What does Ezechiel Chapter 17 say, and which statements belong to its speaker?

Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary

Two eagles and a vine receive an interpretation. Broken oath and Egyptian appeal lead to capture. A tender twig becomes a sheltering cedar.

Chapter breakdown

Ezechiel 17 presents a riddle of a great eagle with long wings, limbs and varied feathers. It comes to Libanus, takes cedar marrow and crops a top twig, carrying it to Chanaan's merchant city. Seed planted in firm ground by abundant waters becomes a low vine whose branches turn toward the eagle and whose roots lie beneath it. The edition separately identifies Nabuchodonosor, Jerusalem and Jechonias, explains Chanaan as traffic in Chaldea and Babylon, and identifies the planted seed with Sedecias. A second great eagle appears, and the vine bends roots and stretches branches toward it for water despite its good planting. Questions about prosperity announce uprooted roots, stripped fruit, dried branches and a burning wind, without needing a great arm or many people.

The interpretation describes Babylon's king taking Jerusalem's king and princes, choosing royal seed, making a covenant and oath, and taking the mighty so the kingdom stays low and keeps the agreement. The edition notes that past events are expressed with future wording. Revolt sends ambassadors to Egypt for horses and people. The Lord declares death in Babylon where the king who appointed him dwells; Pharaoh will not assist with a great army at the mounts and forts. Giving his hand and then despising the oath leads to the Lord's net, judgment in Babylon, sword for fugitives and scattering of the residue. The text does not locate the breach of allegiance in Babylon itself or supply a private motive of independence.

The Lord takes a tender twig from a high cedar and plants it on Israel's high mountain. It grows branches and fruit and shelters birds of every kind beneath it. Trees recognize the bringing down of the high, raising of the low, drying of the green and flourishing of the dry. The edition separately explains David's stock, Christ and the church on Mount Sion with nations coming to it. This does not establish a general prohibition of foreign alliances or define all trees as kingdoms in the verse itself.

The story inside

Opening: Two eagles and a vine receive an interpretation. Development: Broken oath and Egyptian appeal lead to capture. Conclusion: A tender twig becomes a sheltering cedar.

Lessons worth keeping

1
Two eagles and a vine receive an interpretation.
2
Broken oath and Egyptian appeal lead to capture.
3
A tender twig becomes a sheltering cedar.

Test your recall

Which images and requests does the speaker use, and what does the chapter leave unresolved?

Source edition and notes

Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.

Lines 92881–92887
17:3. And say: Thus saith the Lord God; A large eagle with great wings, long-limbed, full of feathers, and of variety, came to Libanus, and took away the marrow of the cedar. A large eagle.... Nabuchodonosor, king of Babylon.—Ibid. Came to Libanus.... That is, to Jerusalem.—Ibid. Took away the marrow of the cedar.... King Jechonias.
Lines 92896–92907
17:5. And he took of the seed of the land, and put it in the ground for seed, that it might take a firm root over many waters: he planted it on the surface of the earth. Of the seed of the land, etc.... Viz., Sedecias, whom he made king. 17:6. And it sprung up and grew into a spreading vine of low stature, and the branches thereof looked towards him: and the roots thereof were under him. So it became a vine, and grew into branches, and shot forth sprigs. Towards him.... Nabuchodonosor, to whom Sedecias swore allegiance.
Lines 92909–92914
17:7. And there was another large eagle, with great wings, and many feathers: and behold this vine, bending as it were her roots towards him, stretched forth her branches to him, that he might water it by the furrows of her plantation. Another large eagle.... Viz., the king of Egypt.
Lines 92946–92964
17:15. But he hath revolted from him and sent ambassadors to Egypt, that it might give him horses, and much people. And shall he that hath done thus prosper, or be saved? and shall he escape that hath broken the covenant? 17:16. As I live, saith the Lord God: In the place where the king dwelleth that made him king, whose oath he hath made void, and whose covenant he broke, even in the midst of Babylon shall he die. 17:17. And not with a great army, nor with much people shall Pharao fight against him: when he shall cast up mounts, and build forts, to cut off many souls. 17:18. For he had despised the oath, breaking his covenant, and behold he hath given his hand: and having done all these things, he shall not escape. 17:19. Therefore thus saith the Lord God: As I live, I will lay upon his head the oath he hath despised, and the covenant he hath broken.
Lines 92974–92982
17:22. Thus saith the Lord God: I myself will take of the marrow of the high cedar, and will set it: I will crop off a tender twig from the top of the branches thereof, and I will plant it on a mountain high and eminent. Of the marrow of the high cedar, etc.... Of the royal stock of David.—Ibid. A tender twig.... Viz., Jesus Christ, whom God hath planted in mount Sion, that is, the high mountain of his church, to which all nations flow.
Lines 92984–92992
17:23. On the high mountains of Israel will I plant it, and it shall shoot forth into branches and shall bear fruit, and it shall become a great cedar: and all birds shall dwell under it, and every fowl shall make its nest under the shadow of the branches thereof. 17:24. And all the trees of the country shall know that I the Lord have brought down the high tree, and exalted the low tree: and have dried up the green tree, and have caused the dry tree to flourish. I the Lord have spoken and have done it.