1–10. The riddle of the great eagle

(1) Ezekiel 17:1-4 introduction. The great, broadwinged, speckled eagle came to Lebanon, and broke off the top of the cedar, carrying it to the merchant-land, Babylon—the captivity of Jehoiachin by Nebuchadnezzar.

(2) Ezekiel 17:5-6. He took also of the seed of the land and planted it beside the waters that it might be a spreading vine, and might turn its branches towards him who had planted it—the elevation to the throne by Nebuchadnezzar of Zedekiah as a feudatory monarch.

(3) Ezekiel 17:7-8. There was another great eagle, and the vine bent its roots and sent out its branches towards him—Zedekiah sought the alliance and protection of the king of Egypt.

(4) Ezekiel 17:9-10. Denunciation of the vine for its treachery. The east wind shall blow on it and it shall wither.

2. a riddle] As requiring interpretation; the passage is also called a “parable,” as containing a similitude or comparison. The eagle is Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. Conquerors are often compared to the eagle, Deuteronomy 28:49; Isaiah 46:11; Jeremiah 4:13; Jeremiah 48:40; Hosea 8:1; Lamentations 4:19.

3. longwinged] With long pinions. The eagle was also of “divers colours” or speckled, with reference possibly to the very diverse nationalities included in the Babylonian empire.

came unto Lebanon] The figure of the eagle coming to Lebanon and cropping off the highest branch and top of the young twigs (Ezekiel 17:4) represents the carrying off of those highest in the land of Israel. Lebanon as opposed to Babylon is the mountain of Palestine; the cedar, the tree of Lebanon, appears to represent the royal Davidic house (Ezekiel 17:12; Ezekiel 17:22), and its highest branches king Jehoiachin and the princes who were carried away to Babylon (Ezekiel 17:12). On “land of traffic” (Ezekiel 17:4), cf. ch. Ezekiel 16:29.

5. Nebuchadnezzar then took Mattaniah, son of Josiah, and made him king under the name of Zedekiah. The “seed of the land” is the native royal house.

he placed it] The unknown form so rendered might be a verb, cf. Hosea 11:3. LXX. omits; Ew. conjectures slip, or cutting. The comparison to the willow (the sense is not certain, the word not occurring again) is suggested by the place where it was planted, beside great waters. “Water” is the requisite of every tree in the East, and “great waters” are the favourable conditions granted to Zedekiah. “They that drink water” is a name for trees, ch. Ezekiel 31:16.

6. of low stature] This refers to the dependent nature of Zedekiah’s kingdom, as tributary to the lord superior. Cf. Isaiah 16:8 : Hosea 10:1.

whose branches turned] Or, that its branches might turn … and the roots thereof be.

7. The other great eagle, which however is not described with such imposing epithets as the former, is the king of Egypt. The vine bent its roots toward him—sought to draw nourishment from him.

by the furrows] Rather: from the beds of its plantation—i.e. where it was planted. The words are connected with “did bend her roots.” The comparative sense: to water it more than the beds, has less probability; though it would express the uneasiness of Zedekiah and his vain political dreams.

8. The happy condition of Zedekiah’s monarchy under the king of Babylon, had he been content with his subordinate role as a feudatory prince.

9. Threat of punishment because of his treachery. The vine shall be pulled up and utterly withered—Zedekiah’s monarchy shall be taken away before the king of Babylon.

shall he not pull up] The subject is most naturally the king of Babylon, who planted it; the words might be used in the sense of the pass.: shall it not be pulled up?

it shall wither … her spring] As R.V., all her fresh springing leaves shall wither.

even without great power] It will be a light thing for the king of Babylon to pluck up this vine by the roots. Both the words and construction are peculiar; cf. Ezekiel 17:17.

10. Destruction under another figure, that of the east wind, before which vegetation crumbles into dust. Cf. ch. Ezekiel 19:12; Hosea 13:15; Isaiah 27:8; Isaiah 40:7; Job 27:21.

11–21. Interpretation of the riddle

12. the rebellious house] i.e. Israel, ch. Ezekiel 2:5.

king of Babylon is come] Better past tenses throughout: came … and took; so Ezekiel 17:13 and took. On the captivity of Jehoiachin, cf. 2 Kings 24:11 seq.; Jeremiah 24:1; Jeremiah 29:1.

13. the king’s seed] the royal seed, lit. seed of the kingdom. See on Ezekiel 17:5; cf. 2 Kings 24:17; Jeremiah 37:1.

an oath of him] Cf. 2 Chronicles 36:13.

he hath also taken] he took also. On “mighty of the land,” cf. Ezekiel 17:12. Probably the more influential classes are included, those who if left might be uneasy under the yoke and likely to stir up revolt; cf. 2 Kings 24:14-15; Jeremiah 29:1-2.

14. might be base] i.e. humble, and without pretension; cf. ch. Ezekiel 29:14. It was with this purpose that Nebuchadnezzar carried away the mighty of the land. He also hoped that the kingdom would “stand;” it was no doubt his policy to have a dependent, friendly state on the frontier of Egypt. The word “stand,” however, may refer to the covenant: to keep his covenant, that it might stand.

15. Cf. 2 Kings 24:20. The king of Egypt referred to was Pharaoh Hophra, Jeremiah 44:30; Jeremiah 37:5 seq. The indignation of Ezekiel against Zedekiah arises greatly from his regarding the subjection of Jerusalem to Babylon as a thing determined by Jehovah. Hence the covenant broken by Zedekiah is not merely the covenant of the king of Babylon but that of Jehovah (Ezekiel 17:19). The prophet follows Jeremiah. He had possibly read the words of the latter spoken in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah, ch. Ezekiel 27:9-17, “serve the king of Babylon and live;” and probably he had heard his words to the same effect spoken in the fourth year of Jehoiakim, ch. 25. His advice to the exiles also was no doubt known to him, ch. Ezekiel 29:4.

16. Zedekiah, being carried to Babylon, shall die there.

17. The aid of Pharaoh shall be in vain; cf. Jeremiah 37:5, and the pathetic references to the hopes and disappointments of the besieged during the last days of Jerusalem in Lamentations 4:17.

On “mounts,” &c., cf. ch. Ezekiel 4:2.

20. spread my net] Cf. ch. Ezekiel 12:13; Hosea 7:12.

plead with him] i.e. there subject him to the consequences of his treachery, bringing it thereby to his knowledge that he is suffering the penalty of it, cf. Ezekiel 20:35-36, Ezekiel 38:22; Jeremiah 2:35.

21. all his fugitives] The form of word does not otherwise occur, but has been so understood by some ancient versions. Others as Targ., Syr., assume a transposition of two letters and render: his choice men; and so many moderns (cf. ch. Ezekiel 23:7; Daniel 11:15). This last reading is found in a number of MSS. Cf. ch. Ezekiel 5:2; Ezekiel 5:12, Ezekiel 6:10; Ezekiel 6:13, Ezekiel 12:12 seq.

22. I will also take] I will take—“I” emphatic. The figure refers to the house of David, cf. Ezekiel 17:2-3; Isaiah 53:2.

high mountain] This belongs partly to the figure of the cedar, but indicates also the conspicuousness to the eyes of the nations of this great cedar; Isaiah 2:2.

22–24. Promise of a new and universal Messianic kingdom in Israel

The attempt of the king of Babylon to set up a kingdom in Israel miscarried; he who set up the kingdom took it away. The shoot planted by him was smitten by the east wind and withered. But Jehovah himself will plant a shoot of the high cedar, the Davidic house, on a high mountain that all nations may see it (Isaiah 2:2; Isaiah 11:10), even on the height of the mountain land of Israel, and it shall become a great cedar, so that all the fowls of heaven shall lodge in the branches of it. This kingdom shall be imposing and universal, and all peoples shall find protection under it. And then shall it be known that Jehovah is king among the nations, that kingdoms are in his hand, to set one up and pull another down; that he can make the green tree wither and the dry tree blossom and bear fruit.

23. mountain of the height] Cf. ch. Ezekiel 20:40, Ezekiel 40:2.

fowl of every wing] As fowls flock to a great tree so all peoples will put their trust in the shadow of this great monarchy in the land of Israel; ch. Ezekiel 31:6; Daniel 4:12; Matthew 13:32.

24. As this kingdom is compared to a cedar other kingdoms are likewise called trees; cf. ch. Ezekiel 31:5; Ezekiel 31:8; Ezekiel 31:14; Ezekiel 31:16; Ezekiel 31:18. Kings and kingdoms are hardly distinguished, the kingdom is but the expression of the king. Then all shall know that this great result is the work of Jehovah, who worketh contrary to men’s expectations; who overturneth till he come whose right it is to rule. Cf. 1 Samuel 2:4-8; Luke 1:51-53.