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Ezek. 17:1–24 If ch. 16 can be said to express a theological point of view, ch. 17 seems to be more political in nature. It is a sort of “fable,” a story form in which plants and animals are used to teach a lesson (e.g., Judg. 9:8–15). Here two eagles, a cedar tree, and a vine are the main actors, and the story centers on the fortunes of the vine (compare Isa. 5:1–7; Ezek. 19:10–14). The story illustrates Judah’s political fortunes, and ultimately its future under God. The fable is told in 17:1–12 and then is explained, first on the natural plane (vv. 11–18) and then in theological terms (vv. 19–21). Finally the fable resumes, describing an ideal future (vv. 22–24).
Ezek. 17:2 This oracle (vv. 1–10) appears as a riddle, designed to provoke thought, and a parable (also translated “proverb”; see 12:22), which relies on comparison.
Ezek. 17:3–5 The terms of the description are significant, for they indicate the status of the various characters. This is the greater eagle, taking a topmost twig as well as a seed.
Ezek. 17:7 The second eagle lacks the magnificence of the first, while still remaining “great.”
Ezek. 17:8 The new orientation of the vine to the second eagle threatens its choice location and flourishing state.
Ezek. 17:11–18 The first part identifies the characters of the fable (vv. 11–15) before spelling out the moral of the story (vv. 16–18). The first eagle is the king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, who takes her king, that is, Judah’s king Jehoiachin (the “twig”), to Babylon (v. 12). The royal offspring (the “seed”) is Zedekiah (v. 13). Zedekiah’s failure was to break his covenant with Nebuchadnezzar (vv. 13–14) by turning to Egypt (v. 15), whose king was Hophra, the lesser eagle. Ultimately, hope in Egyptian aid will prove useless (v. 17; see Jer. 37:6–10). Breaking this political covenant will bring disaster on Zedekiah and his people (Ezek. 17:18).
Ezek. 17:19–21 God takes full responsibility for the disaster to come (return . . . spread . . . bring . . . enter, all first-person verbs). This is not just a military defeat, but divine judgment.
Ezek. 17:22–24 God’s action continues. The terms of the parable are used to sketch an ideal messianic future. God chooses a new sprig from the topmost part of the cedar (v. 22) and plants it himself (v. 23).
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