Ezek. 17 Under the parable of two eagles and a vine, Ezek. 17:1–10, is showed God’s judgment upon Zedekiah, for revolting from Babylon to Egypt, Ezek. 17:11–21. A promise of Christ’s kingdom, Ezek. 17:22–24.

These two verses are preface to what follows in the chapter. A riddle; a dark saying, which calls for thorough consideration to understand and apply it, because the meaning is different to the sound of the words. A parable; the same thing redoubled in different words.

A great eagle; Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, as Ezek. 17:12, compared to a great eagle, king of birds, swift, strong, rapacious, and of a lofty flight. With great wings; mighty provinces on each side of his kingdom. Long-winged; his kingdom was vastly extended, as Dan. 3:3, Dan.

Cropped off; as a gardener that crops off the goodliest scions, and carrieth them away to graft on some other stock. The top; both the king of Judah, now eighteen years old, and the nobles and chief of the land.

Took; chose out one to be king instead of Jehoiachin. Of the seed of the land; a native, and, which is more, one of the royal family, Mattaniah, whom he called Zedekiah. Planted it; settled him on the throne of Judah. A fruitful field; a field fit for such a design, in the land of Judea.

It grew; both the king and kingdom. Became a spreading vine; took root, grew up to a tolerable condition of riches, plenty, and prosperity. Of low stature; but never reached the height of the cedar. Nebuchadnezzar, though he made Zedekiah king, yet kept him subject and dependent.

This is the second part of the parable. Another great eagle, i.e. the king of Egypt, whether Apries, or Hophra, or what other was his name we need not curiously inquire, it was king of Egypt, Ezek. 17:15. Great wings: see Ezek. 17:3. This vine; Zedekiah, his nobles and people.

It was planted 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 sought to better themselves; they had no great or just cause to complain of…

Say thou; tell them what will be the issue of all this, and tell it to them in my name. Shall it prosper? this vine, shall Zedekiah aud his people thrive by this? it is a question that must be resolved negatively, and with vehemency.

Nay, suppose this contrivance were successful, suppose this vine were planted by the help of Egypt, could it possibly prosper? No, no. When the east wind; when the king of Babylon, which like the blasting wind conms from the north-east, shall but touch it, it will utterly wither.

Say now: this is the order God gives to his prophet to explain the riddle. To the rebellious house; to the house of Judah, which have been, and still are, rebellious against me, and are now entering into rebellion against Nebuchadnezzar.

Hath taken of the king’s seed; first taken Jehoiachin and his princes captives, and next taken out from amidst the royal seed Mattaniah, and advanced him to the throne in Jerusalem.

So plainly and openly did Nebuchadnezzar deal with the Jews. The kingdom; the tributary kingdom, whereof Zedekiah is roitelet. Base; low in power. Lift itself up; rise up into rebellion, or be so considerable as to encourage any neighbour king to assist and confederate with them against Babylon.

But Zedekiah rebelled; endeavoured to cast off the dominion of the conqueror Nebuchadnezzar, who had advanced him and obliged him. Sending his ambassadors is called bending his roots toward the second eagle. Egypt; an old bitter enemy, and an impotent and false friend.

As sure as I am God, and live, I will punish this perjury: and here is a particular account of the punishment. In the place; Babylon. The king; Nebuchadnezzar. Made him king; Zedekiah. Whose oath; the oath Nebuchadnezzar imposed.

Let his army be made up of ever so many well-disciplined soldiers, if as many as the Egyptian can vainly promise, or the Jews more vainly hope. Great company possibly may refer to the multitudes which usually attended the march of armies, or else it is a doubling the thing in doubled words.

This verse gives us the reason of this unhappy enterprise, which is summed up in wilful, presumptuous, and most unparalleled perjury. Zedekiah had given his hand; a solemn confirming of the oath, or covenant, and it implies the voluntary act of Zedekiah in swearing, which makes the perjury so much…

As I live: see Ezek. 16:48. Mine oath; made in my name, and of which I am both witness and avenger. Hath despised: see Ezek. 16:59, Ezek. 17:18. I will recompense; I will punish, as it deserveth, and it shall appear by the punishment that my hand doth execute it.

See Ezek. 12:13, where the former part of this verse is word for word. Plead with him; 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 perjured king deserves; or, I will punish him with…

All his fugitives; not strictly, but in large sense: all, i.e. the greatest part, as. Jer. 13:19, Jer. 44:22, Matt. 2:3, Matt. 3:5, of those who, at the taking of Jerusalem, attempt to flee with their king.

Whereas the judgments threatened 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.

In the mountain; either the church or Jerusalem, whence the law of Christ was to be published, and where the preachers of the gospel were to continue till furnished with abilities for that work.

The trees of the field; the great ones on earth, all considering persons. Shall know; see and confess. The high tree; 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.