F. An Allegorical Lament Over Jerusalem’s Leaders (19:1-14)

In this chapter Ezekiel gives us two different allegories that lament the sorry state of affairs the royal house of Judah had brought upon itself. The lioness portrays the nation or tribe of Judah (see Ge 49:9), or perhaps even Jerusalem, out of which its kings had come. “One of her cubs” (v.3) refers to Jehoahaz who, although he ruled only three months, had a reputation for ruthlessness (see 2Ki 23:31-34; Jer 22:11, niv mg.). When Jehoahaz was taken as a prisoner to Egypt, another “cub,” probably Jehoiachin (2Ki 24:15) was taken prisoner to Babylon. The point in both cases is that these kings trusted in themselves rather than in God and so suffered the consequences. The second allegory uses the figure of a vine to symbolize the Davidic dynasty as a strong, flourishing, and fruitful plant that was uprooted and dried up by the strong east wind, Nebuchadnezzar. The current branch, Zedekiah, has been transplanted in Babylon where he is weak, and the vine is of no consequence