6 And he went up and down H1980 among H8432 the lions, H738 he became a young lion, H3715 and learned H3925 to catch H2963 the prey, H2964 and devoured H398 men. H120
In his days H3117 Nebuchadnezzar H5019 king H4428 of Babylon H894 came up, H5927 and Jehoiakim H3079 became his servant H5650 three H7969 years: H8141 then he turned H7725 and rebelled H4775 against him. And the LORD H3068 sent H7971 against him bands H1416 of the Chaldees, H3778 and bands H1416 of the Syrians, H758 and bands H1416 of the Moabites, H4124 and bands H1416 of the children H1121 of Ammon, H5983 and sent H7971 them against Judah H3063 to destroy H6 it, according to the word H1697 of the LORD, H3068 which he spake H1696 by H3027 his servants H5650 the prophets. H5030 Surely at the commandment H6310 of the LORD H3068 came this upon Judah, H3063 to remove H5493 them out of his sight, H6440 for the sins H2403 of Manasseh, H4519 according to all that he did; H6213 And also for the innocent H5355 blood H1818 that he shed: H8210 for he filled H4390 Jerusalem H3389 with innocent H5355 blood; H1818 which the LORD H3068 would H14 not pardon. H5545 Now the rest H3499 of the acts H1697 of Jehoiakim, H3079 and all that he did, H6213 are they not written H3789 in the book H5612 of the chronicles H1697 H3117 of the kings H4428 of Judah? H3063 So Jehoiakim H3079 slept H7901 with his fathers: H1 and Jehoiachin H3078 his son H1121 reigned H4427 in his stead. And the king H4428 of Egypt H4714 came H3318 not again H3254 any more out of his land: H776 for the king H4428 of Babylon H894 had taken H3947 from the river H5158 of Egypt H4714 unto the river H5104 Euphrates H6578 all that pertained to the king H4428 of Egypt. H4714
And he did H6213 that which was evil H7451 in the sight H5869 of the LORD, H3068 according to all that his father H1 had done. H6213
Jehoiachin H3078 was eight H8083 years H8141 old H1121 when he began to reign, H4427 and he reigned H4427 three H7969 months H2320 and ten H6235 days H3117 in Jerusalem: H3389 and he did H6213 that which was evil H7451 in the sight H5869 of the LORD. H3068
Woe H1945 unto him that buildeth H1129 his house H1004 by H3808 unrighteousness, H6664 and his chambers H5944 by wrong; H4941 that useth his neighbour's H7453 service H5647 without wages, H2600 and giveth H5414 him not for his work; H6467 That saith, H559 I will build H1129 me a wide H4060 house H1004 and large H7304 chambers, H5944 and cutteth him out H7167 windows; H2474 and it is cieled H5603 with cedar, H730 and painted H4886 with vermilion. H8350 Shalt thou reign, H4427 because thou closest H8474 thyself in cedar? H730 did not thy father H1 eat H398 and drink, H8354 and do H6213 judgment H4941 and justice, H6666 and then it was well H2896 with him? He judged H1777 the cause H1779 of the poor H6041 and needy; H34 then it was well H2896 with him: was not this to know H1847 me? saith H5002 the LORD. H3068 But thine eyes H5869 and thine heart H3820 are not but for thy covetousness, H1215 and for to shed H8210 innocent H5355 blood, H1818 and for oppression, H6233 and for violence, H4835 to do H6213 it.
In the beginning H7225 of the reign H4468 of Jehoiakim H3079 the son H1121 of Josiah H2977 king H4428 of Judah H3063 came this word H1697 from the LORD, H3068 saying, H559 Thus saith H559 the LORD; H3068 Stand H5975 in the court H2691 of the LORD'S H3068 house, H1004 and speak H1696 unto all the cities H5892 of Judah, H3063 which come H935 to worship H7812 in the LORD'S H3068 house, H1004 all the words H1697 that I command H6680 thee to speak H1696 unto them; diminish H1639 not a word: H1697 If so be they will hearken, H8085 and turn H7725 every man H376 from his evil H7451 way, H1870 that I may repent H5162 me of the evil, H7451 which I purpose H2803 to do H6213 unto them because H6440 of the evil H7455 of their doings. H4611 And thou shalt say H559 unto them, Thus saith H559 the LORD; H3068 If ye will not hearken H8085 to me, to walk H3212 in my law, H8451 which I have set H5414 before H6440 you, To hearken H8085 to the words H1697 of my servants H5650 the prophets, H5030 whom I sent H7971 unto you, both rising up early, H7925 and sending H7971 them, but ye have not hearkened; H8085 Then will I make H5414 this house H1004 like Shiloh, H7887 and will make H5414 this city H5892 a curse H7045 to all the nations H1471 of the earth. H776 So the priests H3548 and the prophets H5030 and all the people H5971 heard H8085 Jeremiah H3414 speaking H1696 these words H1697 in the house H1004 of the LORD. H3068 Now it came to pass, when Jeremiah H3414 had made an end H3615 of speaking H1696 all that the LORD H3068 had commanded H6680 him to speak H1696 unto all the people, H5971 that the priests H3548 and the prophets H5030 and all the people H5971 took H8610 him, saying, H559 Thou shalt surely H4191 die. H4191 Why hast thou prophesied H5012 in the name H8034 of the LORD, H3068 saying, H559 This house H1004 shall be like Shiloh, H7887 and this city H5892 shall be desolate H2717 without an inhabitant? H3427 And all the people H5971 were gathered H6950 against Jeremiah H3414 in the house H1004 of the LORD. H3068 When the princes H8269 of Judah H3063 heard H8085 these things, H1697 then they came up H5927 from the king's H4428 house H1004 unto the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068 and sat down H3427 in the entry H6607 of the new H2319 gate H8179 of the LORD'S H3068 house. Then spake H559 the priests H3548 and the prophets H5030 unto the princes H8269 and to all the people, H5971 saying, H559 This man H376 is worthy H4941 to die; H4194 for he hath prophesied H5012 against this city, H5892 as ye have heard H8085 with your ears. H241 Then spake H559 Jeremiah H3414 unto all the princes H8269 and to all the people, H5971 saying, H559 The LORD H3068 sent H7971 me to prophesy H5012 against this house H1004 and against this city H5892 all the words H1697 that ye have heard. H8085 Therefore now amend H3190 your ways H1870 and your doings, H4611 and obey H8085 the voice H6963 of the LORD H3068 your God; H430 and the LORD H3068 will repent H5162 him of the evil H7451 that he hath pronounced H1696 against you. As for me, behold, I am in your hand: H3027 do H6213 with me as seemeth H5869 good H2896 and meet H3477 unto you. But know H3045 ye for certain, H3045 that if ye put me to death, H4191 ye shall surely bring H5414 innocent H5355 blood H1818 upon yourselves, and upon this city, H5892 and upon the inhabitants H3427 thereof: for of a truth H571 the LORD H3068 hath sent H7971 me unto you to speak H1696 all these words H1697 in your ears. H241 Then said H559 the princes H8269 and all the people H5971 unto the priests H3548 and to the prophets; H5030 This man H376 is not worthy H4941 to die: H4194 for he hath spoken H1696 to us in the name H8034 of the LORD H3068 our God. H430 Then rose up H6965 certain H582 of the elders H2205 of the land, H776 and spake H559 to all the assembly H6951 of the people, H5971 saying, H559 Micah H4320 the Morasthite H4183 prophesied H5012 in the days H3117 of Hezekiah H2396 king H4428 of Judah, H3063 and spake H559 to all the people H5971 of Judah, H3063 saying, H559 Thus saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts; H6635 Zion H6726 shall be plowed H2790 like a field, H7704 and Jerusalem H3389 shall become heaps, H5856 and the mountain H2022 of the house H1004 as the high places H1116 of a forest. H3293 Did Hezekiah H2396 king H4428 of Judah H3063 and all Judah H3063 put him at all H4191 to death? H4191 did he not fear H3373 the LORD, H3068 and besought H2470 the LORD, H3068 H6440 and the LORD H3068 repented H5162 him of the evil H7451 which he had pronounced H1696 against them? Thus H587 might we procure H6213 great H1419 evil H7451 against our souls. H5315 And there was also a man H376 that prophesied H5012 in the name H8034 of the LORD, H3068 Urijah H223 the son H1121 of Shemaiah H8098 of Kirjathjearim, H7157 who prophesied H5012 against this city H5892 and against this land H776 according to all the words H1697 of Jeremiah: H3414 And when Jehoiakim H3079 the king, H4428 with all his mighty men, H1368 and all the princes, H8269 heard H8085 his words, H1697 the king H4428 sought H1245 to put him to death: H4191 but when Urijah H223 heard H8085 it, he was afraid, H3372 and fled, H1272 and went H935 into Egypt; H4714 And Jehoiakim H3079 the king H4428 sent H7971 men H582 into Egypt, H4714 namely, Elnathan H494 the son H1121 of Achbor, H5907 and certain men H582 with him into Egypt. H4714 And they fetched forth H3318 Urijah H223 out of Egypt, H4714 and brought H935 him unto Jehoiakim H3079 the king; H4428 who slew H5221 him with the sword, H2719 and cast H7993 his dead body H5038 into the graves H6913 of the common H1121 people. H5971 Nevertheless the hand H3027 of Ahikam H296 the son H1121 of Shaphan H8227 was with Jeremiah, H3414 that they should not give H5414 him into the hand H3027 of the people H5971 to put him to death. H4191
And it came to pass in the fourth H7243 year H8141 of Jehoiakim H3079 the son H1121 of Josiah H2977 king H4428 of Judah, H3063 that this word H1697 came unto Jeremiah H3414 from the LORD, H3068 saying, H559 Take H3947 thee a roll H4039 of a book, H5612 and write H3789 therein all the words H1697 that I have spoken H1696 unto thee against Israel, H3478 and against Judah, H3063 and against all the nations, H1471 from the day H3117 I spake H1696 unto thee, from the days H3117 of Josiah, H2977 even unto this day. H3117 It may be that the house H1004 of Judah H3063 will hear H8085 all the evil H7451 which I purpose H2803 to do H6213 unto them; that they may return H7725 every man H376 from his evil H7451 way; H1870 that I may forgive H5545 their iniquity H5771 and their sin. H2403 Then Jeremiah H3414 called H7121 Baruch H1263 the son H1121 of Neriah: H5374 and Baruch H1263 wrote H3789 from the mouth H6310 of Jeremiah H3414 all the words H1697 of the LORD, H3068 which he had spoken H1696 unto him, upon a roll H4039 of a book. H5612 And Jeremiah H3414 commanded H6680 Baruch, H1263 saying, H559 I am shut up; H6113 I cannot H3201 go H935 into the house H1004 of the LORD: H3068 Therefore go H935 thou, and read H7121 in the roll, H4039 which thou hast written H3789 from my mouth, H6310 the words H1697 of the LORD H3068 in the ears H241 of the people H5971 in the LORD'S H3068 house H1004 upon the fasting H6685 day: H3117 and also thou shalt read H7121 them in the ears H241 of all Judah H3063 that come out H935 of their cities. H5892 It may be they will present H5307 their supplication H8467 before H6440 the LORD, H3068 and will return H7725 every one H376 from his evil H7451 way: H1870 for great H1419 is the anger H639 and the fury H2534 that the LORD H3068 hath pronounced H1696 against this people. H5971 And Baruch H1263 the son H1121 of Neriah H5374 did H6213 according to all that Jeremiah H3414 the prophet H5030 commanded H6680 him, reading H7121 in the book H5612 the words H1697 of the LORD H3068 in the LORD'S H3068 house. H1004 And it came to pass in the fifth H2549 year H8141 of Jehoiakim H3079 the son H1121 of Josiah H2977 king H4428 of Judah, H3063 in the ninth H8671 month, H2320 that they proclaimed H7121 a fast H6685 before H6440 the LORD H3068 to all the people H5971 in Jerusalem, H3389 and to all the people H5971 that came H935 from the cities H5892 of Judah H3063 unto Jerusalem. H3389 Then read H7121 Baruch H1263 in the book H5612 the words H1697 of Jeremiah H3414 in the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068 in the chamber H3957 of Gemariah H1587 the son H1121 of Shaphan H8227 the scribe, H5608 in the higher H5945 court, H2691 at the entry H6607 of the new H2319 gate H8179 of the LORD'S H3068 house, H1004 in the ears H241 of all the people. H5971 When Michaiah H4321 the son H1121 of Gemariah, H1587 the son H1121 of Shaphan, H8227 had heard H8085 out of the book H5612 all the words H1697 of the LORD, H3068 Then he went down H3381 into the king's H4428 house, H1004 into the scribe's H5608 chamber: H3957 and, lo, all the princes H8269 sat H3427 there, even Elishama H476 the scribe, H5608 and Delaiah H1806 the son H1121 of Shemaiah, H8098 and Elnathan H494 the son H1121 of Achbor, H5907 and Gemariah H1587 the son H1121 of Shaphan, H8227 and Zedekiah H6667 the son H1121 of Hananiah, H2608 and all the princes. H8269 Then Michaiah H4321 declared H5046 unto them all the words H1697 that he had heard, H8085 when Baruch H1263 read H7121 the book H5612 in the ears H241 of the people. H5971 Therefore all the princes H8269 sent H7971 Jehudi H3065 the son H1121 of Nethaniah, H5418 the son H1121 of Shelemiah, H8018 the son H1121 of Cushi, H3570 unto Baruch, H1263 saying, H559 Take H3947 in thine hand H3027 the roll H4039 wherein thou hast read H7121 in the ears H241 of the people, H5971 and come. H3212 So Baruch H1263 the son H1121 of Neriah H5374 took H3947 the roll H4039 in his hand, H3027 and came H935 unto them. And they said H559 unto him, Sit down H3427 now, and read H7121 it in our ears. H241 So Baruch H1263 read H7121 it in their ears. H241 Now it came to pass, when they had heard H8085 all the words, H1697 they were afraid H6342 both H413 one H376 and other, H7453 and said H559 unto Baruch, H1263 We will surely H5046 tell H5046 the king H4428 of all these words. H1697 And they asked H7592 Baruch, H1263 saying, H559 Tell H5046 us now, How didst thou write H3789 all these words H1697 at his mouth? H6310 Then Baruch H1263 answered H559 them, He pronounced H7121 all these words H1697 unto me with his mouth, H6310 and I wrote H3789 them with ink H1773 in the book. H5612 Then said H559 the princes H8269 unto Baruch, H1263 Go, H3212 hide H5641 thee, thou and Jeremiah; H3414 and let no man H376 know H3045 where H375 ye be. And they went in H935 to the king H4428 into the court, H2691 but they laid up H6485 the roll H4039 in the chamber H3957 of Elishama H476 the scribe, H5608 and told H5046 all the words H1697 in the ears H241 of the king. H4428 So the king H4428 sent H7971 Jehudi H3065 to fetch H3947 the roll: H4039 and he took H3947 it out of Elishama H476 the scribe's H5608 chamber. H3957 And Jehudi H3065 read H7121 it in the ears H241 of the king, H4428 and in the ears H241 of all the princes H8269 which stood H5975 beside H5921 the king. H4428 Now the king H4428 sat H3427 in the winterhouse H1004 H2779 in the ninth H8671 month: H2320 and there was a fire on the hearth H254 burning H1197 before H6440 him. And it came to pass, that when Jehudi H3065 had read H7121 three H7969 or four H702 leaves, H1817 he cut H7167 it with the penknife, H8593 H5608 and cast H7993 it into the fire H784 that was on the hearth, H254 until all the roll H4039 was consumed H8552 in the fire H784 that was on the hearth. H254 Yet they were not afraid, H6342 nor rent H7167 their garments, H899 neither the king, H4428 nor any of his servants H5650 that heard H8085 all these words. H1697 Nevertheless Elnathan H494 and Delaiah H1806 and Gemariah H1587 had made intercession H6293 to the king H4428 that he would not burn H8313 the roll: H4039 but he would not hear H8085 them. But the king H4428 commanded H6680 Jerahmeel H3396 the son H1121 of Hammelech, H4429 and Seraiah H8304 the son H1121 of Azriel, H5837 and Shelemiah H8018 the son H1121 of Abdeel, H5655 to take H3947 Baruch H1263 the scribe H5608 and Jeremiah H3414 the prophet: H5030 but the LORD H3068 hid H5641 them. Then the word H1697 of the LORD H3068 came to Jeremiah, H3414 after H310 that the king H4428 had burned H8313 the roll, H4039 and the words H1697 which Baruch H1263 wrote H3789 at the mouth H6310 of Jeremiah, H3414 saying, H559 Take H3947 thee again H7725 another H312 roll, H4039 and write H3789 in it all the former H7223 words H1697 that were in the first H7223 roll, H4039 which Jehoiakim H3079 the king H4428 of Judah H3063 hath burned. H8313 And thou shalt say H559 to Jehoiakim H3079 king H4428 of Judah, H3063 Thus saith H559 the LORD; H3068 Thou hast burned H8313 this roll, H4039 saying, H559 Why hast thou written H3789 therein, saying, H559 The king H4428 of Babylon H894 shall certainly H935 come H935 and destroy H7843 this land, H776 and shall cause to cease H7673 from thence man H120 and beast? H929 Therefore thus saith H559 the LORD H3068 of Jehoiakim H3079 king H4428 of Judah; H3063 He shall have none to sit H3427 upon the throne H3678 of David: H1732 and his dead body H5038 shall be cast out H7993 in the day H3117 to the heat, H2721 and in the night H3915 to the frost. H7140 And I will punish H6485 him and his seed H2233 and his servants H5650 for their iniquity; H5771 and I will bring H935 upon them, and upon the inhabitants H3427 of Jerusalem, H3389 and upon the men H376 of Judah, H3063 all the evil H7451 that I have pronounced H1696 against them; but they hearkened H8085 not. Then took H3947 Jeremiah H3414 another H312 roll, H4039 and gave H5414 it to Baruch H1263 the scribe, H5608 the son H1121 of Neriah; H5374 who wrote H3789 therein from the mouth H6310 of Jeremiah H3414 all the words H1697 of the book H5612 which Jehoiakim H3079 king H4428 of Judah H3063 had burned H8313 in the fire: H784 and there were added H3254 besides unto them many H7227 like H1992 words. H1697
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Ezekiel 19
Commentary on Ezekiel 19 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 19
Eze 19:1-14. Elegy over the Fall of David's House.
There is a tacit antithesis between this lamentation and that of the Jews for their own miseries, into the causes of which, however, they did not inquire.
1. princes of Israel—that is, Judah, whose "princes" alone were recognized by prophecy; those of the ten tribes were, in respect to the theocracy, usurpers.
2. thy mother—the mother of Jehoiachin, the representative of David's line in exile with Ezekiel. The "mother" is Judea: "a lioness," as being fierce in catching prey (Eze 19:3), referring to her heathenish practices. Jerusalem was called Ariel (the lion of God) in a good sense (Isa 29:1); and Judah "a lion's whelp … a lion … an old lion" (Ge 49:9), to which, as also to Nu 23:24; 24:9, this passage alludes.
nourished … among young lions—She herself had "lain" among lions, that is, had intercourse with the corruptions of the surrounding heathen and had brought up the royal young ones similarly: utterly degenerate from the stock of Abraham.
Lay down—or "couched," is appropriate to the lion, the Arab name of which means "the coucher."
3. young lion—Jehoahaz, son of Josiah, carried captive from Riblah to Egypt by Pharaoh-necho (2Ki 23:33).
4. The nations—Egypt, in the case of Jehoahaz, who probably provoked Pharaoh by trying to avenge the death of his father by assailing the bordering cities of Egypt (2Ki 23:29, 30).
in their pit—image from the pitfalls used for catching wild beasts (Jer 22:11, 12).
chains—or hooks, which were fastened in the noses of wild beasts (see on Eze 19:9).
5. saw that she had waited, and her hope was lost—that is, that her long-waited-for hope was disappointed, Jehoahaz not being restored to her from Egypt.
she took another of her whelps—Jehoiakim, brother of Jehoahaz, who was placed on the throne by Pharaoh (2Ki 23:34), according to the wish of Judah.
6. went up and down among the lions—imitated the recklessness and tyranny of the surrounding kings (Jer 22:13-17).
catch … prey—to do evil, gratifying his lusts by oppression (2Ki 23:37).
7. knew … desolate palaces—that is, claimed as his own their palaces, which he then proceeded to "desolate." The Hebrew, literally "widows"; hence widowed palaces (Isa 13:22). Vatablus (whom Fairbairn follows) explains it, "He knew (carnally) the widows of those whom he devoured" (Eze 19:6). But thus the metaphor and the literal reality would be blended: the lion being represented as knowing widows. The reality, however, often elsewhere thus breaks through the veil.
fulness thereof—all that it contained; its inhabitants.
8. the nations—the Chaldeans, Syrians, Moab, and Ammon (2Ki 24:2).
9. in chains—(2Ch 36:6; Jer 22:18). Margin, "hooks"; perhaps referring to the hook often passed through the nose of beasts; so, too, through that of captives, as seen in the Assyrian sculptures (see on Eze 19:4).
voice—that is, his roaring.
no more be heard upon the mountains—carrying on the metaphor of the lion, whose roaring on the mountains frightens all the other beasts. The insolence of the prince, not at all abated though his kingdom was impaired, was now to cease.
10. A new metaphor taken from the vine, the chief of the fruit-bearing trees, as the lion is of the beasts of prey (see Eze 17:6).
in thy blood—"planted when thou wast in thy blood," that is, in thy very infancy; as in Eze 16:6, when thou hadst just come from the womb, and hadst not yet the blood washed from thee. The Jews from the first were planted in Canaan to take root there [Calvin]. Grotius translates as the Margin, "in thy quietness," that is, in the period when Judah had not yet fallen into her present troubles. English Version is better. Glassius explains it well, retaining the metaphor, which Calvin's explanation breaks, "in the blood of thy grapes," that is, in her full strength, as the red wine is the strength of the grape. Ge 49:11 is evidently alluded to.
many waters—the well-watered land of Canaan (De 8:7-9).
11. strong rods—princes of the royal house of David. The vine shot forth her branches like so many scepters, not creeping lowly on the ground like many vines, but trained aloft on a tree or wall. The mention of their former royal dignity, contrasting sadly with her present sunken state, would remind the Jews of their sins whereby they had incurred such judgments.
stature—(Da 4:11).
among the thick branches—that is, the central stock or trunk of the tree shot up highest "among its own branches" or offshoots, surrounding it. Emblematic of the numbers and resources of the people. Hengstenberg translates, "among the clouds." But Eze 31:3, 10, 14, supports English Version.
12. plucked up—not gradually withered. The sudden upturning of the state was designed to awaken the Jews out of their torpor to see the hand of God in the national judgment.
east wind—(See on Eze 17:10).
13. planted—that is, transplanted. Though already "dried up" in regard to the nation generally, the vine is said to be "transplanted" as regards God's mercy to the remnant in Babylon.
dry … ground—Chaldea was well-watered and fertile; but it is the condition of the captive people, not that of the land, which is referred to.
14. fire … out of a rod of her branches—The Jews' disaster was to be ascribed, not so much to the Chaldeans as to themselves; the "fire out of the rod" is God's wrath kindled by the perjury of Zedekiah (Eze 17:18). "The anger of the Lord" against Judah is specified as the cause why Zedekiah was permitted to rebel against Babylon (2Ki 24:20; compare Jud 9:15), thus bringing Nebuchadnezzar against Jerusalem.
no strong rod … sceptre to rule—No more kings of David's stock are now to rule the nation. Not at least until "the Lord shall send the rod of His strength ("Messiah," Ps 110:2; Isa 11:1) out of Zion," to reign first as a spiritual, then hereafter as a literal king.
is … and shall be for a lamentation—Part of the lamentation (that as to Jehoahaz and Jehoiakim) was matter of history as already accomplished; part (as to Zedekiah) was yet to be fulfilled; or, this prophecy both is a subject for lamentation, and shall be so to distant posterity.