The destruction of Jerusalem is again prophesied of in this chapter, and is set forth under the simile of a vine tree, which, for its uselessness, is committed to the fire. The simile is in Ezek. 15:1–5; the application of it in Ezek. 15:6–8.

And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying. ] The destruction of Jerusalem had been represented under various types and similes before, as of a siege, and a sharp razor; and here of a fruitless and useless vine, only fit for the fire; which was delivered out by a spirit of prophecy.

Son of man, what is the vine tree more than any tree Or, “the wood of the vine than any wood” [[1]]; it is not better than other wood; it is not so good as any other wood; nay, it is good for nothing.

Shall wood be taken thereof to do any work? &c.] The carpenter and joiner, the house or ship builder, are employed in; as to build houses of, make beams, rafters, floors build ships with, make masts of or any vessel or utensil for the use of man? it never is; it is not fit for any such purpose.

Behold, it is cast into the fire for fuel, That is; a vine tree when cut down, or a branch when cut off, it is good for nothing else; and that is the use it is generally put to; see ; and this, it is suggested, would be the end of the Jewish nation; who were become by their sins like a wild vine,…

Behold, when it was whole it was meet for no work Before it was cut into pieces, and east into the fire, it was not fit to make so much as a pin of to hang anything on; so Israel, when all together, before the ten tribes were carried captive, or the Jews before the captivity of Jeconiah, were…

Therefore thus saith the Lord God Now follows the application of the simile: as the vine tree among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel; to be burnt, as other trees of the forest are, and along with them: so will I give the inhabitants of Jerusalem; to be destroyed…

And I will set my face against them In wrath to destroy them; see ; and they shall go out from one fire, and another fire shall devour them: from one calamity to another; those that escaped the famine and pestilence in the city fell by the sword; and those that escaped famine, sword, and…

And I will make the land desolate The land of Judea uncultivated, men and beast being cut off; see (Ezek. 14:15, Ezek. 14:21) ; because they have committed a trespass, saith the Lord God; acted a treacherous and perfidious part; apostatized from God, having committed idolatry, which was the cause…