1Moreover take you up a lament for the leaders of Israel, 2And say, “What a lioness was your mother (Judah) among lions! She lay down among lions, she reared her cubs among young lions. 3And she brought up one of her whelps; he (Jehoahaz) became a strong young lion, and he learned to catch his prey; he became a man-eater. 4The nations also heard of him; he was trapped in the pit they dug for him, and they brought him bound with chains into the land of Egypt. 5Now when she saw that her hope for him was dashed, then she took another of her whelps, and made him a strong young lion (likely Jehoiakim or Jehoiachin). 6“And he prowled among the lions; he became a very strong young lion, and learned to catch his prey, and he also became a man-eater. 7And he broke down strongholds and devastated their towns. Then all who lived in the land were terrified by his roaring. 8“Then the nations came against him on every side from the regions, and spread their nets for him; and he was caught in their traps (2Kings 24:1-12). 9And with chains they dragged him into a cage, and brought him to the king of Babylon; they put him into prison, that his voice should no more be heard upon the mountains of Israel. 10“Your mother is like a vine planted by the water’s edge; she was fruitful and full of branches because of the abundance of water. 11And her branches were strong rods – strong enough to be a ruler’s scepter; and her stature became taller than the other thick branches, and she stood out in her height among the many of branches. 12But she was plucked up in fury; she was hurled to the ground; and the east (desert) wind dried and shriveled up her fruit; her strong branches were broken and dried; and then fire consumed them. 13And now she is planted in the desert, in a dry and thirsty land. 14And fire spread from one of her main branches, which devoured her fruit, so that she was left with no strong rod to be a scepter fit to rule. This is a lamentation, and shall be used for a funeral song.” Ezekiel 19 contains of two perplexing passages: verses 1-9, and verses 10-14. Here is a little background info that may prove helpful. Verses 1 – 9 - In verse 1, Ezekiel is here called upon by the LORD to lament for the leaders (kings) of Judah, and then told to compare the kingdom of Judah to a lioness (v2). In verses 2-9, “mother Judah” is referred to as a lioness and her lion whelps. During his reign, King Josiah became aware of how far Judah had strayed from God and covenanted with the LORD to walk after Him, and keep His commandments (II Kings 23:1-25); he instituted broad and much-needed reforms in Judah, but when he was killed by Egypt’s Pharaoh-neco at the battle of Megiddo, the people of Judah took his son, Jehoahaz, and made him king” (2Kings 23:30). He seems to be the first of the two lion whelps alluded to here (v3 v4). Jehoahaz reigned only 3 months before Pharaoh-neco took him away to Egypt in bonds; and made his brother, Eliakim, king instead, after changing his name to Jehoiakim.(v5) Both of these kings (lion’s whelps) were evil, cruel and oppressive to their own subjects (man-eaters) (v3 & v6) Verses 10 – 14 - In verse 10, the narrative shifts, when “mother Judah” is no longer referred to as a “lioness”, but as a rogue “vine”: (verses 10: 10Your mother is like a vine planted by the water’s edge; she was fruitful and full of branches because of the abundance of water. (God’s nurturing of Judah and Jerusalem) 11And her branches were strong rods – strong enough to be a ruler’s scepter; and her stature became taller than the other thick branches, and she stood out in her height among the many of branches (possibly alluding to her godly kings, such as Josiah). 12But she was plucked up in fury; she was hurled to the ground; and the east (desert) wind dried and shriveled up her fruit; her strong branches were broken and dried; and then fire consumed them. (But in her disobedience, she became dry tinder, susceptible to the embers of God’s anger) 13And now she is planted in the desert, in a dry and thirsty land (Babylon, where she was exiled). (This may refer to the last king, Zedekiah, who finally brought on the utter ruin of both himself and his people). This [Note] is inserted here in the hope that it aids in interpreting these passages. Reader-Friendly Bible: Purple Letter Edition © 2024 by Jim Musser. Used by Permission. All rights Reserved. Bible Hub |
    |