Yechezkel 17:2

2 Ben adam, put forth an allegory, and speak a mashal unto the Bais Yisroel;

Yechezkel 17:2 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 17:2

Son of man, put forth a riddle
A dark saying, but a smart one: "whet a whetting" ^F11, as in the Hebrew; something at first sight difficult to be understood, yet amusing and entertaining; and, when solved, very useful and instructive: and speak a parable unto the house of Israel;
or, "concerning the house of Israel" ^F12; as the Targum and Syriac version; something relating to them, and what would aptly describe and represent their case; for the prophet was bid to take such a method, not to hide things from them, but rather the more strongly to represent them to them; seeing hereby their attention would be excited, and things would be more fixed in their memories, and they would be put upon studying the meaning of them; and when explained to them, and understood, which was quickly done, they might be the more affected with them.

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FOOTNOTES:

F11 (hdyx dwx) , Heb. "acue acumen", Piscator.
F12 (larvy tyb la) "de domo Israelis", Junius & Tremellius, Polanus.

Yechezkel 17:2 In-Context

1 7 And the Devar Hashem came unto me, saying,

2 Ben adam, put forth an allegory, and speak a mashal unto the Bais Yisroel;

3 And say, Thus saith Adonoi Hashem: A nesher hagadol with great kenafayim (wings), long pinions, full of plumage, which had various colors, came unto Levanon, and took the highest branch of the cedar.

4 He broke off its topmost young twig, and carried it into an eretz kena’an (land of trade); he set it in a city of merchants [i.e., Babylon].

5 He took also of the zera of ha’aretz, and planted it in a fertile sadeh; he placed it by abundant mayim, and set it out like a willow tree.