeremiah 23:5 , Jeremiah 23:6 ; Jeremiah 33:15 .Zechariah 3:8 ; Zechariah 6:12 ; and Isaiah 4:2 .
a tender one. Compare Isaiah 11:1 ; Isaiah 53:1 , Isaiah 53:2 , The Chaldee Targum interprets this of the Messiah. Those who interpret this of Zedekiah's "younger daughter" are guilty of substituting her for the Messiah Himself; Whose future kingdom is to be "in the mountain of the height of Israel", and not in any other country; or, during the present dispensation. See notes on or Ezekiel 23:24 .
23.
In the mountain of the height of Israel will I plant it: and it shall bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a goodly cedar: and under it shall dwell all fowl of every wing; in the shadow of the branches thereof shall they dwell.
In the mountain, &c. Compare Isaiah 2:2 , Isaiah 2:3 ; Isaiah 54:1-17 ; Isaiah 62:1-7 .
bring forth boughs = exalt its branch.
24.
And all the trees of the field shall know that I the LORD have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish: I the LORD have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish: I the LORD have spoken and have done it.
I the LORD, &c. He will prosper His work. This is in contrast with verses: Ezekiel 17:9 , Ezekiel 17:10 (S1), and verses: Ezekiel 17:15-21 (S2), which would not prosper.