Commentary on Ezekiel Chapters 1-20 John Calvin
EZEKIEL
He now detects, under a figure, the perfidy of Zedekiah, since he very soon applied himself to the king of Egypt, and bent his roots and branches towards him, that they might be irrigated. I do not disagree with the opinion of those who think that the Prophet alludes to an Egyptian custom; for we know that they dug furrows through which water flowed through the whole region: hence the fruitfulness of the soil; and thus Egypt is elsewhere compared to a garden. (Deuteronomy 11:10.) Whatever the meaning is, the Prophet shows that Zedekiah was deceived by a foolish confidence when he thought himself safe under the protection of the king of Egypt; for he had said that the seed was so planted that the vine did not rise to a great height, but spread itself under the wings of the eagle. But Zedekiah despised the king of Babylon, thinking that he should improve his condition by entering into a treaty with the king of Egypt. It now follows ---
Ezekiel 17:8
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.
8. Super agrum bonum 441 juxta aquas multas 442 ipsa plantara erat, ut produceret folia, et proferret fructum ut esset in vitem magnificam. 443
He exaggerates the ingratitude of Zedekiah, because, as we have said, he had been treated humanely by the king of Babylon; for he had been but a private man till that time: he was elevated to a throne and to a sway over the people beyond his expectation, and he had an avenger if any one despised him. For when he was tributary to the king of Babylon, he would doubtless have been assisted by him in adversity: hence his revolt was less excusable, since he had been treated liberally beyond all anticipation. For this reason it is said, the vine was planted in a good soil, and near many waters, that it might put forth branches and bear fruit, so that it might be a goodly vine. It follows ---
Ezekiel 17:9-10
9. Say thou, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Shall it prosper? shall he not pull up the roots thereof, and cut off the fruit thereof, that it wither? it shall wither in all the leaves of her spring, even without great power or many people to pluck it up by the roots thereof.
9. Dic, Sic dicit Dominator Iehovah, An feliciter aget? 444 an non radices ejus evellet? et fructum ejus succidet? et siccabit omnes surculos germinis ipsius, ut arefiat 445 et non brachio magno et populo multo ad tollendum 446 e radicibus suis.
10. Yea, behold, being planted, shall it prosper? shall it not utterly wither, when the east wind toucheth it? it shall wither in the furrows where it grew.
441That is, "in a good soil." — Calvin. 442Or, "copious." — Calvin. 443Or it is usually rendered, "others have a beautiful vine:" {,{אדרader, signifies properly to strengthen: hence it may be translated a strong vine; but here it means beautiful, elegant, or superb. --- Calvin.
444Or, as they commonly say, "shall it prosper?" — Calvin. 445Or, "grow dry." — Calvin 446It is a noun put in the place of an infinitive, "for taking it away," or" for its being taken away." — Calvin.