Ezekiel17

Ezekiel presents a riddle of two eagles and a vine, symbolizing Judah's political alliances and rebellion. The first eagle, Babylon, establishes King Zedekiah under a covenant, but Zedekiah, the vine, rebels by seeking aid from the second eagle, Egypt. God declares judgment upon Zedekiah for breaking his oath, promising his death in Babylon and the futility of Egyptian help. However, the chapter concludes with God's promise to plant a tender branch from the cedar, signifying a future restoration and the establishment of His righteous kingdom.

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The Riddle of the Two Eagles and the Vine

And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,

Son of man, put forth a riddle, and speak a parable unto the house of Israel;

and say, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: A great eagle with great wings and long pinions, full of feathers, which had divers colors, came unto Lebanon, and took the top of the cedar:

he cropped off the topmost of the young twigs thereof, and carried it unto a land of traffic; he set it in a city of merchants.

He took also of the seed of the land, and planted it in a fruitful soil; he placed it beside many waters; he set it as a willow-tree.

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.

There was also another great eagle with great wings and many feathers: and, behold, this vine did bend its roots toward him, and shot forth its branches toward him, from the beds of its plantation, that he might water it.

It was planted in a good soil by many waters, that it might bring forth branches, and that it might bear fruit, that it might be a goodly vine.

Say thou, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Shall it prosper? shall he not pull up the roots thereof, and cut off the fruit thereof, that it may wither; that all its fresh springing leaves may wither? and not by a strong arm or much people can it be raised from the roots thereof.

Yea, behold, being planted, shall it prosper? shall it not utterly wither, when the east wind toucheth it? it shall wither in the beds where it grew.

Interpretation: Judgment on the Covenant Breaker

Moreover the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,

Say now to the rebellious house, Know ye not what these things mean? tell them, Behold, the king of Babylon came to Jerusalem, and took the king thereof, and the princes thereof, and brought them to him to Babylon.

And he took of the seed royal, and made a covenant with him; he also brought him under an oath, and took away the mighty of the land;

that the kingdom might be base, that it might not lift itself up, but that by keeping his covenant it might stand.

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? shall he break the covenant, and yet escape?

As I live, saith the Lord Jehovah, 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.

Neither shall Pharaoh with his mighty army and great company help him in the war, when they cast up mounds and build forts, to cut off many persons.

For he hath despised the oath by breaking the covenant; and behold, he had given his hand, and yet hath done all these things; he shall not escape.

Therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah: As I live, surely mine oath that he hath despised, and my covenant that he hath broken, I will even bring it upon his own head.

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 enter into judgment with him there for his trespass that he hath trespassed against me.

And all his fugitives in all his bands shall fall by the sword, and they that remain shall be scattered toward every wind: and ye shall know that I, Jehovah, have spoken it.

The Prophecy of the Tender Twig (Messianic Hope)

Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: I will also take of the lofty top of the cedar, and will set it; I will crop off from the topmost of its young twigs a tender one, and I will plant it upon a high and lofty mountain:

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 birds of every wing; in the shade of the branches thereof shall they dwell.

And all the trees of the field shall know that I, Jehovah, 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, Jehovah, have spoken and have done it.

Study Notes for Ezekiel 17

Verse 2

This chapter employs the literary device of a riddle (hīdâ) and a parable (māshāl), common teaching methods used to challenge the audience to understand a complex political and theological truth.

Verse 3

The 'great eagle' represents Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, characterized by his vast power and diverse vassal states (divers colours). The 'highest branch of the cedar' symbolizes the Judean royal house, specifically King Jehoiachin.

Verse 4

This verse describes the first deportation of Judah in 597 BC, when Jehoiachin and the elite were taken to Babylon. The 'land of traffick' and 'city of merchants' refers to Babylon, a major commercial hub.

Verse 5

The 'seed of the land' refers to Zedekiah (Jehoiachin’s uncle), whom Nebuchadnezzar installed as a puppet king. He was planted in Judah ('fruitful field') to ensure a stable, but dependent, vassal state.

Verse 6

The 'spreading vine of low stature' describes the kingdom of Judah under Zedekiah. It was allowed to exist only by remaining humble and subservient, with its roots 'under him' (Babylon).

Verse 7

The 'another great eagle' represents Pharaoh Hophra of Egypt. Zedekiah, dissatisfied with his vassal status, looked to Egypt for military aid, violating his oath to Babylon.

Verse 9

This rhetorical question predicts the total failure of Zedekiah's rebellion. The vine, though planted, lacks true vitality and will be destroyed easily, illustrating God’s judgment upon faithlessness.

Verse 10

The 'east wind' often symbolizes a devastating force, typically referring to the destructive power of Babylon, or more fundamentally, the instrument of divine wrath against Judah.

Verse 12

God commands Ezekiel to explicitly interpret the parable for the exiles, who were often slow to grasp the prophetic significance of their political reality. This section confirms that the riddle concerned current events in Jerusalem.

Verse 13

Nebuchadnezzar secured Zedekiah’s loyalty by making him swear an oath in Yahweh’s name. This political treaty was thus elevated to a sacred covenant, making its violation a religious offense against God.

Verse 15

Zedekiah’s rebellion by seeking Egyptian military support was the direct cause of Jerusalem’s final destruction. The prophet emphasizes that breaking a sworn covenant is an act that cannot prosper.

Verse 16

This is a divine pronouncement of judgment (an 'as I live' oath). Zedekiah would not find refuge in Egypt but would be captured and die in Babylon, fulfilling the covenant terms he had broken.

Verse 17

Pharaoh’s mighty army will be useless against the determined siege of the Babylonians. This confirms the theological principle that human alliances cannot thwart God’s judgment.

Verse 19

Theological significance is highlighted here: Zedekiah’s despised oath to Babylon is treated as a despised oath to Yahweh, who had witnessed and sanctioned the covenant.

Verse 20

The metaphor of the 'net' illustrates God’s inescapable sovereignty over the political affairs of nations. Zedekiah will be brought before God’s court ('I will plead with him') in Babylon to face the consequences of his treachery.

Verse 22

This section shifts abruptly from judgment to future hope, promising a restoration of the Davidic line. The 'tender one' (a young shoot) represents a future righteous king, traditionally interpreted as a messianic prophecy.

Verse 23

Planting the cedar on a 'high mountain' signifies the establishment of God’s kingdom in Zion (Jerusalem). The resulting great cedar, providing shelter for 'all fowl,' symbolizes the universal nature and security of God’s restored people.

Verse 24

This concluding statement asserts God’s absolute sovereignty over all creation and political powers. He determines the fate of nations ('brought down the high tree,' 'exalted the low tree'), guaranteeing the certainty of both judgment and restoration.

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Ezekiel17

The Riddle of the Two Eagles and the Vine

Interpretation: Judgment on the Covenant Breaker

The Prophecy of the Tender Twig (Messianic Hope)

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