Ezequiel 19

Ezequiel 19:1-14

19:1-9 These two verses describe the exile of two Judean kings. Jehoahaz, taken to Egypt by Necco II Jehoiachin, taken to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar II 19:1 "take up" The VERB (BDB 669, KB 724, Qal IMPERATIVE) literally means "to lift" or "to carry." Here it is used in an idiom for "speak loudly" or "make heard." It is surprising that this chapter does not start with "the word of the Lord came to me saying" (cf. Ezek. 1:3; 6:1; 7:1; 11:14; 12:1,8,17,21,26; 13:1; 14:2,12; 15:1; 16:1; 17:1; 18:1; 20:2,45; 21:1,8,18; 22:1; etc.). Does this imply that chapters 18 and 19 form a literary unit? I think not since chapter 19 has two poetic lamentations (i.e. three beats per line and then two beats per line of poetry). ▣ "lamentation" This term (BDB 884) refers to a specific type of funeral song (cf. Ezek. 2:10; 19:1,14; 26:17; 27:2,32; 28:12; 32:2,16). It becomes a literary marker for a new topic (genre, cf. Isa. 14:3-21; Amos 5:1-3). In prophetic literature there are several standard oracle forms. promise oracle court terminology funeral dirge A good brief discussion of funeral rites in Israel can be seen in Roland DeVaux's Ancient Israel, vol. 1, pp. 57-61. ▣ "the princes of Israel" This title ("prince," BDB 672) is used in Ezekiel to refer to several groups. King Zedekiah, Ezek. 7:27; 12:10,12; 21:25 leaders of Judah, Ezek. 21:12; 22:6; 45:8,9 future Davidic kings, Ezek. 34:24; 37:25; 44:3; 45:7,16,17,22; 46:2,4,8,10,12,16,17,18; 48:21,22 foreign kings, Ezek. 26:16; 27:21; 30:13; 32:29; 38:2,3; 39:1,18 The term implies members of a royal family. Here, because it is PLURAL, it refers to the king and others of his extended family in places of leadership. 19:2-9 This section of the lamentation refers to the kings of Judah, from the death of Josiah until the fall of Jerusalem (586 B.C.). Jehoahaz (Shallum, cf. Jer. 22:11), 2 Kgs. 23:31-33; 2 Chr. 36:1-4, who was Josiah's son and successor, but exiled by Pharaoh Neco II after three months and replaced by Jehoiakim (Eliakim), 2 Kgs. 23:34-24:7, who was also a son of Josiah. He reigned eleven years and died. He was replaced by Jehoiachin (Jeconiah, Coniah), 2 Kgs. 24:8-17; 2 Chr. 36:9-10, who reigned three months and was exiled to Babylon (cf. Ezek. 19:9, 597 B.C.) by Nebuchadnezzar II and replaced with Zedekiah, 2 Kgs. 24:18-20, who was placed on the throne by Nebuchadnezzar II. He rebelled and was captured, blinded, and exiled to Babylon. Special Topic: Kings of the Divided Monarchy ▣ "lions" See Special Topic: Lions in the OT 19:2 "your mother" This refers to Judah (cf. Ezek. 19:10) producing a line of Davidic kings (cf. Gen. 49:9; Num. 23:24; Rev. 5:5). This ceased with Zedekiah's exile. In a sense (i.e. tribe of Judah but not family of Jesse), Zerubbabel (Sheshbazzar, Ezra 1:8) continued the Davidic line (cf. Haggai 2:23; Zechariah 4). The wife of King Josiah producing two sons (i.e. Jehoahaz Zedekiah) 19:7 "destroyed" NKJV, Targums "knew" NRSV, JPSOA, Peshitta "ravaged" "wrecked" "tore down" REB, NET "broke down" "laid waste" The MT has "knew" (וידע, BDB 393), but most English translations assume an emendation "destroyed" (וירע). With it, this poetic line is parallel to Ezek. 19:7b. The UBS Hebrew OT Project, p. 57, gives the emendation a "C" rating. "fortified towers" "desolate places" NRSV, NET "strongholds" "forts" "palaces" JPSOA, REB "widows" The MT has "windows" (אלמנותין, BDB 48), but most English translations use an emendation "citadel" or "strongholds" (ארמנותינ, BDB 74) because of the next word, "cities" (BDB 746). The MT is barely understandable in the context. However, the UBS Hebrew OT Project, p. 57, gives it an "A" rating. The imagery would then be of a new leader of the pride (i.e. king, cf. v. 6). 19:9 "in hunting nets" "in nets" NRSV, LXX "into custody" "under guard" NJB, JPSOA "into a fortress" REB, Peshitta "in prison" The MT has a root that could have several meanings. מצד ‒ BDB 844, FEMININE NOUN, "stronghold," cf. Jer. 48:41; 51:30 מצוד ‒ BDB 844, MASCULINE NOUN, "net," Job 19:6; Eccl. 7:26 םץודה ‒ BDB 845, FEMININE NOUN "net for fish," cf. Eccl. 9:12 "snare for prey," cf. Ezek. 12:13; 17:20 In this context "stronghold" or "prison" in Babylon fits the next line of poetry best. The UBS Text Project, p. 58, gives the MASCULINE form of the NOUN "stronghold" a "B" rating (some doubt). 19:10-14 These verses change the imagery describing Judah's royal family not as a lion pride but a huge, tall grapevine. They also change time frames back to the beginnings of a unified kingdom (i.e. Saul, David, Solomon). The vine is described as Positive planted by waters, Ezek. 19:10 (cf. Ps. 1:3) fruitful, Ezek. 19:10 full of strong branches, Ezek. 19:10-11 tall above the clouds, Ezek. 19:11 Negative plucked up in fury, Ezek. 19:12 cast down to the ground, Ezek. 19:12 east wind dried up its fruit, Ezek. 19:12 strong branch torn off, Ezek. 19:12 planted in a wilderness, Ezek. 19:13 planted in a dry land, Ezek. 19:13 burned, Ezek. 19:14 The royal family was decimated (similar to chapter 17). The lion imagery for Judah may refer to Jacob's prophecies about his children (esp. Judah, cf. Gen. 49:9). Balaam also used this imagery to describe Israel (cf. Num. 23:24; 24:9). 19:10 NASB, NRSV, NET, JPSOA footnote "vineyard" "bloodline" "grapevine" (Targum and LXX, "vine") —omitted— Peshitta, JPSOA "in your blood" The MT has "blood" (בדמך, BDB 196).The UBS Text Project (p. 58) gives it a "C" rating (considerable doubt). Most English translations use an emendation. "to be like" (תדמה) "height" "vineyard" (בכרם) omit the phrase (cf. REB). The Ancient Near East often used the imagery of a giant plant to describe world powers (e.g. Ezek. 17:3,22-24; 19:10-14; 31:2-18; Dan. 4:4-17,19-27; and possibly Amos 2:9). ▣ "planted by waters" This reminds one of Psalm 1. 19:11 NASB, NKJV, TEV, REB "branches" NRSV, NJB "stem" There is a wordplay between "branches" (BDB 641), which can refer to a "staff," or "scepter" (BDB 986); also notice the same play in Ezek. 19:14. NASB, TEV "the clouds" NKJV, NRSV, NJB "the thick branches" NIDOTTE, vol. 3, p. 310, reads "In Ezek. 19:11; 31:3,10,14 one should read 'clouds' from 'āb, rather than 'branches' from 'ābōt." 19:12 "the east wind" This term (BDB 924 CONSTRUCT BDB 870) is used in Ezekiel many times (over fifty), but most often in chapters 40-48 simply as "the east." It denotes the direction of the rising sun imagery for destruction (i.e. desert wind), often with the added theological connotation of being sent by YHWH to accomplish His purposes. Gen. 41:6,23,27 (negative) Exod. 10:13; 14:21; Isa. 11:15 (positive) Wisdom Literature, Job 27:21; 38:24; Ps. 48:7; 78:26 (representative sample) Isa. 27:8 Jer. 18:17 Ezek. 17:10; 19:12; 27:26 Hosea 13:15 Jonah 4:8 Hab. 1:9 used as imagery to describe YHWH ‒ Exod. 15:8-10 The hot desert wind (Arabic, "sirocco" wind), like the rain, is at YHWH's disposal! Wind (BDB 924, ruah) is often associated with YHWH's power (i.e. Spirit) in the OT. Special Topic: Breath, Wind, Spirit Special Topic: Spirit in the Bible 19:13 This is imagery for the Neo-Babylon exile of most of the population of Judah. There were several deportations (i.e. 605, 597, 586, 582 B.C.). This specific context is referring to the exile of the legitimate Davidic king (Jehoiachin). 19:14 Fire is YHWH's instrument of judgment (cf. Ezek. 15:4; 20:47-48). There will be no Davidic king after the exiled Zedekiah. Even Zerubbabel (Sheshbazzar, Ezra 1:8) was only a prince of the line, not a direct son. The direct son of 2 Samuel 7 will be the Messiah. Special Topic: Messiah Special Topic: Fire