Ezekiel 17

AND the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

Son of man, put forth a A dark saying, which calls for thorough consideration to understand, and apply it, because the meaning is different to the sound of the words. riddle, and speak a The same thing redoubled in different words. And 'tis likely the Prophet is commanded to use a parable, because those Eastern People were much used to, and taken with this kind of discourse. parable to the house of i. e. The remainders of the house of Israel, whether of the ten Tribes, or of the Two Tribes. Israel. These two verses are preface to what follows in the Chapter.

And say, Thus says the Lord GOD; A great Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon, as ver. 12. compared to a great Eagle, King of Birds, swift, strong, rapacious, and of a lofty flight. eagle with Mighty Provinces on each side of his Kingdom. great wings, His Kingdom was vastly extended, as Dan. 3.3. and 4.1. the greatest King then living. long winged, His Kingdom was very full of People. full of feathers, which had Were of divers Nations, Languages and Manners, so that this Eagle may be well thought to be that sort, which is greatest in the kind, and best resembleth him, who was the greatest Monarch in the World at that time. divers colours, Invaded with a mighty army; he came not as a Traveller to please his curiosity, but as an invader to enlarge his dominion. came unto Either the Temple built with Cedars of Lebanon, or Ierusalem the chief City of the Countrey where this great, fruitful and pleasant Hill was, or the whole Countrey set forth by its chiefest Hill, which runs about 125 miles in length, and encloseth the Land of Iudea on the North side. Lebanon, and Took captive and carried away with him. took the The King of Iudah, Iehojachin. highest branch of the Either the royal Family, or rather, the whole nation of the Jews. Cedar:

Nebuchadnezzar surnamed the great. He As a Gardiner that crops off the goodliest cions, and carrieth them away to graft on some other stock. cropt off the Both the King of Iudah, now 18 years old, and the Nobles and Chief of the Land. top of his young twigs, and carried it into a Into Babylon which was a City of mighty Trade, explained farther by being a City of Merchants, and peculiarly of Merchants that traded in sweet Spices and odoriferous gums. land of traffick; he set it in a city of merchants.

Nebuchadnezzar. He Chose out one to be King instead of Iehojachin. took also of the A Native, and which is more, one of the Royal Family Mattaniah, whom he called Zedekiah. seed of the land, and Setled him on the Throne of Iudah. planted it in a A field fit for such a design, in the Land of Iudea. fruitful field; The Prophet goeth on in his allusion, and explains what he meant, compares this new made King to a willow, which grows no where so well as in a wet soil, and on banks of great waters. he placed it by great waters, and set it as a willow tree.

And Both the King and Kingdom. it grew, and became a Took root, grew up to a tolerable condition of riches, plenty and prosperity. spreading vine of But never reacht the height of the Cedar, Nebuchadnezzar, though he made Zedekiah King, yet kept him subject and dependent. low stature, whose branches They grew and flourisht, while they owned their state tributary to Babylon. turned toward him, and the All the firmness, fruitfulness, and life of this state, was in a subjection to the King of Babylon. roots thereof were under him: so Thus, in this order and manner of dependence, both the Jews and their King had life, growth, and verdure. it became a vine, and brought forth branches, and shot forth Younger and tenderer springles, as Children the hope of future times. sprigs. Nebuchadnezzar as their protector, benefactor, and sovereign Lord. Greater, and stronger boughs for present strength, beauty, and fruit.

This is the second part of the Parable. There was also i. e. The King of Egypt whether A ies, or H ra, or what other was his name we need not curiously enquire, 'twas King of Egypt, ver. 15. another great eagle with Vid. ver. 3. great wings and many feathers: and behold, this Z dekiah, his Nobles and People. vine did Sought the friendship and help of the King of Egypt. bend her roots towards him, and Sent Embassadours, made a Covenant, and trusted to the power of Egypt to defend her branches. shot forth her branches towards him, that he That they might adde to their greatness, and prosperous condition, as Trees grow by due and seasonable watering them. might water it by the Alluding to the manner of irrigation used in Egypt, by furrows or trenches to convey the water unto their Plantations from the River Nilus. furrows of her plantation.

It By Nebuchadnezzar in a very, hopeful condition, where it might have thrived, been fruitful, and flourished. But they, both King and People were unthankful, and discontented and by sinful courses seek to better themselves; they had no great or just cause to complain of Nebuchadnezzars usage towards them, but out of pride, ambition and ingratitude joined with perjury, they revolt, and provoke Gods wrath, and Nebuchadnezzars rage against them. was planted in a good soil by great waters, that it might bring forth branches, and that it might bear fruit, that it might be a goodly vine.

Tell them what will be the issue of all this, and tell it to them in my name. Say thou, Thus says the Lord GOD; shall This Vine, shall Zedekiah and his People thrive by this? 'tis a question that must be resolved negatively and with vehemency. it prosper? shall Nebuchad zzar. he not Utterly overthrow this Kingdom which he had set up, destroy the King thereof. pull up the roots thereof, and Put to the Sword and slay the Children of Zedekiah and of the Nobles. cut off the fruit thereof, that it Never be in possibility of springing, so much is threatned by the withering of the branches. wither? It shall wither in all the All the promising hope they had shall vanish as the hope of a Tree vanisheth, when all its buds and leaves wither in its spring. leaves of her spring, even without The King of Babylon shall do this easily, and never need to imploy all his Power, and People to do this, utterly to root up this Vine. great power, or many people to pluck it up by the roots thereof.

Nay suppose this contrivance were successful, suppose this Vine were planted by the help of Egypt. Yea, behold, being planted, Could it possibly prosper, no, no. shall it prosper? shall it not utterly wither, when the When the King of Babylon, which like the blasting Wind comes from the North East, shall but touch it, twill utterly wither. east wind toucheth it? it shall wither in the Even amidst its greatest and best helps to make it flourish. This discontent, ingratitude, and treachery, will occasion the utter ruine of this People. furrows where it grew.

Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

This is the order God gives to his Prophet to explain the Riddle. Say now to the To the house of Iudah, which have been, and still are rebellious against me, and are now entring into rebellion against Nebuchadnezzar. rebellious house, Are ye so blockish, that you do not know what is meant, or are you so secure, that you will not consider it, but run on your own ruine. know ye not what these things mean? tell them, Behold, the The King of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar is that first great Eagle with part of his Power. king of Babylon is come Ierusalem is the Lebanon, which he is come to. to Jerusalem, and has taken the The King of Israel, and his seed, and Nobles are the branches and twigs cropt off, these are taken, conquered, made captives. king thereof, and the princes thereof, and Judging them unfit to be trusted any more, he will, though in chains, carry them to Babylon. led them with him to Babylon.

And has First taken Iehojachin, and his Princes Captives, and next, taken out from amidst the Royal seed Mattaniah, and advanced him to the throne in Ierusalem. taken of the kings seed, and By solemn agreement, and on terms approved and accepted by Mattaniah, for performance of which terms he has obliged himself by publick Promise. made a covenant with him, and has taken an Because Nebuchadnezzar would be secure he made Mattaniah enter into an oath, changed his name into Zedekiah, as a fit memorial, who should avenge the crime, if this captive restored should perjure himself. oath of him: he has also taken the The rich, honourable, valiant, wise and who might (if rebellion ever arose among the Jews) be able to make head, and do mischief against the Babylonian King. mighty of the Of Iudea. land:

So plainly and openly did N buchad ezzar deal with the Jews. That the The tributary Kingdom whereof Zedekiah is Ro telet. kingdom might be Low in Power. base, that it might not Rise up into rebellion, or be so considerable, as to encourage any neighbour King to assist and confederate with them against Babylon. lift it self up, but that by Continuing faithful, and performing the conditions. keeping of Either Nebuchadnezzar's, by imposing, or Zedekiahs by submitting to it, and obliging himself by it. his covenant The Kingdom of the Jews. it might Continue and lourish. stand.

But Zedekiah. he Endeavoured to cast off the dominion of the conqueror. rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar who had advanced him, and obliged him. him in This is that called bending his roots toward the second Eagle. sending his ambassadors into An old bitter Enemy, and an impotent and false friend. Egypt, that they might Beside the perjury, here was a cursed trusting to an arm of flesh, of which Isa. 31.1. give him horses, and Zedekiah had not men to set upon his hired horses; Egypt must help here too, how sottishly does this unhappy Zedekiah act to run himself on the charge and hazard of a new War, in which who ever is the gainer, he and his are sure to be the losers. much people: shall he See ver. 9, 10. prosper? shall he Can it be likely vengeance should not overtake such ingratitude. escape that does such things? or shall he Can perjury be the way for any mans deliverance? Can uch notorious sinning end in any thing, but misery? break the covenant, and be delivered?

As sure as I am God, and live, I will punish this perjury. As, I live, says the Lord GOD, surely A particular account of the Punishment. in the place Babylon. where the king Nebuchadnezzar. dwelleth that made Zedekiah. him king, The oath Nebuchadnezzar imposed. whose oath Contemptuously, without any just cause given, and therefore this perfidious Prince could never expect more favour, but must in reason fear the greatest severities, under this fear Zedekiah shall spend the rest of his days. he despised, and whose covenant he brake, even with him in the midst of Babylon he He shall rather be always dying, for though he lived a natural life, yet 'twas in such sadness, it is more properly stiled a dying, in blindness under the memorial of the most afflictive sight. The murther of his Children, which was the last thing his eye ever beheld. shall die.

Neither shall Pharaoh with his Let his army be made up of ever so many well disciplined Souldiers, if as many as the Egyptian can vainly promise, or the Jews more vainly hope. mighty army and great Possibly it may refer to the multitudes, which usually attended the march of armies, or else tis a doubling the thing in doubled words. company make If Zedekiah be the person, as our version carrieth it, it foretells the unprofitableness of the Egyptian army, that shall not do him any kindness, if Nebuchadnezzar be intended, as the version which renders the Hebr. particle (against) then it foretells the little hurt that the Egyptians shall do to Nebuchadnezzar. for him in the war, When Nebuchadnezzar shall with so much speed, and skill cast up Forts and build Mounts, wooden Castles to annoy Ierusalem, secure his own Forces, and terrifie the Egyptian King from the difficulty of raising the siege, which could not be done without expence of much blood. by casting up mounts, and building forts, to Of the besieged in Ierusalem, and of the Egyptians, if they attempt to raise the siege, this sense it bears in the French Version. cut off many persons.

This verse gives us the reason of this unhappy enterprise, which is summed up in wilful, presumptuous, and most unparallel'd perjury. Seeing he despised the oath by breaking the covenant, when lo, Zedekiah. he had A solemn confirming the oath, or covenant, and imployes the voluntary act of Zedekiah in swearing, which makes the perjury so much the fouler. given his hand, and has done all these Too bad to be named, and most unbecoming any one that was a beneficiary, and had so much from the bounty of one, that was not obliged to do any thing for him. things, he shall not escape.

Therefore thus says the Lord GOD, As I Vid. 16.48. live, surely Made in my name, and of which I am both witness and avenger. mine oath which Zedekiah. he has Vid. chap. 16.59. and 17.18. despised, and my covenant that he has broken, even it will I I will punish, as it deserveth, and it shall appear by the punishment, that my hand does execute it. recompense upon his 'Tis probable some Courtiers might advise to it, but this will not excuse Zedekiah, his perjury was his own act, and on his own head, as I charge, so I will punish it. own head.

And I will Vide chap. 12. ver. 13. where the former part of this verse is word for word. spread my net upon him, and he shall be taken in my snare, and I will bring him to Babylon, and will Or be judged with him, i. e. The Heathen shall both see what I do against this man, they shall consider why I do so, and be judge whether I do more than this perjur'd King deserves, or else, I will punish him with continued punishments from my own hand, or by the hand of Neb chadnezzar, suitable to the greatness of his trespass against me. plead with him there for his trespass that he has trespassed Falsehoods to men in breaking Oaths and Covenants, are in a high degree trespasses against God. against me.

And Not strictly, but in large sense: All, i. e. the greatest part, as Ier. 13.19. and 44.22. Mat. 2.3. and 3.5. all his Who, at the taking of Ierusalem, attempt to fly with their King. fugitives with all his His Guards probably of stoutest men reserved to convey him in safety from the pursuing Enemy. bands shall The Enemy shall overtake, and cut in pieces. fall by the sword, and they that The few that do escape shall be scattered abroad among Strangers, who will show them very little kindness. remain shall be scattered towards all winds, and The miseries these people shall fall under, shall be of such weight and continuance, that all shall know 'tis the execution of an extraordinary wrath from Heaven against them. ye shall know that I the LORD have spoken it.

Whereas the Judgments threatned might seem to threaten the utter extirpation of the seed of David; now the Lord is pleased to assure its continuance, and the raising of the Messiah from that house according to promise. Thus says the Lord GOD; Nebuchadnezzar took and planted, and I will also take and plant says the Lord. I will also take Of the royal seed of the House of David; of the highest branch that is Heir to the Throne, in the Type Zoro abel, in the Antitype, Messiah. of the highest branch of the high cedar, and Both set or plant, and give increase to his Kingdom, that from a tender one, he should grow up to great strength, victory, and glory. will set it; I will crop off from the top of his young twig, a tender one, and will plant it upon an high Upon Mount Sion, Psal. 2.6. or as Isa. 2.2, 3. mountain and Not for outward splendor, but for spiritual advantages above other Nations in the Church, eminent. eminent.

In the Either the Church, or Ierusalem, whence the Law of Christ was to be published, and where the preachers of the Gospel wer to continue till furnisht with abilities for that work. mountain of the height of Israel will I plant it; and it shall Like a Tree that taketh root, and spreadeth forth into branches, so the Kingdom of Christ should grow. bring forth boughs and Be fruitful in good works, not flourishing in boughs and leaves only, but much more in excellent fruits of Holyness, Justice, and Temperance, and in Joy, Peace, and Love. bear fruit, and be a The goodliest that ever grew, most excellent, and most durable. goodly cedar: and under it shall dwell all All Nations, the Gentiles as well as the Jews, shall build, breed, and multiply under the Kingdom of Christ, it shall be no more confined to the Jews, but extend to the Gentiles also. fowl of every wing, in the There they shall find peace and safety, and this repeated confirms the certainty of the promise. shadow of the branches thereof shall they dwell.

And all the The great ones on Earth, all considering persons. trees of the field shall See and confess. know that I the LORD have brought down the Zedekiah that would neither hearken to me, my Prophets, or to Nebuchadnezzar, or the Kingdom of Babylon, which was brought low indeed, when overthrown by Darius and Cyrus. high tree, have exalted the Either Iehoiachin's lineage, or the Church which, of low, was exalted by the Lord, bending Cyrus to that work of restoring the Captivity from Babylon, and building the City and house of God; its meaning is the advancing the Kingdom of Christ, and suppressing the Enemies thereof. low tree; The same thing exprest in somewhat different words. have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry to flourish: I the LORD have spoken, and have done it. The Power, Goodness, and Faithfulness of God, who can do what he pleaseth, and will do what he promiseth, is the assurance of the future accomplishment of his word.