Eze 17:4 | KingComments | STEP | This chapter is a transitional chapter. The previous chapter deals with the common responsibility of Jerusalem. The next chapter is about personal responsibility. This chapter is about Zedekiah, the king of Judah. He is the representative of the people, while also being personally responsible to God. Zedekiah, the present leader in Jerusalem, is contrasted with the future Son of David Who will lead God’s people. The former is compared to a low vine ( ), the latter to a stately cedar ( ). The word of the LORD comes to Ezekiel ( ), where the LORD addresses him again as “son of man” ( ). Ezekiel is to propound a riddle and speak a parable to the house of Israel. A riddle is an obscure statement; it is something said in an indirect way that requires an explanation. A parable is the presentation of a spiritual truth by tangible images. The parable is a riddle explained by the LORD Himself ( ). Parables and riddles are used to attract attention and provoke thought in the hearers. The great, beautiful eagle ( ) represents Nebuchadnezzar ( ), who is king of kings, as the eagle is king of birds. His great wings and long pinions indicate great power and dominion over a vast territory. The multicolored nature refers to the diversity of the peoples he has subjected to him. Lebanon, to which the eagle comes, represents Jerusalem because the palace and temple are made of cedar from Lebanon. David and Solomon used much cedar wood for their buildings; Solomon made cedars abundant in Jerusalem ( ; ). The “cedar” is a picture of the house of David. The “crown of a cedar” represents Jehoiachin, the grandson of Josiah, the last descendant of the royal line. He is “the topmost” ( ). Together with “its young twigs”, that is, with a few more of the considerable ones, Jehoiachin is taken to “a land of merchants” – that is, the land of the Chaldeans – and to “a city of traders” – that is, Babylon ( ; ). Then the eagle takes “some of the seed of the land” and plants it in “in fertile soil”, that is, he appoints Zedekiah as king over fertile Judah ( ; ). Through the kindness of the king of Babylon, the kingdom is able to develop well for some time under Zedekiah ( ). He does grow wide, but it remains “under it”, that is, subordinate. Instead of submitting to the rule of Babylon, Zedekiah wants to shake off the yoke of Babylon ( ). For this purpose he turns to “another great eagle”, that is Egypt ( ; ). From him he expects his help, through him he wants to become great and strong and not through the king of Babylon, through whom he has become “a splendid vine” after all ( ). The LORD pronounces His judgment on it ( ). Zedekiah’s efforts to use his roots to draw his life force from the other great eagle will bring nothing. On the contrary, from him his roots will be pulled out, that is, he will lose his independence and his posterity. Also everything that is still beautiful, all his princes, will wither away with Zedekiah. It will not take much strength or a numerous people to strip him of all his glory. The east wind ( ), that is the king of Babylon, will judge him, while Egypt will be unable to give him any help ( ). Jerusalem will be destroyed and Zedekiah dethroned.

‏ Ezekiel 17:4

Introduction

This chapter is a transitional chapter. The previous chapter deals with the common responsibility of Jerusalem. The next chapter is about personal responsibility. This chapter is about Zedekiah, the king of Judah. He is the representative of the people, while also being personally responsible to God.

Zedekiah, the present leader in Jerusalem, is contrasted with the future Son of David Who will lead God’s people. The former is compared to a low vine (Eze 17:2-21), the latter to a stately cedar (Eze 17:22-24).

Parable of the Two Eagles

The word of the LORD comes to Ezekiel (Eze 17:1), where the LORD addresses him again as “son of man” (Eze 17:2). Ezekiel is to propound a riddle and speak a parable to the house of Israel. A riddle is an obscure statement; it is something said in an indirect way that requires an explanation. A parable is the presentation of a spiritual truth by tangible images. The parable is a riddle explained by the LORD Himself (Eze 17:11-21). Parables and riddles are used to attract attention and provoke thought in the hearers.

The great, beautiful eagle (Eze 17:3) represents Nebuchadnezzar (Eze 17:12), who is king of kings, as the eagle is king of birds. His great wings and long pinions indicate great power and dominion over a vast territory. The multicolored nature refers to the diversity of the peoples he has subjected to him. Lebanon, to which the eagle comes, represents Jerusalem because the palace and temple are made of cedar from Lebanon. David and Solomon used much cedar wood for their buildings; Solomon made cedars abundant in Jerusalem (1Kgs 10:27; 2Chr 1:15).

The “cedar” is a picture of the house of David. The “crown of a cedar” represents Jehoiachin, the grandson of Josiah, the last descendant of the royal line. He is “the topmost” (Eze 17:4). Together with “its young twigs”, that is, with a few more of the considerable ones, Jehoiachin is taken to “a land of merchants” – that is, the land of the Chaldeans – and to “a city of traders” – that is, Babylon (Eze 16:29; 2Kgs 24:8-16).

Then the eagle takes “some of the seed of the land” and plants it in “in fertile soil”, that is, he appoints Zedekiah as king over fertile Judah (Eze 17:5a; 2Kgs 24:17). Through the kindness of the king of Babylon, the kingdom is able to develop well for some time under Zedekiah (Eze 17:5b-6). He does grow wide, but it remains “under it”, that is, subordinate.

Instead of submitting to the rule of Babylon, Zedekiah wants to shake off the yoke of Babylon (2Kgs 24:20b). For this purpose he turns to “another great eagle”, that is Egypt (Eze 17:7; Eze 17:15). From him he expects his help, through him he wants to become great and strong and not through the king of Babylon, through whom he has become “a splendid vine” after all (Eze 17:8).

The LORD pronounces His judgment on it (Eze 17:9). Zedekiah’s efforts to use his roots to draw his life force from the other great eagle will bring nothing. On the contrary, from him his roots will be pulled out, that is, he will lose his independence and his posterity. Also everything that is still beautiful, all his princes, will wither away with Zedekiah. It will not take much strength or a numerous people to strip him of all his glory. The east wind (Eze 17:10), that is the king of Babylon, will judge him, while Egypt will be unable to give him any help (Jer 37:5-10). Jerusalem will be destroyed and Zedekiah dethroned.