Ezekiel and the Revelation of the 13 Scrolls – Scroll 1 Part 6

(Scroll 1) 8:1 – 19:14 (the present state of Israel, temple abominations, wicked slain, the glory departs – E, opportunity of regathering, Judah & Jerusalem’s guilt) 06/05/06. Ezekiel 17:1 And the word of vuvh came to me, saying, 2 Ben-adam, put out a riddle, and speak a parable to Beit Yisrael. The aggressor: a riddle is a mysterious example from which another example can be understood יהוה explains the riddle/parable in V.12. Ezekiel 17:3 And say, This says the Master vuvh; A great eagle with great wings, long pinions, full of feathers, which had different colors, came to Levanon, and took the highest branch of the cedar: Six things: Great eagle: Nebuchadnezzar. Great great wings: an expansive kingdom, many people under his rule. Long pinions: the ability to pick up its prey and carry them back to its nest (Babylon). Full of feathers: great strength and flying ability, ability to make long distance incursions. Different colors: marshal splendor, representing Nebuchadnezzar’s ruling generals, governors and dignitaries. Came to Lebanon: Israel the land of the mighty Lebanon forests. Took the highest branch: Judah’s king Jehoiachin Ezekiel 17:4 He cropped off the top of his young twigs, and carried it into a land of traders; he set it in a city of merchants. 5 He took also of the zera of the land, and planted it in a fruitful field; he placed it by many mayim, and set it as a willow eytz. Four things: Young twigs: the princes of Jehoiachin. Land of traders: Babylon. Took seed of the land: Zedekiah, brother of Jehoiachin and son of Josiah – the last great and righteous king of Judah. Planted it in a fruitful field: Nebuchadnezzar established Zedekiah’s reign in Jerusalem (the fruitful field) and made him promise to be a faithful servant. Placed by many waters: Zedekiah’s reign was under close supervision of the tributaries of trade and military might that flowed out of Babylon that reached the ramparts of Jerusalem. Set as a willow tree: another translation Zedekiah was set as a “foul smelling vine.’ An unpleasant odor only tolerated by Nebuchadnezzar because it vowed to stay low/humble and creep along the ground, never to dare and climb the height of a cedar where the eagle/Nebuchadnezzar dwelt. Ezekiel 17:6 And it grew, and became a spreading vine of little size, whose branches turned toward him, and the roots of it were under him: so it became a vine, and brought out branches, and shot out shoots. Ezekiel 17:7 There was also another great eagle with great wings and many feathers: and, see, this vine did bend its roots toward him, and shot out its branches toward him, from the furrows of its bed, that he might water it. Note: this eagle/Pharoah didn’t have long pinions and only ‘many’/rab feathers NOT ‘abundant’ /mâlê’ feathers, nor different colors: Pharaoh didn’t have the ability to come to Zedekiah’s defense and carry him to safety, he didn’t have the might of generals and commanders as Nebuchadnezzar did (colors).  Ezekiel 17:8 It was planted in a tov soil by many mayim, that it might bring out branches, and that it might bear fruit, that it might be a tov vine. Ezekiel 17:9 Say, This says the Master vuvh; Shall it prosper? Shall he not pull up the roots of it, and cut off the fruit of it, so that it withers? It shall wither in all the leaves of her spring, even without great power, or many people to pluck it up by the roots of it. Ezekiel 17:10 See, it is planted, shall it prosper? Shall it not utterly wither, when the east wind touches it? It shall wither in the furrows where it grew. Nebuchadnezzar heard of Zedekiah’s treachery and blew in from the NE and scorched the vine and the furrows of Jerusalem where he grew. Ezekiel 17:11 Moreover the word of vuvh came to me, saying, (Answer to the riddle/parable) Ezekiel 17:12 Say now to the rebellious bayit, Know you not what these things mean? Tell them, See, the melech of Bavel has come to Yahrushalayim, and has taken the melech, and the leaders of it, and led them