Ezek 15.1-8 tells us that the destruction of Jerusalem is prophesied again, and it is likened to an unfruitful vine. Compared to the other trees, the wood of the vine is useless except for fuel. It’s only purpose was to bear fruit and they were not doing it. Yehovah chose them because of an oath to the fathers in Deut 7.7-8.
v 1…Then the word of the Lord (Yehovah) came to me saying,
v 2…”Son of man (“ben adam”-when this is used Ezekiel represents the people), how is the wood of the vine better than the wood of a branch which is among the trees of the forest (it bears fruit, but Israel was not doing that)?
v 3…Can the wood be taken from it to make anything, or can men take a peg from it on which to hang any vessel (No-you can’t use it in manufacturing or building)?
v 4…Behold (take note), it is cast into the fire for fuel (the only other useful purpose for it), the fire has consumed both its ends (signifying the northern tribes consumed by Assyria, and the southern tribes consumed by Babylon) and its middle part has been charred (the center of Jerusalem was mutilated and disfigured), it is then useful for anything (since there is no flame and it won’t even burn all the way)?
v 5…Behold, while it is intact, it is not made into anything. How much less, when the fire has consumed it and it is charred, can it still be made into anything (when Yehovah chose them they had value, how much less now that he has cast her aside)!
v 6…Therefore, thus says the Lord God (Adonai Yehovah), ‘As the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest (to be burned), which I have given to the fire for fuel, so I have given up the inhabitants of Jerusalem (the northern tribes were burned by Assyria, now Judah and Jerusalem will be burned by the Chaldeans);
v 7…and I set my face against them (in wrath-Ezek 14.8); though they have come out of the fire (Jerusalem and those that survived the first two incursions of Babylon in 605 and 597 BC), yet the fire will consume them (it won’t survive the next fire when Babylon finally comes and destroys Judah, the city, and the Temple after the murder of Gedaliah). Then you will know that I am the Lord, when I set my face against them (as proof of what he said through the prophets was true).
v 8…Thus I will make the land desolate, because they have acted unfaithfully (they turned from Yehovah and his word, and he had the right to do what he did),’ ” declares the Lord God.
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