Bible Commentaries
Ezekiel 19

Verses 1-14

Parable of a Lioness and a Vine (19:1-14)

This chapter contains two allegories which deal with the same subject. Verses 1-9 refer to Judah as the lioness whose first whelp, Jehoahaz, learned to catch prey and devour men, only to be trapped and carried captive into Egypt. In point of historical fact, Jehoahaz, successor of Josiah (609 B.C.), remained on the throne for only three months, was deposed, possibly imprisoned, and replaced by Jehoiakim (609-598 b.c). Then the lioness Judah produced another whelp, Jehoiachin, who learned to catch prey and devour men, but because of his activities he, too, was no more heard in the mountains of Israel. We must not make this dirge fit every detail of history, since this was not its purpose, but in general it does follow the tragic trail of events.

Verses 10-14 have a literary resemblance to chapter 17. A sprawling vine is Judah which produces one strong stem, "a ruler’s scepter" or a "scepter for a ruler," a clear reference to Zedekiah. The vine (Judah) is plucked up in fury and an east wind finishes the extermination by drying up the vine. What remains is a dried-up vine with neither foliage nor fruit, incapable of producing a stem strong enough to be a scepter. The country no longer has the strength or vitality to produce and to support her own ruler.