Ezek 17.1-24 is a parable about two eagles and a vine. Judah is again threatened with destruction for their disobedience to the Torah/covenant, but there is a promise that the house of Judah will rise, and the family of David, in the Messiah.
v 1…Now the word of the Lord (Yehovah) came to me saying,
v 2…”Son of man (when this is used Ezekiel represents the people), propound a riddle (chidah) and speak a parable (mishal) to the house of Israel,
v 3…saying, ‘Thus says the Lord God (Adonai Yehovah), “A great eagle (Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon) with great wings (Dan 7.4), long pinions (body of the wing) and a full plumage of many colors (many subjects, large armies) came to Lebanon (Jerusalem/Temple) and took away the top of the cedar (the royal family, heirs of Judah).
v 4…He plucked off the topmost (the king Yeconiah and princes) of the young twigs (Yeconiah was 18 years old) and brought it to a land of merchants (Babylon); he set it in a city of traders.
v 5…He took some of the seed of the land (Zedekiah) and planted it in fertile soil (the land of Judea to be king). He placed it beside many waters (people-Rev 17.15); he set it like a willow (in a well-watered place).
v 6…Then it sprouted (Zedekiah prospered) and it became a low, spreading vine (to serve Babylon) with its branches turned toward him (the eagle/Nebuchadnezzar), but its roots remained under it (settled in Judea, but supported by Babylon). So it became a vine, and yielded shoots (increased in people and riches) and sent out branches (green).
v 7…But there was another great eagle with great wings and much plumage (the king of Egypt); and behold, this vine (Zedekiah) bent its roots towards him (to the king of Egypt seeking help through ambassadors) from the beds (canals of the Nile) where it was planted, that he (Pharaoh) might water it (help it).
v 8…It was planted in good soil beside abundant waters (Nebuchadnezzar put Zedekiah on the throne and Judea was prospering), that it might yield branches and bear fruit, and become a splendid vine (grow numerous, rich and flourish).”
v 9…”Say, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Will it thrive? Will he (Nebuchadnezzar) not pull its roots and cut off its fruit, so that it withers (due to Zedekiah’s ingratitude to Babylon)-so that all its sprouting leaves wither? And neither by great strength nor by many people can it be raised from its roots (it will fall easily and not sprout again).
v 10…Behold, though it is planted, will it thrive? Will it not completely wither as soon as the east wind (Babylon) strikes it-wither on the beds where it grew?”
v 11…Moreover, the word of the Lord came to me saying,
v 12…”Say now to the rebellious house (Israel), ‘Do you not know what these things mean (here is the explanation of the parable)?’ Say, ‘Behold (take note), the king of Babylon came to Jerusalem, took its king and princes, and brought them to him in Babylon.’
v 13…And he took one of the royal family and made a covenant with him, putting under oath (in the name of Yehovah, giving him the throne under certain conditions; his name was Mattaniah but was renamed Zedekiah to remind him of God’s justice if he breaks the oath-2 Kings 24.17; 2 Chr 36.13). He also took away the mighty of the land (principle men of wisdom, along with riches to weaken the land),
v 14…that the kingdom might be in subjection, not exalting itself (against Babylon), but keeping his (Nebuchadnezzar) covenant, that it might continue (stand as a kingdom).
v 15…But he rebelled against him by sending his envoys to Egypt that they might give him horses and many troops (to free himself from Babylon). Will he succeed? Will he who does such things escape? Can he indeed break the covenant and escape?
v 16…As I live,’ declares the Lord God, ‘Surely in the country of the king who put him on the throne, whose oath he despised, and whose covenant he broke, in Babylon he shall die (after being taken there).’
v 17…And Pharaoh with his mighty army and great company will not help him in the war (Egypt will not fight Babylon), when they cast up mounds and build siege walls to cut off many lives.
v 18…Now he despised the oath by breaking the covenant, and behold, he pledged (gave his hand) his allegiance, yet did all these things; he shall not escape.’ “
v 19…Therefore, thus says the Lord God, “As I live, surely my oath (he invoked the name of Yehovah) which he (Zedekiah) despised and my covenant which he broke, I will inflict (recompense) on his head (Zedekiah was blinded).
v 20…And I will spread my net over him, and he will be caught in my snare (like a fowler setting traps for birds). Then I will bring him to Babylon and enter into judgment with him there regarding the unfaithful act which he has committed against me.
v 21…And all the fugitives (with him) in all his troops will fall by the sword (as they fled), and the survivors will be scattered to every wind (either carried to Babylon or ran in every direction); and you will know that I, the Lord (Yehovah), have spoken (proof that his word is just, righteous and true when it happens).”
v 22…Thus says the Lord God, “I shall also take of the top (a sprig, a shoot) of the lofty cedar (royal line of David) and set it out (Isa 11.1-10; Isa 53.2); I shall pluck from the topmost of its young twigs a tender one (Messiah Yeshua), and I shall plant it on a high and lofty mountain (Zion, the seat and center of the kingdom-Isa 2.1-2).
v 23…On the high mountain of Israel I shall plant it, that it might bring forth bough and bear fruit (the kingdom of Yehovah), and become a stately cedar. And birds of every kind (all nations) will nest under it; they will nest in the shade of its branches (Messiah and the kingdom-1 Kings 4.25; John 1.48; Zech 3.10; Mic 4.4).
v 24…And all the trees of the field (nations and their kings) will know that I am the Lord (Yehovah); I bring down the high tree (the mighty), exalt the low tree (the broken), dry up the green tree and make the dry tree flourish. I am the Lord; I have spoken, and I will perform it.”
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