Having worked through another line of sons of Judah we now turn to the sons of Simeon. Note (:41) the mention of Hezekiah indicates that this list at least, was written after the days of Hezekiah.

The last few verses in today's chapter (1Chron 4:24-43,) tell us more of Simeon's tribe than we read almost anywhere else.  It seems as though the Simeon tribe were subsumed within Judah.  This brings Jacob's prophecy true, where he said that Simeon and Levi would be divided and scattered in Israel (Gen 49:5-7) because of their cruelty to Shechem Gen 34).

4:39-43  This fairly extensive historical comment, mentioning Hezekiah – indicates that the details of the book of Chronicles were finally incorporated into a book after Hezekiah had been on the throne – probably in the days of Ezra or Nehemiah.

4:14 It seems that the valley was so named because of the trade of the sons of Joab for Charashim means craftsmen – the two Hebrew words are related.

4:1 In speaking of the sons of Judah we now deal with that which is summarised in 1Chron 2:4

4:24 Now we deal with the sons of ‘Simeon’ – though the firstborn he follows Judah – 1Chron 4:1 – marking in this book of families how Judah supersedes Simeon in the matter of birthright.

Vs.9,10 Jabez means sorrow.  It appears that he was given that name because his mother had a difficult time in giving birth to him.

Jabez was an honorable man who wished not to live life according to the meaning of his name.  He asked Yahweh for a blessing to let him grow into greatness, and to avoid sorrow in his life.  Yahweh granted Jabez his petition.

Jewish writings say that Jabez became a great doctor of the Law.  His reputation became known far and wide.  He attracted many scribes to him.  It seems that the town named after him became a center of learning (1Chron 2:55).

4:21-23 Here we have two families who are described as having particular skills.

V.24 The destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 ushered in the dry tree period, which still remains today. The final phase of Ezekiel's prophecy remains to be fulfilled when the Lord will make the "dry tree to flourish" This will be fulfilled when the "tender one", already exalted and anointed King, will be planted as King in the "mountain of the height of Israel" (v.23)

V.24 The dry tree (Heb. yabesh ets) applies essentially to Israel who will be made to flourish when Jesus comes to redeem them. 

The phrase also has a more personal connotation.  Isaiah talks of strangers (Gentiles) attaching themselves to Israel (wild olive branch), and to eunuchs feeling like a dry tree (yabesh ets) (Isa 56:3). 

Yahweh says that they will be fully accepted if they follow Him faithfully (Isa 56:4-7).  The Lord Jesus makes reference to eunuchs in Matt 19:12.  Whether other-imposed or self-imposed, these faithful dry trees will ultimately flourish in the Kingdom.

17:8  The vine was planted in as fertile sport – like Isaiah 5:1-2 – that it might ‘bear fruit’ like ourselves – John 15:8. We must take care that we are not like Judah to whom Ezekiel spoke.

17:23 The promise that a tree which would grow so that all fowls could lodge in it speaks of Babylon and provides the basis for Daniel’s words – Dan 4:12

17:12 It is only Ezekiel who uses the phrase ‘rebellious house’ and he uses the phrase 12 times to speak of Israel

17:24 The drying up of the ‘green tree’ is the basis for Jesus’ words in Luke 23:31

V.3 The eagle here is symbolic of Nebuchadnezzar. The highest branch of the cedar (KJV) symbolizes Jehoiakim (Jehoiachin) whom Nebuchadnezzar took captive to Babylon (2Kin 24:15).

V.4 The young twigs were carried into a land of traffic (KJV); trade (ESV), signified that the young princes of Judah would be transported to Babylon (Jer 29:1,2).

V.5 The seed of the land is Zedekiah.  He was made king of Judah, but was a vassal of Babylon (City on the Euphrates – great waters (KJV)).  The willow (Zedekiah) is dependent upon waters (Babylon) for survival.  

V.6 The vine (Judah) was of low stature (KJV); low spreading (ESV) ( had growth restricted because of control by Babylon).

V.7 This eagle was Pharaoh-hophra, king of Egypt. The vine (Zedekiah) did bend her roots toward him (KJV) (tried to make an alliance with Egypt to throw off the shackles of Babylon).

V.8 Nebuchadnezzar had left Zedekiah and Judah in a comfortable position, as long as they accepted the dominance of Babylon.

V.9 The rhetorical question was: Would Zedekiah be able to throw off the shackles of Babylon? The answer was No! Nebuchadnezzar would answer Zedekiah’s treason by being constrained to depose Zedekiah, and to destroy his children (pull up its roots and cut off its fruit (ESV)).

Also, Zedekiah’s nobles would perish (leaves wither (ESV)).  Furthermore, all this would be done with a minimal amount of force (without great power (KJV)).

V.10 utterly wither indicates that Zedekiah would be the last monarch of Judah.

V.10 See Eze 12:13.

V.21 Those who tried to escape from the control of Babylon, and those who fled to Egypt would die.

Vs.22-24 By contrast to Jehoiakim (v.3), the highest branch of the high cedar (KJV) here refers to Jesus when He returns to earth to rule (Isa 4:2). He is the Branch of promise who will rule the world (Isa 11:1-4).  He will bring bounty and order to His Kingdom.

Ezekiel 17   M 39    I 180    II 274       III 258    IV 357

Ezekiel’s ministry in Babylon is a spiritual journey wrapped in parables. Like Christ’s parables, each riddle taught a powerful lesson and this is true of the “great eagles” parable in Ez.17. The key lesson is be faithful to our covenant with God and Christ: there can be no turning back from our baptism into Christ.

Because Ezekiel was dumb for 7.5 years (5-4-5 to 5-10-12) he had to deliver most of his message to Judah through enacted parables. He could speak, but only when God directed him to speak. Called “son of man”, Ezekiel enacted and described many signs to prepare Israel for the parables and spiritual lessons from “the son of man” who followed 600 years later.

Today, Yahweh speaks to us plainly and through signs and wonders; the Scriptures teach right from wrong in plain language but Christ also makes us think by giving us parables to decipher. We are taught by commandments, rules and rituals, parables and prophecies, and through characters and stories. In Jeremiah Yahweh rebuked and told Judah to turn from idols and their wicked ways; in Ezekiel, He encourages us to think, learn and intelligently love and serve Him by deciphering signs and parables. Some people need to be told how to worship God, some need to work it out and others need both ways. God and Christ appeal to our reason and need for specific instruction.

In vv.3-10 Ezekiel tells the Parable of the “great eagle”

vv.11-21 reveals the parable’s meaning: Zedekiah broke his word

vv. 22-24 show how Christ manifested the righteousness that escaped Israel

Now that we’ve read chapter 17, we will examine the interpretation in vv.11-21 alongside the parable’s statement in vv.3-10.

³ … Thus saith The Lord Yahweh; A great eagle with great wings, longwinged, full of feathers, which had divers colours, came unto Lebanon, and took the highest branch of the cedar:

⁴ He cropped off the top of his young twigs, and carried it into a land of traffick; he set it in a city of merchants.

¹¹ Moreover the word of Yahweh came unto me, saying, ¹² Say now to the rebellious house, Know ye not what these things mean? tell them, 

¹² … Behold, the king of Babylon is come to Jerusalem, and hath taken the king thereof [Jehoiachin], and the princes thereof, and led them with him to Babylon (the land of traffic, the city of merchants);

“a great eagle” describes a mighty power that fears no-one and terrifies people near and far. Nebuchadnezzar was Yahweh’s servant ad ruled the then known world:

Jer 27:6  I have given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant; and the beasts of the field have I given him also to serve him. ⁷And all nations shall serve him, and his son, and his son’s son, until the very time of his land come … ⁸And it shall come to pass, that the nation and kingdom which will not serve Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, and that will not put their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, that nation will I punish, saith Yahweh, with the sword, and with the famine, and with the pestilence, until I have consumed them by his hand.

“great wings, full of feathers” decribes Nebuchadnezzar’s dominance.

“divers colours” margin = embroidering 1Chron 29:2 David said that he had prepared “glistering stones of divers colours, and all manner of precious stones” – gems for the temple that Solomon would build. In Eze 16:10,13,18 the same word describes the embroidered linen in the tabernacle.

“highest branch of the cedar” – the cedar tree signifies the royal house of David, cedar dominated the temple and cedar represents elevated people, either kings or saints (Psa 92:12).

“top young twig” was Jehoiachin, his princes and the “good figs”, the priests and tradesmen who were taken to Babylon “for their good”.

⁵ He took also of the seed of the land (Zedekiah), and planted it in a fruitful field (Jerusalem); he placed it by great waters, and set it as a willow tree.

¹³ And hath taken of the king’s seed (King Zedekiah), and made a covenant with him, and hath taken an oath of him: he hath also taken the mighty of the land:

“planted in a fruitful field” Zedekiah was given every opportunity to obey God and prosper. Jeremiah ministered to him and many times exhorted him to submit to Nebuchadnezzar and he would live.    

⁶ And it grew, and became a spreading vine of low stature, whose branches turned toward him, and the roots thereof were under him: so it became a vine, and brought forth branches, and shot forth sprigs.

¹⁴ That the kingdom might be base, that it might not lift itself up, but that by keeping of his covenant it might stand. 

Zedekiah was a weak vassal king; he “turned his branches towards” Nebuchadnezzar but he was unfaithful to the conditions that Nebuchadnezzar placed on him. Notice in v.6 that Zedekiah ‘the vine” had shoots and roots and the potential for fruit.

Isa 5:4 What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes? … ⁷For the vineyard of Yahweh of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry.

⁷ There was also another great eagle with great wings and many feathers (but no divers colours): and, behold, this vine did bend her roots toward him, and shot forth her branches toward him, that he might water it by the furrows of her plantation.

¹⁵ But he (Zedekiah) rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar in sending his ambassadors into Egypt (to Pharaoh-Hophra), that they might give him horses and much people. Shall he prosper? shall he escape that doeth such things? or shall he break the covenant, and be delivered?

Zedekiah’s worst sin was not “keeping Nebuchadnezzar’s covenant, the promise he made with the king of Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar was Yahweh’s servant and such covenants must be honored. This is a type of our covenant with the Lord Jesus Christ, our covenant of baptism. If we don’t keep our vow to be Christ’s servants, we will be treated just like Zedekiah.

The other “great eagle” in those days was Pharaoh-Hophra who said “my river is mine own, and I have made it for myself” (Eze 29:3). Pharaoh’s pride tempted Zedekiah to disobey Nebuchadnezzar. For this, God gave Egypt to Babylon as ‘wages for their siege against Tyre’.

Jer 37:4  Jeremiah came in and went out among the people: for they had not put him into prison. ⁵Then Pharaoh’s army was come forth out of Egypt: and when the Chaldeans that besieged Jerusalem heard tidings of them, they departed from Jerusalem. ⁶Then came the word of Yahweh unto the prophet Jeremiah, saying, ⁷Thus saith Yahweh … say to the king of Judah, that sent you unto me to enquire of me; Behold, Pharaoh’s army, which is come forth to help you, shall return to Egypt into their own land. ⁸And the Chaldeans shall come again, and fight against this city, and take it, and burn it with fire. ⁹Thus saith Yahweh; Deceive not yourselves, saying, The Chaldeans shall surely depart from us: for they shall not depart.

v.15 “ambassadors to Egypt”Zedekiah sent them so that they might help him escape from Nebuchadnezzar. But he had made a covenant to obey Nebuchadnezzar and no-one can break a covenant and prosper: Judah could have been blessed if Zedekiah and his princes had accepted the conditions God gave them.

⁸ It was planted in a good soil by great waters, that it might bring forth branches, and that it might bear fruit, that it might be a goodly vine.

The aim was fruit but Zedekiah never produced any because they were the “bad figs” – Yahweh did not make them bad, they were wicked by choice, Yahweh just divided them into two groups and took the “good figs” to Babylon with Ezekiel and Daniel.

God gave Judah “good soil by great waters” but they thought Egypt was better. Yahweh never let Judah down, they failed to listen, and believe and obey God’s word through Jeremiah. 

⁹ … thus saith The Lord Yahweh; Shall it prosper? shall not he [Nebuchadnezzar] pull up the roots thereof, and cut off the fruit thereof, that it wither? it shall wither in all the leaves of her spring

¹⁰ Yea, behold, being planted, shall it prosper? shall it not utterly wither, when the east wind (of Yahweh’s judgments Psa.48) toucheth it? it shall wither in the furrows where it grew.

¹⁶ As I live, saith The Lord Yahweh, surely in the place where the king dwells that made him king, whose oath he despised, and whose covenant he brake, even with him in the midst of Babylon he shall die.

¹⁷ Neither shall Pharaoh with his mighty army and great company help him in the war … ¹⁸ Seeing he despised the oath by breaking the covenant, when, lo, he had given his hand, and hath done all these things, he shall not escape. ¹⁹ Therefore thus saith The Lord Yahweh; As I live, surely mine oath that he hath despised, and my covenant that he hath broken, even it will I recompense upon his own head.

When Zedekiah “despised the oath by breaking the covenant, when he had given his hand” is equivalent to “despising and breaking Yahweh’s covenant”.

²⁰ I will spread my net upon him, and he shall be taken in my snare, and I will bring him to Babylon, and will plead with him there for his trespass that he hath trespassed against me. ²¹ And all his fugitives with all his bands shall fall by the sword, and they that remain shall be scattered toward all winds: and ye shall know that I Yahweh have spoken it.

We are reminded time and again that covenants are inviolate, they are binding for life and just as the covenant victim died to seal the promise, so death is the recompense for covenant breakers. Remember Jesus’ words …

Matt.8:11  “I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. ¹²But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Matt.25:30  And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. ³¹When the Son of man shall come in his glory …

Zedekiah was doubly cast into “outer darkness” – when he was judged at Riblath, his sons were executed in front of him, his eyes were put out and he went into the darkness of Babylonian exile where he died. All because he was unfaithful to his covenant. Yahweh is very clear on covenants. Christ’s mercy will not save covenant breakers.

vv.22-24 A ray of hope breaks the darkness – “the highest branch” is Jesus Christ, the king of righteousness.

²² Thus saith The Lord Yahweh; I will also take of the highest branch of the high cedar, and will set it; I will crop off from the top of his young twigs a tender one, and will plant it upon an high mountain and eminent:

²³ In the mountain of the height of Israel will I plant it: and it shall bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a goodly cedar: and under it shall dwell all fowl of every wing; in the shadow of the branches thereof shall they dwell.

This is the “highest branch of the high cedar”.  Jesus is the best “young twig”, the “tender one” who Yahweh will plant and raise for Himself.

“Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, upon the son of man [the branch] whom thou made strong for thyself” Psa.80:15,17.

“the tender one” takes to Isa.53:1-2 ”for he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground”. When it came to guile and pride, Jesus was a “tender plant”, untouched by the ways of men. Morally, he was “holy, harmless, undefiled and separate from sinners”. He stands as our model to follow.

There is a subtle but significant change in the text; in v.8, of Zedekiah He said, “he might bring forth branches, fruit and a goodly vine”. In vv.22-23 God says that “I shall” achieve My will.

This promise is repeated in Ezek.21:25  And thou, profane wicked prince of Israel, Zedekiah, whose day is come, when iniquity shall have an end, ²⁶Thus saith The Lord Yahweh; Remove the diadem, and take off the crown: this shall not be the same: exalt him that is low, and abase him that is high. ²⁷I will overturn, overturn, overturn, it: and it shall be no more, until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him. 

The phrase, “in the mountain of the height of Israel” reminds us of the kingdom’s glory that is described in Isa.2:2. Jesus Christ is going to reign forever in Mount Zion with his brothers and sisters. This is the hope that we celebrate as we break bread and the drink wine and wait for him.

Jesus will “be a goodly cedar” Jesus Christ is both a great mountain and a majestic tree that protects and feeds all living. The cedar tree symbolizes immortal righteousness – and is the “sure mercies of David” to us. It reminds us of Dan.2:44 and Dan.4:10-17 because the king who will rule over the kingdom of men is Jesus the glorified Son of God.

“all fowl of every wing” The victory of Jesus Christ’s life, his resurrection and return to earth makes him greater than both these “great eagles”. The mightiest of kings come and go – even “the head of gold”, but Jesus Christ endures forever.

Jesus has made a covenant with us by sacrifice: he gave his body and blood for us. We are sanctified and accepted because he “put away sin by the sacrifice of himself” and purchased us with his blood and obedience.

We have a far better covenant than the one Zedekiah made with Nebuchadnezzar because that covenant lasted only as long as they lived. And if that covenant, a man’s covenant, was enforced by death; then Jesus Christ’s covenant, which is founded on his sacrifice forever, is far more binding and eternal.

²⁴ And all the trees of the field shall know that I Yahweh have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish: I Yahweh have spoken and have done it.

We are “trees of the field” and we know what great things God and His Son have done for us. He has made us fruitful in Christ. We know that the covenant, God’s oath and our vows are binding for life. We have accepted Yahweh’s invitation to share His covenant and His blessings.

Let us now share the bread and wine of his peace offering and live as ”dry trees that now flourish” because Yahweh has spoken to us, invited us and done His good pleasure in our lives. Best of all, let us commit to keep his covenant by eating “the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth”.

17:3 ‘the highest branch of the Cedar’ was Jehoiakim who was taken captive – 2Kin 24:12 by the Babylonians.

13:27 depart ... workers of iniquity Psalm 6:8
13:32 fox Lamentations 5:18 Song 2:15
13:35 'blessed ... in the name of the Lord Psalm 118:26
v.14 The punctilious attitude of the 'ruler of the synagogue' contrasts with that of the lord who recognises the hypocrisy of such an attitude v.15. We can often cloud hypocrisy with the respectability of formality and an adherence to traditions and rules.
v.16 the eighteen years of bondage was rather like the two occasions when Israel were in bondage in the time of the Judges. Judges 3:14 10:8
v.22 Jesus was, already, 'journeying towards Jerusalem' whilst this may be a geographical comment it also picks on the theme started with the transfiguration. Luke 9:51 53 13:22 33 17:11 18:31 19:28

In this chapter Jesus presents ideas relating to being prepared for the kingdom. He builds some of this language into a parable for the disciples (Matthew 25) to reinforce this message a few months later.

14:7 Matthew 23:6
14:11 Matthew 23:12

These two quotations mark the end of the language in this section which Jesus uses again to rebuke the scribes and Pharisees on the last day of his public ministry (Matthew 23)

13:29 The mention and ordering of east west north south picks up God's promise to Jacob (Genesis 28:14) and is, therefore, not a general point.

ch. 14 - We are now less than six months away from the crucifixion so we have to conclude that the 'chief Pharisee' (:1) had invited Jesus for a meal to find fault with him and his teaching. This is borne out by the way the narrative unfolds. Consider the pressure Jesus had to deal with - being constantly exposed to his critics.

This house, the subject of so many of his parables, was to be left to them desolate (13 v35).

A further point to ponder.

Have you ever noticed how often the good works of Jesus incited people to anger? (e.g. 13v14). Was Jesus, by his good works, judging people by their own reaction to him? (see John 3v20)

14:26  ‘yea and their own life’ is quoted by Jesus – Rev 12:11, so Jesus’ words here give us an insight into how to understand the language in Rev 12:11.

Jesus was the Word made flesh (John 1:14).  Following Jesus' commandments ensures hydration (John 7:38).  Failing to absorb water makes salt a useless commodity.  Failing to absorb the water of the Word renders one useless as a follower the Lord.

14:5 Jesus doubtless knew why the man was there and why he had been invited. He knew that what he did would cause conflict. Rather than wait for a reaction he addressed the thoughts of the hearts of the Pharisees. They were not able to answer him – verse 6. By taking the initiative Jesus silenced his critics before they could say a word against him.

13:6-9 The parable of the fig tree is talking about Israel.  For three years Jesus had been preaching. Israel had not responded favorably to His teaching (not borne fruit). 

Yahweh, who is the planter of the fig tree is saying to cut it down; but the dresser (Jesus) says to leave it for another year and he will keep trying to encourage the tree to produce fruit.  If after this time it fails to produce fruit, cut it down. 

Actually, Jesus had only another six months to try, according to the Seventy-Weeks' prophecy of Daniel (Dan 9:26).  He failed to convince the nation, who in turn, caused His crucifixion (the Lord was cut off according to Daniel). 

Thus, the planter of the fig tree (Yahweh) would now destroy the vine (Israel).  This happened in 70 AD with the destruction of Jerusalem, and the subsequent events which scattered the nation into exile.

14:15  In saying ‘Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.’ The man was doubtless thinking of himself. However the ensuing parable shows that presence at the feast was n guarantee of a blessing. Those who made excuses about repentance would be barred from the marriage.

13:13 Jesus was going to make the crooked straight – Isa 40:3. We might have thought that Isaiah was speaking of a road. However he is speaking symbolically about the healing work of Jesus.

13:16 The woman who was loosed from her bondage shows a fulfilment of Isa 61:1