Exposition of Ezekiel 14-19, Commentary on Ezechiel · Chapter 17 · Verses 7-8
VERS. 7, 8.
There was alſo another great Eagle with great wings, and many feathers, and behold this vine did bend her roots towards him, and ſhot forth her branches towards him, that he might water it by the furrows of her plantation.
It was planted in a good ſoile, by great waters, that it might bring forth branches, and that it might beare fruit, that it might be a goodly vine.
HEre you have the ſecond part of the parable wherein the King of Aegypt and Zedekiah's revolting come into conſideration.
Another great Eagle.
This Eagle was the King of Aegypt, as the 15. & 17. verſ. do certifie. Kings are called Eagles, and upon what account was opened unto you out of the third verſ.
This Eagle was great in power and dominion, but not ſo great as the other; for though this Eagle had great wings, yet it's not ſaid, hee had long wings as the other had.
Many feathers.
Much wealth, many people and Soldiers.
This vine did bend her roots towards him, and ſhot forth her branches towards him.
Zedekiah looked at the power and greatneſſe of the King of Aegypt,Contrary to his oath he entered into league with the Aegyptians and hoped by their help to recover the former liberty of the Iewiſh ſtate. and ſent Embaſſadors to him that they might joyne Forces. The roots of trees do encline that way there is moiſture and ſuccour for them: ſo Zedekiah apprehending that Pharaoh King of Aegypt would ſuccour and relieve him; he falls off from Nebuchadn…zar, and ſeeks to him; hee ſent his Embaſſadors, which were as the branches of this Vine, into Aegypt for horſes & people, verſ. 15. Jer. 2.18. What haſt thou to doe in the way of Aegypt, to drink *The vulgar reads for waters of Sihor, aquam turbidam, troubleſom water, the waters of Nylus were thick and ſlimie, troubleſome to drink. foreign Deut. 11.10. it's ſaid they watered Aegypt with their feet, by digging decks, furrows lines, or paſſages for the water to run in, they had no rain there, as appears, Zach. 14.18. but they watered the country by letting out the waters of Nylus.the waters of Sihor? Sihor was a little River before Aegypt, Joſh. 13.3. and is put for Nilus or Aegypt, and waters for the people and forces. Zedekiah ſent thither to draw the forces thereof unto his aſſiſtance.
That hee might water it with the furrowes of her Plantation.
Heb. From or by the lines of her plantation, the Hebrew word ſignifies a bedd: ſo it's uſed, Cant. 5.13. And a furrow which is a line drawn: and Avenarius ſaith it's ſulcus aquarius, a water line or furrow through which the waters ran. In Aegypt they made furrows and lines through which the waters of Nylus ran and watered the Country: ſo here Zedekiah endeavoured by his Embaſſadors and preſents to joyn intereſt with Pharaoh, and ſo to gaine the help of men and horſe from him, whereby he might defend himſelfe againſt Nebuchadnezar, whom deſerting he provoked againſt him. Pharaoh enterteining this motion, ſends Forces, as you may ſee, Jer. 37.5.7. And this was the watering of the Jewiſh vine in the furrows of her Plantation. Sept.*foreign. is, with the turfe of it's plantation. Vulg. in areolis germinis ſui, in the beds of it's budd or budding.
Verſ. 8. It was planted in a good ſoile, &c.
This verſe ſets out the ingratitude of Zedekiah, who might not only have kept his kingdom, but have proſpered in it, and come to greatneſſe, for Nebuchadnezar had planted him in a good ſoile, &c.
If a Vine be planted in a good and rich ſoile, it rootes, grows, flouriſhes with branches, leaves, cluſters, and becomes uſefull, delightfull unto many: ſo might this metaphorical Vine Zedekiah, for the ſoile he was planted in was the land of promiſe, a fruitfull field, as it's expreſs'd in the 5. Verſ. a good field, as the Hebrew hath it,foreign here a good field is a fruitfull field, and a fruitfull field is a good field.
By great waters.
What was meant by waters was ſhewn in the fifth verſ. When trees are planted by waters, there is no feare of wanting moiſture and withering thereupon. Vines doe need much moiſture, and draw abundantly from the ſoile: Zedekiah was among the waters, viz. the poor people, who contributed their endeavours to make him great.
That it might be a goodly vine.
The Heb. word for goodly is foreign which ſignifies comely, magnificent, ſtrong, Sept. foreign that it might be a great vine. Vatab. vitis egregia, an excellent vine. Calv. a beautifull comely vine. French, Pour eſtre une vigne excellente.
Nebuchadnezar dealt honourably and Prince-like by Zedekiah, who being a private man before, and lyable to captivity with the reſt carryed away when Jechonias was, was not only ſpared, but advanced to Kingly dignity, and ſet in ſuch a condition that he needed not the help of any, he needed not the waters of Aegypt and Nylus; he had Nebuchadnezar that great Eagle to be his Protector: and had hee been faithfull in his engagements to him, he might have become a goodly, great, ſtrong, beautifull, excellent and fruitfull vine.
Obſer. 1.
That the Lord takes ſpeciall notice of the Monarchs and Kings of the earth, of their greatneſſe, power, honour, wealth and glory. In the third verſ. ke ſpeaks of Nebuchadnezar King of Babylon; A great Eagle with great wings, long winged, full of feathers, and of divers colours. In this 7. verſ. of Pharaoh King of Aegypt, A great Eagle, with great wings, & many feathers. Gods eye is much upon Princes and Potentates of the earth. Pſal. 89.27. I will make David higher then the Kings of the Earth. He obſerv'd them and their height, he ſees and notes their riſing. Hoſ. 8 4. They have ſet up Kings, but not by me: Their greatneſſe, Dan. 4.22. Thy greatneſſe O King is grown, and reacheth unto heaven. Their doings, Luk. 22.25. The Kings of the earth exerciſe Lordſhip over them. How they ſet themſelves againſt God, Pſal. 2.2. Againſt him and his people, him and his Army. Rev. 19.19. I ſaw the Kings of the earth and their Armies gathered together to make warre againſt him that ſate on the horſe, and againſt his Army. They are Gods upon earth, Pſal. 82.6. They beare his image, have his authority: and if they ſtep aſide, and turne their greatneſſe againſt God, his cauſe and people, the Lord will ſtrike through them in the day of his wrath, Pſal. 110.5. He will cut off the ſpirit of Princes, and be terrible to the Kings of the earth, Pſal. 76.12. Let Kings therefore be wiſe, kiſſe the ſonne, Pſal. 2.10.12. and improve all for the intereſt of Chriſt.
2. The Kings and Monarchs of the earth are not all alike, they are diverſe, and admit of diſparity. Nebuchadnezar and Pharaoh both were Eagles, but the Aegyptian eagle was not ſo great and potent as the Babylonian; this was full of feathers, that had many feathers; this had great and long wings, that only great. Pharaoh's power extended not ſo far as Nebuchadnezar's. Some Princes are little Eagles, ſome are great, and others very great. Thoſe 31. Kings whom Joſhuah ſmote, were Kings of Cities, Joſh. 12.9. to the end They were little Eagles, and had little neſts. Hamor was Prince of a Country, Gen. 34.2. he was a greater Eagle: ſo Tidal King of Nations, Gen. 14.1. he went beyond Hamor, but others exceeded him. Ahaſhuerus was an Eagle with great and long wings, his neſt was large, 127. Provinces over which he ſpread his wings, Eſth. 1.1. So Senacherib the King of Aſſyria, is cal'd the great King, the King Aſſyria, Iſa. 36.4. And Nebuchadnezar for his greatneſſe is titled a King of Kings. The Babylonian, Aſſyrian, Grecian, and Roman Emperours were great Eagles: God gives power, honour, greatneſſe, to whom he pleaſes, and in what proportion he pleaſes; ſome are Eagles with greater, longer wings, and more feathers then others.
3. Mens natures are ſuch as that they are ſeldome content with any condition they are ſet in. Zedekiah was ſet in the Throne, exalted to Kingly honour, but this ſatisfied him not: this vine did bend her roots towards the Aegyptian Eagle, and ſhot forth her branches towards him. Adam and Eve at firſt were not content with their condition they were ſet in, but muſt have and know more then God allow'd them, Gen. 3.6. Man being in honour, abideth not, Pſ. 49.12. He abides not ſatisfied, his bruitiſh deſires carry him after forbidden fruit. Habakuk ſpeaking of a Chaldean Prince, ſaith, Hee keeps not at home, he enlarges his deſire as hell, and is as death, and cannot be ſatisfied, but gathereth unto him all Nations, and heaps unto him all People, Hab. 2.6. Iſaiah tels you the King of Babylon was ſo unſatisfied with his preſent condition, that he ſaid he would aſcend into heaven, and exalt his Throne above the Stars of God, be like the moſt high. He had made the world a wilderneſſe, and deſtroyed the Cities thereof, and now hee would up to heaven, Iſa. 14.4.13, 14.17.
Pyrrhus King of Epirus, Plutarch in Pyrrho.having enlarged his Dominions by the conqueſt of Macedonia, thirſted after Italie: and demanding the adviſe of Cineas his great Counſellour, he aſked him what he meant to do when he had conquer'd Italy, next I meane to get Scicily, which is neare, rich, & powerfull; when you have gotten Scicily ſaid Cineas, what then? Africk ſaith the King is not farre off, and there be many goodly Kingdomes, which through my fame and valour of my Souldiers I may ſubdue. Be it ſo, ſaid Cineas, when you have Africke and all in it, what will you doe then? ſaid the King, Then thou and I will be merry, and make good cheare. Cineas replied, Sir, if this be the end you aime at, what need you venture your Kingdoms, perſon, life, honour, and all you have to purchaſe that you have already; Epirus and Macedonia are ſufficient to make you and me merry: had you all the world you could not be more merry, nor have better cheare.
4. Diſcontentedneſſe with the preſent condition puts men upon unwarrantable practices to relieve & free themſelves from what they apprehend burthenſome.
Zedekiah was diſcontented that he was tributary to, and dependant upon the King of Babylon, he apprehended this a grievous burthen; his Predeceſſors moſt of them free and abſolute Kings, and he to be under the power of another, and he a Heathen? This kindled an ill, fiery, malignant ſpirit in his breaſt, and made him ſue to Aegypt for help to ſhake off the Babyloniſh yoake, which was unwarrantable and unlawfull for him to doe: This is like an ill wife, that finding the yoak of her Husband a little pinching, deſerts him, and betakes her ſelfe to another. Zedekiah ſhould have applyed himſelf to Nebuch. for relief if any thing were grievous to him, and not to Pharaoh on whom he had no dependance, from whom he had received no favour; but diſcontent, and hope of liberty puts him upon perfidious practiſes. The Iſraelites being diſcontented with the taxes laid upon them by Salomon, ſu'd to Rehoboam for reliefe, he unwiſely gives them a rough anſwer, and exaſperates their ſpirits; preſently they fall off from him, ſtone Adoram the Tribute-gatherer, make Jeroboam King, and ſubmit to him, 1 King. 12.14.16.18.20.
The Jewes hearing the ill report of the land of Canaan, murmure and ſay, Would God wee had dyed in the land of Aegypt, or in this wilderneſſe: wherefore hath the Lord brought us to this land to fall by the ſword, that our wives and children ſhould be aprey? were it not better for us to return to Aegypt? And ſee what their diſcontent put them upon: They ſaid one to another, let us make a Captaine, and let us return into Aegypt, Num. 14.2, 3, 4. They were weary of Moſes and Aaron, and their government, and now they would make them a Captain, a King ſay the Rabbies, and return to Aegypt to the Onions and Garlick, to their old wayes; ſuch hath been the condion of the people here. Jeroboam thought by ſetting up the Calves, to ſecure himſelfe and the Kingdom, but that very thing was his ruine.
5. The condition divine providence ſets any in is good, and therein they may proſper if wiſe and contented. This vine was planted in a good ſoile, and to what end? that it might bring forth branches, beare fruit, and be a goodly vine.
Zedekiah being made King in Iſrael, was ſet in a good condition: and had hee wiſely managed the affairs of the kingdome, and been content with what God gave him in by the hand of Nebuchadnezar, hee might have proſpered greatly, had a glorious Kingdome, been a renowned King.
The Kingly office is honourable, and when God ſets up Kings over people, they might be happy, and grow potent. Solomon who was a wiſe King, he proſpered exceedingly in that ſoile he was planted in, and liv'd happily; but Rehoboam his ſonne through his folly and diſcontentedneſs with his people, loſt 10. parts of his kingdome, and made his reign troubleſome afterwards, 1 Kings 12. Zedekiah by his folly and diſcontent undid himſelfe, being impatient of the yoake God had put upon him, he fooliſhly ſends to, and relies upon Aegypt, and thinks by Aegyptian hands to re-lift himſelfe into a better condition than God had put him in, but this was his ruine. Iſa. 31.1. Woe to them that go down to Aegypt for helpe, and ſtay on horſes, and truſt in chariots, becauſe they are many, and in horſe-men, becauſe they are very ſtrong; but they looke not unto the holy one of Iſrael, neither ſeeke the Lord. Had Zedekiah ſought to the Lord, he could have watered the furrows of his plantation better then Aegypt. It is a common ſickneſſe among men, and eſpecially great ones, Kings and Princes, that they make the good condition God hath ſet them in unhappy to themſelves: would they keep within bounds, be content with what God hath allowed them, and uſe that wiſely, they might doe well, and live happily.
The God of Iſrael and his worſhip would not content Ahaz, but he muſt ſet up the Damaſcene Altar, ſacrifice to the gods of Damaſcus, hoping for helpe from them, but they prov'd his ruine, and the ruine of all Iſrael, 2 Chron. 28.23.