Bible Commentaries

princes. Septuagint reads"prince"(singular) Here refers to Zedekiah.

Israel. Put here for Judah. See note on 1 Kings 12:17.

thy mother. Probably Hamutal, one of the wives of Josiah, the mother of Shallum (or Jehoahaz) and Zedekiah (2 Kings 23:31 and Ezekiel 24:18). The other son of Josiah (Jehoiakim) had a different mother (Zebudah). See 2 Kings 23:36.

one of her whelps. Probably Jehoahaz (i.e. Shah lam), the youngest son of Josiah, is intended (1 Chronicles 3:15).

catch = rend,

men. Hebrew "adam. App-14,

taken in their pit. As a lion is taken (Psalms 35:7; Psalms 94:13).

they: i.e. Pharaoh = necho (2 Kings 23:30-34. 2 Chronicles 36:1-4). Jeremiah laments his fate. See Jeremiah 22:10-12.

another of her whelps. Probably Jehoiakim, an other son of Josiah (2 Kings 23:36. 2 Chronicles 36:1-4). Hardly Jehoiachin, who reigned only three months (2 Kings 24:8). But Jehoiakim reigned eleven years, and his character corresponds with Ezekiel 19:7-8, here. See 2 Kings 23:36; 2 Kings 24:1-6, Jeremiah 22:11-19.

knew their desolate palaces. Aramaean and Septuagint read "injured or defiled his widows".

knew = knew carnally. See 2 Chronicles 36:8.

in ward in chains = in a cage with hooks (or hoops), as lions are represented on the monuments. See 2 Chronicles 36:5-7, and Jeremiah 22:13-19.

king. Some codices read "land".

Thy mother. Another Simile. See the Structure (W, p. 1130).

in thy blood: or, in thy vineyard (according to Dr. C. D. Ginsburg).

waters. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 8:7). App-92.

wind. Hebrew. ruach. App-9.

now, &c. Referring to Jeconiah and Ezekiel's own days (1, 3; and 2 Kings 24:12-16).

of a rod: or, of the rod: i.e. Zedekiah, who byhis perjury brought about the destruction of Jerusalem by fire,