Ezek — Capítulo 19

19:1-14 An ancient Near Eastern funeral song had a distinctive rhythm and style and usually extolled the virtues of the person who had died, contrasting past glory with the current loss. In this case, those being lamented were not yet dead, and the dirge contained a catalogue of their faults. This dirge profoundly communicated the certainty of their fate and the reasons for it. • The lion (19:2-9) and the vine (19:10-14) were familiar images for the princes of Israel, the royal dynasty of Judah.

19:2-4 The first picture is of a lioness and one of her cubs, whom she chose as the leader of her pack. This cub represented Jehoahaz, who reigned for a mere three months before being carried to Egypt by Pharaoh Neco (2 Kgs 23:33-34). • hunt . . . devour prey . . . man-eater: The prophet characterizes Jehoahaz’s brief reign in entirely negative terms. • Lions were traditionally hunted with a net and a pit, here a metaphor for the violent way that Jehoahaz would be carried away to Egypt.

19:5-7 The behavior of the second cub was similar to that of the first but even more violent, as he destroyed their towns and cities. This cub could represent Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, or Zedekiah. It is not clear which towns and cities the king of Judah destroyed—the prophet might have been thinking of the negative effect that foolish foreign policy had on the cities and towns of Judah.

19:8-9 Jehoiakim was captured and killed by the Babylonians in Judah. Jehoiachin was exiled to Babylon along with Ezekiel. Zedekiah’s reign ended with the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC.

19:10 The vine is evidently Judah, whom the Lord had planted under optimum conditions.

19:11-12 Judah’s pride led to its downfall as the Lord uprooted it in his wrath (cp. 17:1-10). He then replanted Judah in the desert of exile.

19:13-14 The fire (probably Zedekiah) that came from the vine’s own branches consumed the fruit (the land and people). After this destruction, there was no branch left that was strong enough to be a ruler’s scepter. Zedekiah would have no immediate successor.