Ezekiel · Chapter 19

V. 1. For the princes-Jehoahaz, Jehoiachim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah.

Verse 1. Moreover take thou up a lamentation] Declare what is the great subject of sorrow in Israel. Compose a funeral dirge. Show the melancholy fate of the kings who proceeded from Josiah. The prophet deplores the misfortune of Jehoahaz and Jehoiakim, under the figure of two lion whelps, which were taken by hunters, and confined in cages. Next he shows the desolation of Jerusalem under Zedekiah, which he compares to a beautiful vine pulled up by the roots, withered, and at last burned. Calmet justly observes, that the style of this song is beautiful, and the allegory well supported throughout.

Verses 1, 2. Take up a lamentation for the princes of Israel — The expression alludes to the mournful songs sung at funerals. Such a lamentation the prophet is directed to apply to the mournful condition of Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah. And say, What is thy mother? — What resemblance shall I use to express the nature, deportment, and state of the mother of these princes, namely, Judea, or the Jewish nation? The prophet proposes a question that may be applied to each prince distinctly. A lioness — Here is an allusion, says Grotius, to Genesis 49:9, where Judah is represented under the emblem of a lion, and Judea was among the nations like a lioness among the beasts of the forest; she had strength and sovereignty. And the young lions which she produced are the princes, Josiah’s successors, whose life and disgraces the prophet here points out. She lay down among the lions — She remained in grandeur and security in the neighbourhood of many powerful kings. She nourished her whelps among lions — She multiplied and increased in power, notwithstanding the envy of all the neighbouring nations.

V. 2. What-What resemblance shall I use to set out the nature, deportment, and state of the mother of these princes? Thy-One of whom was upon the throne at once, and therefore the prophet speaks to one at a time. Mother-The land of Judea, and Jerusalem, the chief city of it, the royal family of David. Lioness-Tho’ chosen of God to execute justice; yet they soon degenerated into the fierce and ravening nature of the lioness. Lay down-Associated, and grew familiar with neighbour kings, called here lions; fierce and bloody. Her whelps-Her sons, successors to the crown. Young lions-Either foreign princes and kings, or some of the fierce, unjust, tyrannizing princes at home.

Verse 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.

Verses 1, 2. Take up a lamentation for the princes of Israel — The expression alludes to the mournful songs sung at funerals. Such a lamentation the prophet is directed to apply to the mournful condition of Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah. And say, What is thy mother? — What resemblance shall I use to express the nature, deportment, and state of the mother of these princes, namely, Judea, or the Jewish nation? The prophet proposes a question that may be applied to each prince distinctly. A lioness — Here is an allusion, says Grotius, to Genesis 49:9, where Judah is represented under the emblem of a lion, and Judea was among the nations like a lioness among the beasts of the forest; she had strength and sovereignty. And the young lions which she produced are the princes, Josiah’s successors, whose life and disgraces the prophet here points out. She lay down among the lions — She remained in grandeur and security in the neighbourhood of many powerful kings. She nourished her whelps among lions — She multiplied and increased in power, notwithstanding the envy of all the neighbouring nations.

Verse 2, 3. Thy mother was a lioness—she brought up one of her whelps; it became a young lion. These words are cited from Jacob’s testamentary benedictions, in which Judah is called a lion’s whelp. Genesis 49:9. But here the appellation is given in the sense of Isaiah 29:1. “Woe to Ariel;” that is, the lion of God. Belligerent kings are often called lions. St. Paul says of Nero, “God delivered me from the mouth of the lion.”

V. 3. Brought up-Advanced, caused him to take the throne after the slaughter of Josiah. One-Jehoahaz the second son of Josiah. Became-Soon shewed his fierce, cruel, and bloody disposition.

Verse 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.

Verses 3, 4. And she brought up one of her whelps — This seems to be spoken of Jehoahaz, who, we are told, followed not the good example of his father Josiah, but the evil practices of the wicked kings his predecessors; and though we have no further account of his acts, yet, from this, there is sufficient reason to suppose that he was rapacious and injurious to his neighbours, and tyrannical and cruel; which possibly was the reason why Pharaoh-necho deposed him after he had reigned only three months, and placed his brother on the throne in his room. The nations also heard of him — The king of Egypt, hearing of his character, and probably some of his subjects having been used ill by him, deprived him of his kingly office, put him in bands, and carried him into Egypt, 2 Kings 23:32, 34. He was taken in their pit — This expression alludes to those pit-falls and snares which are made to take wild beasts; and as Jehoahaz is spoken of here as a young lion, the expression was quite applicable to signify his being taken prisoner.

Verse 2, 3. Thy mother was a lioness—she brought up one of her whelps; it became a young lion. These words are cited from Jacob’s testamentary benedictions, in which Judah is called a lion’s whelp. Genesis 49:9. But here the appellation is given in the sense of Isaiah 29:1. “Woe to Ariel;” that is, the lion of God. Belligerent kings are often called lions. St. Paul says of Nero, “God delivered me from the mouth of the lion.”

V. 4. The nations-The Egyptians heard what he did.

Verse 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 the wild beasts fall, when the huntsmen, surrounding a given portion of the forest, drive the beasts in; by degrees narrowing the inclosure, till the animals come to the place where the pits are, which, being lightly covered over with branches and turf, are not perceived, and the beasts tread on them and fall in. Jehoahaz reigned only three months before he was dethroned by the king of Egypt, against whom it is apparent some craft was used, here signified by the pit, into which he fell.

Verses 3, 4. And she brought up one of her whelps — This seems to be spoken of Jehoahaz, who, we are told, followed not the good example of his father Josiah, but the evil practices of the wicked kings his predecessors; and though we have no further account of his acts, yet, from this, there is sufficient reason to suppose that he was rapacious and injurious to his neighbours, and tyrannical and cruel; which possibly was the reason why Pharaoh-necho deposed him after he had reigned only three months, and placed his brother on the throne in his room. The nations also heard of him — The king of Egypt, hearing of his character, and probably some of his subjects having been used ill by him, deprived him of his kingly office, put him in bands, and carried him into Egypt, 2 Kings 23:32, 34. He was taken in their pit — This expression alludes to those pit-falls and snares which are made to take wild beasts; and as Jehoahaz is spoken of here as a young lion, the expression was quite applicable to signify his being taken prisoner.

Ver. 4. He was taken in their pit. 1 Kings 23:33, 34. Man by ingenuity exercises his sovereignty still over the beasts of the earth. He displays the superiority of reason by drawing the fish from the deep, and by taking the fowls of heaven dead or alive at his pleasure. The largest of animals, the fiercest and swiftest of wild beasts, he takes with equal ease, by palisading the trees of the woods in the form of a cross or of the letter X, in the centre of which he digs a pit, and covers it over with boughs, rotten sticks, grass or leaves. Here, in the morning, he sometimes finds a lion, a tiger or a wolf, and disposes of his enemy at pleasure. Into this pit, with dogs and shouts, he drives the more peaceful buffalo, the deer, and other granivorous animals. This mode of taking them may illustrate many expressions of David respecting the pit.

V. 5. Made him-King, and infused the lion-like maxims into him.

Verse 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.

Verses 5-9. When she saw that she had waited — This seems to signify that the Jews waited some time before they thought of setting another king over them, hoping, probably, that the king of Egypt would restore unto them Jehoahaz, whom he had taken prisoner; but when they saw their hopes disappointed in this, and that there was no longer any room to expect it, then they, by the consent, and probably, direction of the king of Egypt, elected Jehoahaz’s brother, Eliakim, king in his stead, his name being changed to Jehoiakim. And he went up and down among the lions — He imitated the kings his neighbours, and became rapacious and cruel like them. And learned to catch the prey, &c. — He learned and practised all the methods of tyranny and oppression. And he knew their desolate palaces — Dr. Waterland and Houbigant render it, He destroyed their palaces; and Bishop Newcome, He brought evil upon their palaces. The meaning seems to be, that Jehoiakim made himself master of the riches and pleasant seats of the great men of the land. And the land was desolate, &c., by the noise of his roaring — His cruelty and oppression caused many of the inhabitants of Judea to remove out of it, and go and settle in other places, where they could live more secure. Then the nations set themselves against him, &c. — He was attacked by the Chaldeans, Syrians, Moabites, and Ammonites, and at last the king of Babylon took him prisoner, and carried him in fetters to Babylon: see 2 Chronicles 36:6. That his voice should no more be heard, &c. — That he should be no more a terror to the land of Israel. For Jehoiakim being compared, in the foregoing verses, to a lion, whose voice, or roaring, strikes men with terror; by saying that his voice should no more be heard, is signified that he should be no longer a terror to any in the country.

V. 6. He-Jehoiachim. Went up-He continued eleven years on the throne; whereas Jehoahaz was taken as soon as he first ventured out. The lions-Heathen kings, with whom he entered into leagues. He became-Fierce, ravenous, unsatiable.

Verse 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.

Verses 5-9. When she saw that she had waited — This seems to signify that the Jews waited some time before they thought of setting another king over them, hoping, probably, that the king of Egypt would restore unto them Jehoahaz, whom he had taken prisoner; but when they saw their hopes disappointed in this, and that there was no longer any room to expect it, then they, by the consent, and probably, direction of the king of Egypt, elected Jehoahaz’s brother, Eliakim, king in his stead, his name being changed to Jehoiakim. And he went up and down among the lions — He imitated the kings his neighbours, and became rapacious and cruel like them. And learned to catch the prey, &c. — He learned and practised all the methods of tyranny and oppression. And he knew their desolate palaces — Dr. Waterland and Houbigant render it, He destroyed their palaces; and Bishop Newcome, He brought evil upon their palaces. The meaning seems to be, that Jehoiakim made himself master of the riches and pleasant seats of the great men of the land. And the land was desolate, &c., by the noise of his roaring — His cruelty and oppression caused many of the inhabitants of Judea to remove out of it, and go and settle in other places, where they could live more secure. Then the nations set themselves against him, &c. — He was attacked by the Chaldeans, Syrians, Moabites, and Ammonites, and at last the king of Babylon took him prisoner, and carried him in fetters to Babylon: see 2 Chronicles 36:6. That his voice should no more be heard, &c. — That he should be no more a terror to the land of Israel. For Jehoiakim being compared, in the foregoing verses, to a lion, whose voice, or roaring, strikes men with terror; by saying that his voice should no more be heard, is signified that he should be no longer a terror to any in the country.

Ver. 6, 7. He went up and down among the lions—devoured men—laid waste their cities. After David’s house became idolaters, God apparently impaired their intellect; they did not know the relative weakness of their small kingdom. The scriptures say of Jehoahaz, that he did evil in the sight of the Lord. He levied war on his own subjects.

V. 7. He knew-By taking them, he came to know their places, which are here called, what he made them, desolate. Roaring-By the perpetual violent threats of this cruel king.

Verses 5-9. When she saw that she had waited — This seems to signify that the Jews waited some time before they thought of setting another king over them, hoping, probably, that the king of Egypt would restore unto them Jehoahaz, whom he had taken prisoner; but when they saw their hopes disappointed in this, and that there was no longer any room to expect it, then they, by the consent, and probably, direction of the king of Egypt, elected Jehoahaz’s brother, Eliakim, king in his stead, his name being changed to Jehoiakim. And he went up and down among the lions — He imitated the kings his neighbours, and became rapacious and cruel like them. And learned to catch the prey, &c. — He learned and practised all the methods of tyranny and oppression. And he knew their desolate palaces — Dr. Waterland and Houbigant render it, He destroyed their palaces; and Bishop Newcome, He brought evil upon their palaces. The meaning seems to be, that Jehoiakim made himself master of the riches and pleasant seats of the great men of the land. And the land was desolate, &c., by the noise of his roaring — His cruelty and oppression caused many of the inhabitants of Judea to remove out of it, and go and settle in other places, where they could live more secure. Then the nations set themselves against him, &c. — He was attacked by the Chaldeans, Syrians, Moabites, and Ammonites, and at last the king of Babylon took him prisoner, and carried him in fetters to Babylon: see 2 Chronicles 36:6. That his voice should no more be heard, &c. — That he should be no more a terror to the land of Israel. For Jehoiakim being compared, in the foregoing verses, to a lion, whose voice, or roaring, strikes men with terror; by saying that his voice should no more be heard, is signified that he should be no longer a terror to any in the country.

Ver. 6, 7. He went up and down among the lions—devoured men—laid waste their cities. After David’s house became idolaters, God apparently impaired their intellect; they did not know the relative weakness of their small kingdom. The scriptures say of Jehoahaz, that he did evil in the sight of the Lord. He levied war on his own subjects.

7. And he knew their desolate palaces, etc. — R.V., “knew their palaces” (or, “widows”). With a change of one letter the text becomes “he brake down,” etc. Cornill, by some further alteration, obtains the reading which Dr. Skinner has adopted above. Kautzsch refuses to translate because of the evident corruption of the text.

V. 8. The nations-Which were tributary to Nebuchadnezzar. Set against-By order of the king of Babylon. The provinces-Which belonged to the Babylonish kingdom.

Verse 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.

Verses 5-9. When she saw that she had waited — This seems to signify that the Jews waited some time before they thought of setting another king over them, hoping, probably, that the king of Egypt would restore unto them Jehoahaz, whom he had taken prisoner; but when they saw their hopes disappointed in this, and that there was no longer any room to expect it, then they, by the consent, and probably, direction of the king of Egypt, elected Jehoahaz’s brother, Eliakim, king in his stead, his name being changed to Jehoiakim. And he went up and down among the lions — He imitated the kings his neighbours, and became rapacious and cruel like them. And learned to catch the prey, &c. — He learned and practised all the methods of tyranny and oppression. And he knew their desolate palaces — Dr. Waterland and Houbigant render it, He destroyed their palaces; and Bishop Newcome, He brought evil upon their palaces. The meaning seems to be, that Jehoiakim made himself master of the riches and pleasant seats of the great men of the land. And the land was desolate, &c., by the noise of his roaring — His cruelty and oppression caused many of the inhabitants of Judea to remove out of it, and go and settle in other places, where they could live more secure. Then the nations set themselves against him, &c. — He was attacked by the Chaldeans, Syrians, Moabites, and Ammonites, and at last the king of Babylon took him prisoner, and carried him in fetters to Babylon: see 2 Chronicles 36:6. That his voice should no more be heard, &c. — That he should be no more a terror to the land of Israel. For Jehoiakim being compared, in the foregoing verses, to a lion, whose voice, or roaring, strikes men with terror; by saying that his voice should no more be heard, is signified that he should be no longer a terror to any in the country.

Verse 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, 8, 9, is a just subject of lamentation.”—Newcome.

Verses 5-9. When she saw that she had waited — This seems to signify that the Jews waited some time before they thought of setting another king over them, hoping, probably, that the king of Egypt would restore unto them Jehoahaz, whom he had taken prisoner; but when they saw their hopes disappointed in this, and that there was no longer any room to expect it, then they, by the consent, and probably, direction of the king of Egypt, elected Jehoahaz’s brother, Eliakim, king in his stead, his name being changed to Jehoiakim. And he went up and down among the lions — He imitated the kings his neighbours, and became rapacious and cruel like them. And learned to catch the prey, &c. — He learned and practised all the methods of tyranny and oppression. And he knew their desolate palaces — Dr. Waterland and Houbigant render it, He destroyed their palaces; and Bishop Newcome, He brought evil upon their palaces. The meaning seems to be, that Jehoiakim made himself master of the riches and pleasant seats of the great men of the land. And the land was desolate, &c., by the noise of his roaring — His cruelty and oppression caused many of the inhabitants of Judea to remove out of it, and go and settle in other places, where they could live more secure. Then the nations set themselves against him, &c. — He was attacked by the Chaldeans, Syrians, Moabites, and Ammonites, and at last the king of Babylon took him prisoner, and carried him in fetters to Babylon: see 2 Chronicles 36:6. That his voice should no more be heard, &c. — That he should be no more a terror to the land of Israel. For Jehoiakim being compared, in the foregoing verses, to a lion, whose voice, or roaring, strikes men with terror; by saying that his voice should no more be heard, is signified that he should be no longer a terror to any in the country.

V. 10. Thy mother-O thou prince of Israel. By the waters-In a very fruitful soil. Full of branches-Full of children; when Josiah died, he left four behind him, beside other branches of the royal line.

Verse 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 Ëmdb bedamecha, in thy blood, would read ברמונ berimmon, in or at a pomegranate; like a vine planted by or beside a pomegranate-tree, by which it was to be supported. And so the Septuagint and Arabic appear to have read. Calmet reads Ëmrk carmecha, thy vineyard, instead of Ëmdb bedamecha, in thy blood. Here is no change but a r resh for a d daleth. This reading is supported by one of Kennicott’s and one of Deuteronomy Rossi’s MSS.: “Thy mother is like a vine in thy vineyard, planted by the waters.” Though this is rather an unusual construction yet it seems the best emendation. Of the textual reading no sense can be made. There is a corruption somewhere. Full on branches] Many princes. See next verse.

Verses 10-14. Thy mother is like a vine — Here another similitude is made use of, and the Jewish nation is compared, as it frequently is in other places, to a vine. In thy blood — So the Hebrew and Vulgate; but the LXX. read, wv anqov en roa, as a flower on a pomegranate-tree; and Bishop Newcome, who supposes the LXX. to have read ˆmrk, and not Ëmdb, renders the clause, like a pomegranate, planted by the waters, &c. — “The Jewish nation, whence the royal family had their original, was like a fruitful vine in a very flourishing condition.” And she had strong rods, &c. — From her sprung valiant princes, fit to sway the sceptre. A rod or sceptre is an emblem of authority. Her stature was exalted among the thick branches — Among the neighbouring kings and princes: see 2 Chronicles 32:23. The increase of the nation’s power is expressed by this. But she was plucked up in fury — God, in his anger, removed her out of her own land. She was cast down to the ground — She was reduced to a contemptible state. The east wind dried up her fruit — The Chaldean forces ravaged and depopulated the country; her strong rods were broken — Her kings and princes were subdued, and made captives. The fire consumed them — The divine anger brought them to destruction, as fire consumes the branches of a tree when it is withered. And now she is planted in the wilderness — A great part of her people are carried captive, where their condition is as much different from what it was formerly, as the condition of a tree is when it is removed out of a rich soil into a dry and barren ground. The Jews suffered several captivities before that final one which ended in the destruction of their temple and government. And fire is gone out of a rod of her branches — This is spoken of Zedekiah’s breaking his oath of fidelity to the king of Babylon, which was the occasion of the destruction of the royal family, and the entire ruin of the government. This is a lamentation, &c. — This is matter of present lamentation, and shall be so to after ages.

10. Like a vine in thy blood — This phrase is exceptionally corrupt and has been translated “on a pomegranate,” “a vine of Carmel,” “in thy likeness,” “in [the time of] thy rest,” etc. Davidson prefers “in her height.” Orelli and Toy think the best suggestion is that of Calmet, who translates, “as a vine of thy vineyard;” Plumptre, “in thy life, thy freshness.” On the figure of speech used see notes 17:6-10.

V. 11. Strong rods-Many excellent persons endowed with qualifications befitting kings, that they might sway the scepter. Exalted-Above the ordinary majesty of other kingdoms. Thick branches-This kingdom equalled, if not excelled, the greatest neighbour-kingdoms, and her kings exceeded all their neighbouring kings, in riches and power.

Verse 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.

Verses 10-14. Thy mother is like a vine — Here another similitude is made use of, and the Jewish nation is compared, as it frequently is in other places, to a vine. In thy blood — So the Hebrew and Vulgate; but the LXX. read, wv anqov en roa, as a flower on a pomegranate-tree; and Bishop Newcome, who supposes the LXX. to have read ˆmrk, and not Ëmdb, renders the clause, like a pomegranate, planted by the waters, &c. — “The Jewish nation, whence the royal family had their original, was like a fruitful vine in a very flourishing condition.” And she had strong rods, &c. — From her sprung valiant princes, fit to sway the sceptre. A rod or sceptre is an emblem of authority. Her stature was exalted among the thick branches — Among the neighbouring kings and princes: see 2 Chronicles 32:23. The increase of the nation’s power is expressed by this. But she was plucked up in fury — God, in his anger, removed her out of her own land. She was cast down to the ground — She was reduced to a contemptible state. The east wind dried up her fruit — The Chaldean forces ravaged and depopulated the country; her strong rods were broken — Her kings and princes were subdued, and made captives. The fire consumed them — The divine anger brought them to destruction, as fire consumes the branches of a tree when it is withered. And now she is planted in the wilderness — A great part of her people are carried captive, where their condition is as much different from what it was formerly, as the condition of a tree is when it is removed out of a rich soil into a dry and barren ground. The Jews suffered several captivities before that final one which ended in the destruction of their temple and government. And fire is gone out of a rod of her branches — This is spoken of Zedekiah’s breaking his oath of fidelity to the king of Babylon, which was the occasion of the destruction of the royal family, and the entire ruin of the government. This is a lamentation, &c. — This is matter of present lamentation, and shall be so to after ages.

11. Rods — Perhaps, a strong rod (LXX.). For — Rather, growing up into. Scepters of them that bare rule — Rather, for royal scepters (or, “rulers’ staffs”). Among the thick branches — Rather, high among the clouds, or, as Kautzsch, high up between thick twigs. (Compare Orelli.)

V. 12. The east wind-God raised up the king of Babylon to pull up this sinful kingdom. Dried up-Blasted all her fruit, deposed her king, captivated him, his family, and the whole kingdom. Strong rods-All the choice men.

Verse 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.

Her strong rods were broken] The children of Zedekiah were slain before his eyes, and after that his own eyes pulled out; and he was laden with chains, and carried into Babylon.

Verses 10-14. Thy mother is like a vine — Here another similitude is made use of, and the Jewish nation is compared, as it frequently is in other places, to a vine. In thy blood — So the Hebrew and Vulgate; but the LXX. read, wv anqov en roa, as a flower on a pomegranate-tree; and Bishop Newcome, who supposes the LXX. to have read ˆmrk, and not Ëmdb, renders the clause, like a pomegranate, planted by the waters, &c. — “The Jewish nation, whence the royal family had their original, was like a fruitful vine in a very flourishing condition.” And she had strong rods, &c. — From her sprung valiant princes, fit to sway the sceptre. A rod or sceptre is an emblem of authority. Her stature was exalted among the thick branches — Among the neighbouring kings and princes: see 2 Chronicles 32:23. The increase of the nation’s power is expressed by this. But she was plucked up in fury — God, in his anger, removed her out of her own land. She was cast down to the ground — She was reduced to a contemptible state. The east wind dried up her fruit — The Chaldean forces ravaged and depopulated the country; her strong rods were broken — Her kings and princes were subdued, and made captives. The fire consumed them — The divine anger brought them to destruction, as fire consumes the branches of a tree when it is withered. And now she is planted in the wilderness — A great part of her people are carried captive, where their condition is as much different from what it was formerly, as the condition of a tree is when it is removed out of a rich soil into a dry and barren ground. The Jews suffered several captivities before that final one which ended in the destruction of their temple and government. And fire is gone out of a rod of her branches — This is spoken of Zedekiah’s breaking his oath of fidelity to the king of Babylon, which was the occasion of the destruction of the royal family, and the entire ruin of the government. This is a lamentation, &c. — This is matter of present lamentation, and shall be so to after ages.

V. 13. She-A few of the branches of the last pruning. In the wilderness-Tho’ Babylon was in a very fruitful place, yet the cruelty of the Babylonians, made it to the Jews as terrible as a wilderness.

Verse 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.

Verses 10-14. Thy mother is like a vine — Here another similitude is made use of, and the Jewish nation is compared, as it frequently is in other places, to a vine. In thy blood — So the Hebrew and Vulgate; but the LXX. read, wv anqov en roa, as a flower on a pomegranate-tree; and Bishop Newcome, who supposes the LXX. to have read ˆmrk, and not Ëmdb, renders the clause, like a pomegranate, planted by the waters, &c. — “The Jewish nation, whence the royal family had their original, was like a fruitful vine in a very flourishing condition.” And she had strong rods, &c. — From her sprung valiant princes, fit to sway the sceptre. A rod or sceptre is an emblem of authority. Her stature was exalted among the thick branches — Among the neighbouring kings and princes: see 2 Chronicles 32:23. The increase of the nation’s power is expressed by this. But she was plucked up in fury — God, in his anger, removed her out of her own land. She was cast down to the ground — She was reduced to a contemptible state. The east wind dried up her fruit — The Chaldean forces ravaged and depopulated the country; her strong rods were broken — Her kings and princes were subdued, and made captives. The fire consumed them — The divine anger brought them to destruction, as fire consumes the branches of a tree when it is withered. And now she is planted in the wilderness — A great part of her people are carried captive, where their condition is as much different from what it was formerly, as the condition of a tree is when it is removed out of a rich soil into a dry and barren ground. The Jews suffered several captivities before that final one which ended in the destruction of their temple and government. And fire is gone out of a rod of her branches — This is spoken of Zedekiah’s breaking his oath of fidelity to the king of Babylon, which was the occasion of the destruction of the royal family, and the entire ruin of the government. This is a lamentation, &c. — This is matter of present lamentation, and shall be so to after ages.

Ver. 13, 14. She, once a flourishing vine on the mountains of Israel, as in Psalm 80. and Isaiah 5., is now transplanted into the wilderness, dried and parched with the east wind of captivity. She has no strong rod to become a sceptre; not one prince of David’s house fit to fill his father’s throne.

V. 14. Fire-The fire of rebellion, kindled by Zedekiah, who is of the blood-royal. No strong rod-The regal dignity is ceased.

Verse 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 country of the Ammonites. But he was pursued by Jonathan, the son of Kareah, who slew many of his adherents, and delivered much of the people.

She hath no strong rod] None of the blood-royal of Judah left. And from that time not one of her own royal race ever sat upon the throne of Israel. This is a lamentation] This is a most lamentable business. And shall be for a lamentation.] These predictions shall be so punctually fulfilled, and the catastrophe shall be so complete, that it shall ever remain as a lamentation; as this state of Jerusalem shall never be restored. Even to the present day this, to a Jew, is a subject of mourning. EZEKIEL

Verses 10-14. Thy mother is like a vine — Here another similitude is made use of, and the Jewish nation is compared, as it frequently is in other places, to a vine. In thy blood — So the Hebrew and Vulgate; but the LXX. read, wv anqov en roa, as a flower on a pomegranate-tree; and Bishop Newcome, who supposes the LXX. to have read ˆmrk, and not Ëmdb, renders the clause, like a pomegranate, planted by the waters, &c. — “The Jewish nation, whence the royal family had their original, was like a fruitful vine in a very flourishing condition.” And she had strong rods, &c. — From her sprung valiant princes, fit to sway the sceptre. A rod or sceptre is an emblem of authority. Her stature was exalted among the thick branches — Among the neighbouring kings and princes: see 2 Chronicles 32:23. The increase of the nation’s power is expressed by this. But she was plucked up in fury — God, in his anger, removed her out of her own land. She was cast down to the ground — She was reduced to a contemptible state. The east wind dried up her fruit — The Chaldean forces ravaged and depopulated the country; her strong rods were broken — Her kings and princes were subdued, and made captives. The fire consumed them — The divine anger brought them to destruction, as fire consumes the branches of a tree when it is withered. And now she is planted in the wilderness — A great part of her people are carried captive, where their condition is as much different from what it was formerly, as the condition of a tree is when it is removed out of a rich soil into a dry and barren ground. The Jews suffered several captivities before that final one which ended in the destruction of their temple and government. And fire is gone out of a rod of her branches — This is spoken of Zedekiah’s breaking his oath of fidelity to the king of Babylon, which was the occasion of the destruction of the royal family, and the entire ruin of the government. This is a lamentation, &c. — This is matter of present lamentation, and shall be so to after ages.

Ver. 13, 14. She, once a flourishing vine on the mountains of Israel, as in Psalm 80. and Isaiah 5., is now transplanted into the wilderness, dried and parched with the east wind of captivity. She has no strong rod to become a sceptre; not one prince of David’s house fit to fill his father’s throne.

14. A rod of her branches — Or, from her rod of branches. The conflagration which devoured Jerusalem and the kingdom of Judah was started among her firebrand princes. Shall be for a lamentation — Rather, is become a lamentation (Ezekiel 32:16). This lamentation appears to have been written before Zedekiah’s captivity. It was the prophecy of a calamity which might have been averted by repentance (Ezekiel 18:21, 30), but was not averted (Jeremiah 39, 52).