From e71794b62b40d16293018632ffdc97c8ebe2678d Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Lyle Mantooth Date: Wed, 19 Apr 2023 09:42:19 -0400 Subject: [PATCH] Ezekiel 19:1-14 --- content/bible_journal/ezekiel_19:1-14.md | 45 ++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 45 insertions(+) create mode 100644 content/bible_journal/ezekiel_19:1-14.md diff --git a/content/bible_journal/ezekiel_19:1-14.md b/content/bible_journal/ezekiel_19:1-14.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..132bd8c --- /dev/null +++ b/content/bible_journal/ezekiel_19:1-14.md @@ -0,0 +1,45 @@ ++++ +title = "Ezekiel 19:1–14" +date = "2023-04-19" ++++ + +### [Read the passage.](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Ezekiel19.1-14) + +The Lord gives Ezekiel a lamentation to say before the people. I am thankful +for the notes in my study Bible that give me cultural context that is lost from +mere translation of the words. These verses are a form of Hebrew poetry usually +used in funeral dirges, and Ezekiel and his listeners would have immediately +recognized the meter. + +The lament itself concerns the princes of Israel, comparing them to the cubs of +a lioness. The first one described grew up to be a man-eater, so the nations +captured him and took him off to Egypt. When he did not return, the lioness +raised up another cub who also grew up to be a man-eater worse than the one +before. He "seized their widows" and "laid waste their cities". (_v. 7_) +Therefore the nations rose against this young lion as well, trapped him in a +pit, caged him, and sent him off to Babylon. + +Lions often symbolize the kingship of the tribe of Judah, and this is no +exception. The lioness herself represents Israel as a whole, or possibly +Jerusalem. The first young lion was Jehoahaz who reigned as king for three +months before being captured and taken to Egypt by Pharaoh Neco. The second +young lion is either Jehoiakim or his son Jehoiachin. It's confusing because 2 +Kings does not mention an exile for Jehoiakim, but 2 Chronicles (which was +written later) said he was put into custody. Perhaps he died before he could be +taken to Babylon, and Jehoiachin was given three months to pay tribute to +Babylon as he should, and failed. In any case, Jehoiachin was definitely exiled +to Babylon and there were no more kings of David's line after him. + +The second half of the lament symbolizes this state of affairs. The princes' +mother is now described as a vine planted and watered, growing to great +heights. But she is then "plucked up in fury" (_v. 12_) and the hot desert wind +dries out the branch and fruit on the vine. The stem left in the ground was +consumed by fire so that there isn't even enough left to make a scepter from +it. Like a lion, a branch was often used as a symbol for Judah's kingship, +especially for the promised messiah. If this was the end of the story, we would +not have any hope left for a king on the throne of David ever again. + +* * * + +You keep Your promises even when it seems all hope is lost, because You can +never go back on Your word.