Ezekiel 17:11-15

11 Then the word of the LORD came to me:
12 “Say to this rebellious people, ‘Do you not know what these things mean?’ Say to them: ‘The king of Babylon went to Jerusalem and carried off her king and her nobles, bringing them back with him to Babylon.
13 Then he took a member of the royal family and made a treaty with him, putting him under oath. He also carried away the leading men of the land,
14 so that the kingdom would be brought low, unable to rise again, surviving only by keeping his treaty.
15 But the king rebelled against him by sending his envoys to Egypt to get horses and a large army. Will he succeed? Will he who does such things escape? Will he break the treaty and yet escape?

Ezekiel 17:11-15 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EZEKIEL 17

Under the simile of two eagles and a vine are represented the kings of Babylon and Egypt, and the condition of the Jews, who are threatened with ruin for their perfidy; and yet a promise is made of the raising up of the house of Judah, and family of David, in the Messiah. The prophet is bid to deliver a riddle or parable to the house of Israel, Eze 17:1,2. The riddle or parable is concerning two eagles and a vine, which is delivered, Eze 17:3-10; and the explanation of it is in Eze 17:11-15; and then the destruction of the Jews is threatened for their treachery to the king of Babylon, Eze 17:16-21; and the chapter is closed with a promise of the Messiah, and the prosperity of his kingdom, Eze 17:22-24.

Cross References 11

  • 1. S Ezekiel 12:9
  • 2. S 2 Kings 24:15
  • 3. S Deuteronomy 21:10; S 2 Chronicles 36:10; Ezekiel 24:19
  • 4. S Exodus 23:32; S Jeremiah 37:1
  • 5. 2 Chronicles 36:13
  • 6. Isaiah 3:2
  • 7. Ezekiel 29:14
  • 8. Jeremiah 52:3
  • 9. S Isaiah 30:2; S Jeremiah 37:5
  • 10. S Deuteronomy 17:16
  • 11. S Psalms 56:7; S Isaiah 30:5; Jeremiah 34:3; Jeremiah 38:18; Ezekiel 29:16
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