Bible Commentaries
Ezekiel 19

Verse 1

Eze 19:1. The prophet was told to make a lamentation for the princes of Israel, which means Judah in this case since the 10-tribe kingdom of Israel had been in exile more than a century at the time of this writing.

Verse 2

Eze 19:2. The lamentation was to be in the form of a parable, using the lion species of animal for the comparison. Tiie mother was the nation of Judah that was considered a lion-ess among lions or other kingdoms. The princes or chief men of the nation of Judah would be referred to as whelps in the figurative language of the parable.

Verse 3

Eze 19:3. This verse singles out one of the whelps and the context indicates it means Jehoahaz. (See 2Ki 23:30.) The figurative form of speech is continued, hence the evil conduct of this king is described as that of catching prey which really means that this Icing devoured men as is literally stated.

Verse 4

Eze 19:4. The conduct of this evil king (whelp) attracted the attention of other nations and the statement that he was taken in their pit is recorded in 2Ki 23:33.

Verse 5

Eze 19:5. There is a space between this and the preceding verse that is not apparent in the language. After Jehoahaz was dethroned, his brother Jehoiakim was put in his place and reigned 11 years, and he was succeeded by his son Jehoiachin who reigned but 3 months. For some reason unknown to me, these two rulers are not considered distinctively in the parable. The things that will be said of the whelp of this verse were not all true of the mentioned kings, but they were true of the last, king in Jerusalem and his name was Zedekiah, Waited . , . hope was lost indicates that the return of Jehoahaz was looked for by some but it was in vain. It had been decreed (Jer 22:30) that no descendant of Jehoiachin was to reign in Judah, hence the nation had to use another whelp who was Zedekiab,

Verse 6

Eze 19:6. The figures are still drawn from the life of a lion but the verse refers to the actual conduct of Zede- kiah who was then on the throne in Jerusalem.

Verse 7

Eze 19:7. Zedekiah was not a very acceptable ruler in the eyes of his countrymen, and even some of the foreign nations began to look upon him with mistrust.

Verse 8

Eze 19:8. Finally the nations (meaning the units of the empire of Babylon) came against. Zedekiah and laid siege to his capital which fell as a prey of war.

Verse 9

Eze 19:9. Zedekiah tried to evade capture and fled his capital by night, but. he was taken by the army of Babylon who spread their net over him (2Ki 25:4-5). In chains refers to the shackles which they placed upon the fallen king of Judah, after which they took him to Babylon (2Ki 25:7). Much of this chapter so far is literal history and it may be read in 2 Kings 24, 25. But the last part about Zedekiah is prophecy for he had not yet been taken from his throne at this writing.

Verse 10

Eze 19:10. Thy mother means Judah as the producer of kings and princes such as have been considered. The verse is a figurative description of the prosperous state of Judah under the blessings of God. In thy blood refers to the early hours of her life when the special favor of God was bestowed upon her. (See Eze 16:6; Eze 16:22.)

Verse 11

Eze 19:11. Here are some more figures and they refer to the standing that Judah enjoyed as a nation among nations. This state of exaltation seems to have filled her with pride and a disregard for her obligation to the Lord.

Verse 12

Eze 19:12. The closing verses of the chapter pertain to the final overthrow of Jerusalem which was the capital of the kingdom of Judah, which event was to complete the 3rd stage of the great 70-year captivity. Plucked up in fury refers directly to the heat of the Babylonian attack. East wind suggests the blast of the Babylonian army since that force came from the east. Fire consumed is a literal prediction and its fulfillment is recorded in 2Ki 25:9.

Verse 13

Eze 19:13. The wilderness was the land of Babylon which would be dry and thirsty as far as any national favors were concerned.

Verse 14

Eze 19:14. No strong rod to tie a sceptre to rule. When Zedekiah was taken from the throne of Judah, there never was a successor until the time of Christ, who was to have the right to reign, hut as a spiritual ruler. (See Eze 21:24-27.) Christ was produced through the tribe of Judah and was to be the last king of that people.