Ezekiel 19:1-14

content/bible_journal/ezekiel_19:1-14.md

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+title = "Ezekiel 19:1–14"
+date = "2023-04-19"
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+
+### [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.