The Fate of the House of David
This chapter is similar to Chapter 17. It foretells and laments the ruin of
the House of David, the Royal Family of Judah, the terrible end of the four
sons and grandsons of Josiah, Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jeconiah and Zedekiah, thus
cutting off this illustrious line of kings. Here the Lord tells Ezekial to
mourn them and he does so with the use of parallels.
- The Kingdom of Judah and the House of David are here compared to a
lioness whose cubs were hunted down and captured in nets. There was
a mother lion who brought up her cubs and nourished them greatly.
She took one of them and taught him to catch prey devour men. The
nations heard of him, captured him in a pit and took him to the land
of Egypt. This was the story of King Jehoahaz, the Lion of Judah.
His victorious reign ended when he was taken in chains to Egypt
never to be heard of again. The second cub reared to catch prey was
King Rehoboam. He took the ill advice of young men and was soon set
upon by Nebuchadnezzar and taken in chains to Babylon.
- They are also compared to a vine whose branches, though strong and
fruitful, were cut off and burned. The vine is described as one
planted in rich soil and nurtured by much water. It grew to a great
height with many branches but was soon cast down to the ground by
the east wind (Babylonians). Now it is planted in a dry and thirsty
ground and fire has devoured its branches.
The fate of the Kingdom of Judah was sealed and this was to convince the
people that they might not flatter themselves with vain hopes.
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