Ezekiel
Verse 2. Riddle. Thus the prophets and Christ often delivered their doctrine. Calmet.
EXPLANATIONS
Ezekiel 17
Historical chapter commentary
Ezekiel
Verse 3. A large eagle. Nabuchodonosor, king of Babylon. Challoner.—The multitude of his subjects, and his rapid and cruel conquests, are designated. Calmet.—He spoils the vineyard of Jerusalem, notwithstanding the Jews had applied to another eagle, the king of Egypt. verse 12. Worthington.—Libanus. That is, Jerusalem; ( Challoner.) or invaded the country, ( Calmet.) entering by Libanus. Bible.—Cedar. King Jechonias Challoner. and his nobles, (4 Kin. 24:11) with the most precious effects.
Ezekiel
Verse 4. Twigs. The young king and his officers, who had scarcely got established. Calmet.—Chanaan. This name, which signifies traffic, is not taken here for Palestine, but for Chaldea; and the city of merchants here mentioned is Babylon. Challoner.—It was so corrupt as to deserve this appellation, as Rome was afterwards styled Babylon. Its situation was very favourable to traffic, and its dominions were very extensive. Calmet.
Ezekiel
Verse 5. Land. Sedecias, whom he made king. Challoner.—He was brother of the dethroned king, and have every prospect of reigning long, if he had proved faithful. Calmet.
Ezekiel
Verse 6. Towards him. Nabuchodonosor, to whom Sedecias swore allegiance. Challoner.—Lit. “to it,” eam, the eagle. Bible.—The dominions of Sedecias were extensive, but weak, and dependant on a foreign king.
Ezekiel
Verse 7. Eagle. The king of Egypt, ( Challoner.) Vaphres, who came at the request of Sedecias, to oppose the Chaldeans, but was routed; and they returned to the siege of Jerusalem. Jeremiah 37:4.—Plantation, as the waters of the Nile were conducted to different parts by ditches. Deuteronomy 11:10.
Ezekiel
Verse 9. Prosper. Will God countenance perfidy? Calmet.—“Faith must be kept even with enemies.” Saint Jerome—Arm. The conquest did not cost the Chaldeans much. Sedecias fled by night, but was soon taken. 4 Kennicott. 25:6. Calmet.
Ezekiel
Verse 12. Shall, or, “hath taken,” and so forth Challoner. as also (verse 13.) Sedecias was seized five years after. Calmet. 8:1. Jechonias, the princes, mighty warriors, (verse 13) and expert artists, had been taken away six years before, with the prophet. Prot. “is come, … and hath taken,” and so forth Bible.
Ezekiel
Verse 16. Die. He had sworn fidelity, and was justly punished, dying blind, and in prison. Calmet. 12. Worthington.
Ezekiel
Verse 17. Souls. Some refer this to Pharao; others to the enemy. The former did not attempt to surround the besiegers, but after losing a battle retired. Calmet. 30:21. Calmet.
Ezekiel
Verse 18. Hand. Swearing perhaps to both ( Bible.) the Egyptian and to the Chaldean monarch.
Ezekiel
Verse 20. Net. Calmet. 12:13. Calmet.—Judge, punish. Bible.—His sentence was pronounced at Reblatha. 4 Kin. 25:7. Calmet.
Ezekiel
Verse 22. Cedar. Of the Royal stock of David.—Twig. Jesus Christ, whom God hath planted in Mount Sion, that is, the high mountain of his Church, to which all nations flow. Challoner.—The Jews in vain apply this to Zorobabel or to the Machabees. Their power was never great enough to verify these expressions. Calmet.—But Christ has united in his Church all the birds, or those who have strength enough to raise themselves above earthly things. Saint Jerome Theod. and so forth—The kingdom of Sedecias and that of Nabuchodonosor prospered not, or was soon at an end: Christ remains for ever. Worthington.
Ezekiel
Verse 24. High and green denote Sedecias; low and dry Jechonias, who was exalted at Babylon, while his rival was hurled down from his present high estate. The prophets speak of that as past, which God has decreed. See Jeremiah 22:30. Calmet.
Ezekiel
or, seed