Ezekiel 19

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezekiel 19

The scope of this chapter is much the same with that of the 17th, to foretel and lament the ruin of the house of David, the royal family of Judah, in the calamitous exit of the four sons and grandsons of Josiah?Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jeconiah, and Zedekiah, in whom that illustrious line of kings was cut off, which the prophet is here ordered to lament, Ezek. 19:1. And he does it by similitudes. I. The kingdom of Judah and house of David are here compared to a lioness, and those princes to lions,... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezekiel 19:1-9

Here are, I. Orders given to the prophet to bewail the fall of the royal family, which had long made so great a figure by virtue of a covenant of royalty made with David and his seed, so that the eclipsing and extinguishing of it are justly lamented by all who know what value to put upon the covenant of our God, as we find, after a very large account of that covenant with David (Ps. 89:3, 20), a sad lamentation for the decays and desolations of his family (v. 38, 39): But thou hast cast off... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezekiel 19:10-14

Jerusalem, the mother-city, is here represented by another similitude; she is a vine, and the princes are her branches. This comparison we had before, Ezek. 15:1. Jerusalem is as a vine; the Jewish nation is so: Like a vine in they blood (Ezek. 19:10), the blood-royal, like a vine set in blood and watered with blood, which contributes very much to the flourishing and fruitfulness of vines, as if the blood which had been shed had been designed for the fattening and improving of the soil, in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 19

INTRODUCTION TO EZEKIEL 19 The subject matter of this chapter is a lamentation for the princes and people of the Jews, on account of what had already befallen them, and what was yet to come, Ezekiel 19:1 . The mother of the princes is compared to a lioness, and they to lions; who, one after another, were taken and carried captive, Ezekiel 19:2 ; again, their mother is compared to a vine, and they to branches and rods for sceptres, destroyed by an east wind, and consumed by fire, ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 19:1

Moreover, take thou up a lamentation ,.... These words are directed to the Prophet Ezekiel, to compose a doleful ditty, a mournful song, such as was used at funerals; and by it represent the lamentable state of the nation of the Jews and their governors, in order to affect them with it, with what was past, and present, and yet to come: for the princes of Israel ; or, "concerning them" F19 אל נשיאי ישראל "de principibus Israel", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Polanus,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 19:2

And say, what is thy mother ?.... That is, say so to the then reigning prince, Zedekiah, what is thy mother like? to what is she to be compared? by whom is meant, not the royal family of David only, or Jerusalem the metropolis of the nation, but the whole body of the people; and so the Targum interprets it of the congregation of Israel. The answer to the question is, a lioness ; she is like to one, not for her strength and glory, but for her cruelty and rapine; for her want of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 19:3

And she brought up one of her whelps ,.... Or sons, as the Targum: or, "made him to ascend" F20 ותעל "et ascendere fecit", Pagninus, Montanus, Tigurine version. , as the word signifies; to mount the throne; this was Jehoahaz, whom the people of the land took and anointed him, and made him king in the stead of Josiah his father, 2 Kings 23:30 ; it become a young lion ; that is, a king, as the same Targum explains it, and a tyrannical and arbitrary one: and it learned to catch... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 19:4

The nations also heard of him ,.... The neighbouring nations, particularly the Egyptians; the fame of his behaviour reached them; they were informed how he used his own subjects, and what designs he had formed, and what preparations he was making against his neighbours; wherefore they thought it proper to oppose his measures in time, and to hinder him from proceeding and putting his projects into execution, by coming out against him, and fighting with him, as they did: he was taken in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 19:5

Now when she saw ,.... That is, his mother, as the Syriac version expresses it; not his natural mother; as the mother of Sisera looked out and waited for him; but the congregation of Israel, as Jarchi interprets it, the body of the Jewish people: that she had waited ; for the return of Jehoahaz out of Egypt, which was expected for some time: or, "that she was become sick"; or "weak" F23 כי נוחלה "quod infirmatus esset", Cocceius, Starckius. , and feeble, and brought to a low... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 19:6

And he went up and down among the lions ,.... The kings, as the Targum; kings of neighbouring nations, as Pharaoh king of Egypt, and Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and sometimes he was subject to the one, and sometimes to the offer: and his going up and down among them may denote his continuance as a king; for whereas his brother reigned but three months, he reigned eleven years: he became a young lion ; an oppressive prince, a cruel and tyrannical king: and learned to catch the... read more

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