Ezekiel 19:1

1 And take thou up a lamentation for the princes of Israel,

Ezekiel 19:1 Meaning and 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; the princes meant are Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jeconiah, and Zedekiah, who were kings, though called princes, these words being synonymous; or, if so called by way of diminution, the reason might be, because they were tributary, either to the king of Egypt, or king of Babylon.

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FOOTNOTES:

F19 (larvy yayvn la) "de principibus Israel", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Polanus, Starckius; so Ben Melech.

Ezekiel 19:1 In-Context

1 And take thou up a lamentation for the princes of Israel,

2 and thou shalt say, How hast thy mother, the lioness, lain down among the lions? She raised her whelps among the young lions.

3 And she brought up one of her whelps; it became a young lion, and it learned to catch the prey and to devour men.

4 The Gentiles also heard of him; he was taken in their trap, and they brought him with chains unto the land of Egypt.

5 Now when she saw that she had waited a long time and her hope was being lost, then she took another of her whelps and made him a young lion.