Ezekiel 19:1-20:44

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

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 19:1

Moreover take thou up a lamentation - Declare what is the great subject of sorrow in Israel. Compose a funeral dirge. Show Be melancholy fate of the kings who proceeded from Josiah. The prophet deplores the misfortune of Jehoahaz and Jehoiakim, under the figure of two lion whelps, which were taken by hunters, and confined in cages. Next he shows the desolation of Jerusalem under Zedekiah, which he compares to a beautiful vine pulled up by the roots, withered, and at last burned. Calmet... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 19:1

Verse 1 Here the Prophet, under the image of a lion, informs us that whatever evils happened to the Israelites could not be imputed to others. We must understand then his intention: it is not surprising that the Spirit of God insists on a matter not very obscure, since nothing is more obstinate than the pride of men, especially when God chastises them, although they pretend to humility and modesty, yet they swell with pride and are full of bitterness, and, lastly, they can scarcely be induced... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 19:1

The two sections of this chapter— Ezekiel 19:1-9 , Ezekiel 19:10-14 -are respectively two parables of the same type as that of Ezekiel 2:10 . The former telling nearly the same story under a different imagery, the latter a reproduction of the same imagery, with a slightly different application. Lamentation. The same word as that used in Ezekiel 2:10 . The whole chapter finds a parallel in Jeremiah's review of Josiah's successors ( Jeremiah 22:10-30 ). It is noticeable that the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 19:1

A lamentation for the princes of Israel. Ezekiel follows up his predictions of approaching judgment and his exhortations to repentance with an elegy on the distresses of the princes of Israel. I. THE FATE OF THE PRINCES STIRRED DEEP FEELINGS . It became the inspiration of an ode. True poetry has its fountains in deep emotion. Thus a living religion naturally finds expression in song, and the spiritual experience of men is uttered in psalms. That religion which is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 19:1-9

The parable of the lion's whelps. I. THE LION - LIKE CHARACTER OF ISRAEL . This character was especially given to the tribe of Judah, from which the royal family came ( Genesis 49:9 ). There should be something of the better nature of the lion in the people of God. 1 . Strength . With one blow of his paw the lion can break the neck of a bull. The nation of Israel was strong. The Church of God is strong with the might of God. God does not only save his children as weak... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 19:1-9

The downfall of the princes. For the interpretation of this figurative and poetical portion of Ezekiel's prophecies, reference must be made to the close of the Second Books of Kings and of Chronicles, where the obscure and humiliating history of the last days of the monarchy of Judah is briefly recorded. Ezekiel's dirge concerns partly what had already taken place, and partly what was immediately about to happen. The lessons to be learnt from the history and the lamentation are of a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 19:1-9

Kingly power abused. Without doubt, the main cause of Israel's fall was the waywardness and vice of her kings. With few exceptions, they gave themselves up to evil ways. Corruption at the fountainhead became corruption in all the streams of national and domestic life. Idolatry was the root; and tyranny, anarchy, violence, and cruelly were the branches. This soon became intolerable to the surrounding nations. I. KINGLY POWER WAS INTENDED AS A BENEFIT . What the shepherd is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 19:1-9

A lamentation for fallen princes. "Moreover, take thou up a lamentation for the princes of Israel, and say, What was thy mother?" etc. Here are three preliminary inquiries. 1 . Who is addressed by the prophet? Or, whom are we to understand by the pronoun "thy"? "What was thy mother?" "Jehoiachin is addressed," says the 'Speaker's Commentary.' Hengstenberg says, "The address is to the man Judah, the people of the present." And Schroder, "The address is directed to the people." But,... read more

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