Two Eagles and a Vine
Ezekiel 17, verse 1. Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying, Ezekiel 17, verse 2. “Son of man, pose a riddle, and speak a parable to the house of Israel. Ezekiel 17, verse 3. You shall say, ‘Thus says the Lord: “A great eagle—with large wings, spreading them out very far, and full of talons, and with the design to enter Lebanon—took the choice branches of the cedar. Ezekiel 17, verse 4. He nipped off its topmost tender twig, carried it to the land of Canaan, and set it in the fortified city. Ezekiel 17, verse 5. Then he took some of the seed of the land, planted it in a fertile field by much water, and set it in a conspicuous place. Ezekiel 17, verse 6. So it grew and became a weak vine, small in size as to its appearance. Its branches were on it and its roots under it. So it became a vine, put forth shoots, and extended into a vine that grows up trees. Ezekiel 17, verse 7. “But there was another great eagle with large wings and many talons; and behold, this vine and her roots turned itself toward him, and stretched its branches toward him, that he might water it together with the soil where it was planted. Ezekiel 17, verse 8. She thrives in a good field by much water, so as to produce shoots and bear fruit, that she may be a large vine.’” Ezekiel 17, verse 9. “Therefore say, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Will it prosper? Will not the roots of her tender stem and fruit be blighted, and all its shoots be withered? Yes, no mighty arm or many people will be needed to pluck it up by its roots. Ezekiel 17, verse 10. Behold, it thrives, but will it prosper? Will it not utterly wither when the wind and burning heat touch it? It shall be dried up, its growth together with it soil.”’” Ezekiel 17, verse 11. Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying, Ezekiel 17, verse 12. “Son of man, say now to the house that provokes, ‘Do you not understand what these things mean?’ Tell them, ‘When the king of Babylon comes to Jerusalem, he will take its king and rulers, and take them with himself to Babylon. Ezekiel 17, verse 13. He will also take one from the royal seed, and make a covenant with him, and place him under oath. Ezekiel 17, verse 14. Then he will take away the leaders of the land that it may become a weak kingdom, so as never to lift itself up, that he may preserve his covenant and establish it. Ezekiel 17, verse 15. But this one shall revolt from him and send his messengers to Egypt, so they might give him horses and many people. Will he prosper? Will he who acts as an adversary escape? Can he break the covenant and be delivered? Ezekiel 17, verse 16. As I live,’ says the Lord, ‘he shall certainly die in the midst of Babylon, in the place where the king dwells who made him king, who dishonored My oath and broke My covenant. Ezekiel 17, verse 17. But with a small army and few people, Pharaoh shall wage war against him by throwing up a mound and building engines of war, so as to carry away souls. Ezekiel 17, verse 18. So he will not escape when he does all these things to him, because he dishonored the oath by breaking the covenant, although he gave his hand in trust.’ Ezekiel 17, verse 19. Therefore say, ‘Thus says the Lord: “As I live, surely My covenant which he broke and My oath which he dishonored—I will recompense these things on his head. Ezekiel 17, verse 20. I will spread My net over him, and he shall be caught in its enclosure. Ezekiel 17, verse 21. His whole line of battle will fall by the sword, and those who remain I will scatter to every wind. Then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken.’” Ezekiel 17, verse 22. “Therefore, thus says the Lord: ‘I shall take the choice branches of the cedar from its top and nip off their heart, and plant it on a high mountain. Ezekiel 17, verse 23. I shall hang it on a lofty mountain of Israel, yes, I will plant it; and it will bring forth shoots, produce fruit, and be a great cedar. Under it, every kind of wild animal will take rest, every kind of bird will rest in its shade, and its branches will be restored. Ezekiel 17, verse 24. So all the trees of the field will know that I, the Lord, am He who humbles the high tree and exalts the humble tree, who dries up the green tree and makes the dry tree flourish. I, the Lord, have spoken and will do it.’”