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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezekiel 17:1-21

We must take all these verses together, that we may have the parable and the explanation of it at one view before us, because they will illustrate one another. 1. The prophet is appointed to put forth a riddle to the house of Israel (Ezek. 17:2), not to puzzle them, as Samson's riddle was put forth to the Philistines, not to hide the mind of God from them in obscurity, or to leave them in uncertainty about it, one advancing one conjecture and another another, as is usual in expounding riddles;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 17:19

Therefore thus saith the Lord God, as I live ,.... A repetition of the oath of God as before, expressing his indignation at the king of Judah, and the certainty of his ruin: surely mine oath that he hath despised, and my covenant that he hath broken ; the Lord calls it his oath, because it was made and taken in his name, 2 Chronicles 36:13 ; and his covenant, because it was agreeable to his will, and was made in his sight, and he was solemnly appealed to at the making of it; all... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 17:20

And I will spread my net upon him, and he shall be taken in my snare ,.... See Gill on Ezekiel 12:13 ; where the same words are used, and of the same person: and I will bring him to Babylon ; though, as it is said in the place referred to, he should not see it, his eyes being put out before he was brought thither: and I will plead with him there for his trespass that he hath trespassed against me ; for though it was breaking covenant and oath with a Heathen prince, yet it was a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 17:21

And all his fugitives with all his bands shall fall by the sword ,.... So those of his army that fled, and attempted to make their escape, when the city of Jerusalem was taken, as many as fell into the Chaldean army, which was round about the city, at least a great number of them, fell by the sword of the Chaldeans, Jeremiah 52:7 ; and they that remain shall be scattered towards all winds ; and so it was, that such that escaped the sword were either carried captive into Babylon, or... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 17:20

I will spread my net upon him - See the note on Ezekiel 12:13 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 17:21

All his fugitives - All who attempted to escape with him, and all that ran to Egypt, etc., shall fall by the sword. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 17:19

Verse 19 The former sentence is confirmed. The Prophet had spoken after the usually received manner when he said that Zedekiah’s perfidy would not be unrevenged; but he now brings forward God as the speaker, because, unless he appeared as an avenger of perfidy, mankind would scarcely ever be seriously persuaded that punishment was prepared for perjurers and truce-breakers. As I have said that this opinion was fixed in the hearts of all, so it must be understood that this opinion was received,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 17:20

Verse 20 Here he points out the kind of punishment which he was about to inflict on King Zedekiah. He had said generally that his perfidy should fall upon his own head, but he now proceeds further, namely, that Zedekiah should be a captive. For God might chastise him by other means, but the prophecy was thereby confirmed, since the Prophet had clearly threatened Zedekiah as we see. But he speaks in the person of God that his language may have more weight. I will spread my net, says God, and he... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 17:21

Verse 21 The Prophet now descends to the whole people, especially to the soldiers, whom Zedekiah himself thought would be fit guardians of the city. He says, then, thus shall all his forces be dissipated, so that they shall be dispersed hither and thither and all by the sword. By these words he means the slaughter of the army, since as long as soldiers stand in their own ranks they sustain and repel a hostile attack; but when they are dispersed, every one is subject to the enemy, and hence a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 17:1-21

The parable of the vine. Sin of every sort has a baneful power of blinding the mind of the transgressor. The thief does not perceive the criminality of his act. He complains only of the law which is so severe. The drunkard does not perceive the culpability of his course. May he not order his life as he pleases? So is it in every case—even in the case of secret sin. The moral sense is blinded, infatuated, indurated. In all such instances some ingenious method is required to convince the... read more

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