Ezekiel 17:20

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 17:20

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

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

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

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 17:1-21

A parabolic setting forth of the relations of Judah to Babylon and Egypt. "And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, put forth a riddle, and speak a parable," etc. Let us notice— I. THE PARABLE AND ITS INTERPRETATION . It would be unwise to attempt to fix a definite meaning to every minute feature of the parable; and its chief features are interpreted for us by Ezekiel. The great eagle is intended to represent the King of Babylon, and, being a royal bird. it... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 17:11-21

The sacredness of treaties. The Old Testament abounds in illustrations of the bearing of religion upon national and corporate life. In this passage of prophecy Ezekiel rebukes his countrymen for their disc, intent under the Assyrian rule, and for their treacherous intrigues with Egypt. Speaking in the name of the King of kings, he upbraids them for deliberate infraction of a covenant which they were bound to observe. He shows them that political action may be sinful, and that, when such is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 17:20

The words receive a special significance as being identical with those which Ezekiel had uttered in Ezekiel 12:13 , with the addition that the sin against Nebuchadnezzar as the vicegerent of Jehovah, was a sin against Jehovah himself as the God of faithfulness and truth. There, in Babylon, the real character of his sin should be brought home to the conscience of the blind and captive king. What follows in Ezekiel 12:21 , in like manner, reproduces Ezekiel 12:14 , Ezekiel 12:15 . read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ezekiel 17:16-21

Ezekiel 17:16-21. As I live, saith the Lord, &c. This intimates how highly God resented the crime, and how sure and severe the punishment of it would be. He swears in his wrath, as he did, Psalms 95:11. Observe, reader, as God’s promises are confirmed with an oath, for comfort to the saints, so are his threatenings, for terror to the wicked. Surely in the place where the king dwelleth In Babylon, where Nebuchadnezzar dwells, who made him king, when he might have as easily made him... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 17:1-21

Zedekiah’s treachery (17:1-21)Another detailed illustration showed the exiles the significance of political developments in Jerusalem. Much had happened since they were taken from the city in 597 BC.In Ezekiel’s illustration a giant eagle broke off the top branches of a young cedar tree and carried them into a land of trade (17:1-4). (In 597 BC Babylon captured Jehoiachin, the Judean king, along with all the best of the people of Jerusalem, and carried them into Babylon; see 2 Kings 24:10-16.)... read more

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