Ezekiel Chapter 17

Ezekiel 17

The Parable of the Two Eagles and the Vine

Ezekiel 17 gives a political parable with deep spiritual meaning. The LORD presents Judah’s recent history as a riddle involving two great eagles, a cedar, and a vine. The first eagle represents Babylon, the highest branch represents Jehoiachin and the royal house, the low spreading vine represents Zedekiah, and the second eagle represents Egypt. The issue is not merely international politics. The issue is covenant faithfulness. Zedekiah had sworn loyalty to Babylon, but then turned to Egypt for help. In doing so, he broke his oath and rebelled not merely against Nebuchadnezzar, but against the LORD who had ordained Babylon’s chastening role. Yet the chapter does not end with Zedekiah’s failure. It ends with God’s promise to plant a tender branch from the royal cedar, a messianic promise pointing to the future Son of David, who will reign, bear fruit, and give shelter to the nations.

A. The parable of the two eagles and the vine.

1. Ezekiel 17:1-2, A riddle and a parable.

Ezekiel 17:1, And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

Ezekiel 17:2, Son of man, put forth a riddle, and speak a parable unto the house of Israel;

And the word of the LORD came unto me again grounds Ezekiel’s message in divine revelation. This is not political analysis from Ezekiel’s own mind. The LORD Himself gives the prophet a riddle and a parable to speak to the house of Israel.

Put forth a riddle, and speak a parable shows that the message would require interpretation. A riddle has meaning beneath the surface, and a parable uses a story to reveal truth. God often uses memorable forms of communication to expose sin and fix truth in the mind. In this case, the story of eagles, a cedar, and a vine would explain Judah’s political rebellion and spiritual treachery.

The riddle would catch attention. The parable would make the truth memorable. The interpretation would leave Judah without excuse. They could not say the LORD had not spoken clearly, because after the parable, God Himself would explain its meaning.

Unto the house of Israel refers here especially to Judah and Jerusalem, though the LORD still speaks in terms of Israel as a covenant whole. The events behind the parable belong to the period between the exile of Jehoiachin in 597 B.C. and Zedekiah’s rebellion against Babylon with hopes of Egyptian help around 588 B.C. Ezekiel 16 exposed Jerusalem’s spiritual adultery. Ezekiel 17 exposes Jerusalem’s political folly and covenant-breaking.

2. Ezekiel 17:3-6, The first eagle of the parable.

Ezekiel 17:3, And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; 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:

Ezekiel 17:4, 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.

Ezekiel 17:5, He took also of the seed of the land, and planted it in a fruitful field; he placed-it by great waters, and set it as a willow tree.

Ezekiel 17:6, 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.

A great eagle with great wings, longwinged, full of feathers, which had divers colours represents the power, majesty, and international reach of Babylon under Nebuchadnezzar. The eagle is a fitting image for a swift and overwhelming conqueror. Babylon came with military strength, political reach, and imperial glory.

The eagle is used elsewhere in Scripture to picture swift judgment or conquering power.

Deuteronomy 28:49, The LORD shall bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth, as swift-as the eagle flieth; a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand;

Isaiah 46:11, Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea,-I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do-it.

Jeremiah 48:40, For thus saith the LORD; Behold, he shall fly as an eagle, and shall spread his wings-over Moab.

Jeremiah 49:22, Behold, he shall come up and fly as the eagle, and spread his wings over Bozrah: and-at that day shall the heart of the mighty men of Edom be as the heart of a woman in-her pangs.

Came unto Lebanon, and took the highest branch of the cedar speaks of Babylon coming to Jerusalem and removing the royal leadership. Lebanon and the cedar represent the royal house and strength of Judah. The highest branch points especially to King Jehoiachin and the leading princes who were taken into exile.

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 points to Nebuchadnezzar carrying Jehoiachin and the leaders of Judah to Babylon. Babylon was a great imperial and commercial city, a city of merchants. The removal of the royal branch was both political judgment and covenant discipline.

The historical fulfillment is recorded in Kings.

2 Kings 24:10, At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against Jerusalem, and the city-was besieged.

2 Kings 24:11, And Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came against the city, and his servants did besiege it.

2 Kings 24:12, And Jehoiachin the king of Judah went out to the king of Babylon, he, and his mother,-and his servants, and his princes, and his officers: and the king of Babylon took him in the eighth-year of his reign.

2 Kings 24:14, And he carried away all Jerusalem, and all the princes, and all the mighty men of valour,-even ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and smiths: none remained, save the poorest sort of the people-of the land.

2 Kings 24:15, And he carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon, and the king’s mother, and the king’s wives,-and his officers, and the mighty of the land, those carried he into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon.

He took also of the seed of the land, and planted it in a fruitful field refers to Nebuchadnezzar placing Zedekiah, a member of the royal family, on the throne of Judah. Zedekiah was not independent. He was planted under Babylonian authority as a vassal king.

2 Kings 24:17, And the king of Babylon made Mattaniah his father’s brother king in his stead, and changed his-name to Zedekiah.

He placed it by great waters, and set it as a willow tree shows that Zedekiah was given a position in which Judah could have survived as a humbled tributary kingdom. The point is not that Babylon was righteous, but that God had appointed this arrangement as His chastening will for Judah. Zedekiah’s duty was to submit to the discipline God had ordained.

It grew, and became a spreading vine of low stature means Judah under Zedekiah was allowed to continue, but in a reduced condition. It was not a towering cedar of royal independence anymore. It was a low vine, dependent and limited, but still alive.

Whose branches turned toward him, and the roots thereof were under him shows that Judah’s survival under Zedekiah depended upon submission to Babylon. The vine was low, but it had roots. It could live if it remained in the place where it had been planted. The tragedy is that Zedekiah despised the low place God had appointed and turned elsewhere for help.

3. Ezekiel 17:7-8, The second eagle of the parable.

Ezekiel 17:7, There was also another great eagle with great wings and many feathers: 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.

Ezekiel 17:8, 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.

There was also another great eagle with great wings and many feathers introduces Egypt, especially Pharaoh Hophra, whom Zedekiah trusted for help against Babylon. This second eagle appears powerful, but in the parable he does very little. He is attractive to the vine, but he does not truly rescue it.

This vine did bend her roots toward him, and shot forth her branches toward him pictures Zedekiah turning from Babylon to Egypt. Judah sought Egyptian support, military power, horses, and troops. This was not merely a political maneuver. It was rebellion against the oath Zedekiah had sworn and against the chastening will of God.

That he might water it shows what Zedekiah hoped Egypt would do. He wanted Egypt to nourish, defend, and strengthen Judah against Babylon. The irony is that the vine already had enough water where it was planted. Judah’s problem was not lack of provision under Babylon’s appointed arrangement. The problem was dissatisfaction, pride, and rebellion.

It was planted in a good soil by great waters reminds the reader that the vine did not need to seek another eagle. God had permitted Judah to remain under Zedekiah in a low but survivable condition. If Zedekiah had kept the covenant and accepted the yoke of Babylon, the nation could have continued under discipline without total destruction.

Jeremiah repeatedly preached that Judah should submit to Babylon because this was the judgment the LORD had appointed.

Jeremiah 27:12, I spake also to Zedekiah king of Judah according to all these words, saying, Bring your necks-under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him and his people, and live.

Jeremiah 27:13, Why will ye die, thou and thy people, by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence,-as the LORD hath spoken against the nation that will not serve the king of Babylon?

Jeremiah 27:14, Therefore hearken not unto the words of the prophets that speak unto you, saying, Ye shall not serve-the king of Babylon: for they prophesy a lie unto you.

That it might bring forth branches, and that it might bear fruit, that it might be a goodly vine shows what could have been possible under submission. Judah could have survived as a low vine. But Zedekiah wanted more than God had appointed. His ambition and unbelief made the vine vulnerable.

4. Ezekiel 17:9-10, God’s observations upon this vine.

Ezekiel 17:9, 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.

Ezekiel 17:10, 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.

Shall it prosper? is the central question. The answer is no. Judah could not prosper by breaking covenant, despising God’s chastening arrangement, and trusting Egypt. No plan built on disobedience can finally thrive.

Shall he not pull up the roots thereof, and cut off the fruit thereof, that it wither? points to Babylon’s response. Nebuchadnezzar would not ignore Zedekiah’s rebellion. He would uproot the vine, cut off its fruit, and leave it to wither. The low vine that might have lived under submission would be destroyed because it turned away.

Even without great power or many people to pluck it up by the roots thereof means Judah had become weak and vulnerable. Because Zedekiah’s rebellion exposed the nation, Babylon would not need extraordinary effort to bring it down. The vine had made itself easy to uproot.

Shall it not utterly wither, when the east wind toucheth it? pictures the hot, withering wind of judgment. The east wind in Scripture often represents destructive force. Judah stretched roots and branches toward Egypt, but Egypt could not protect it from the east wind of Babylonian judgment.

It shall wither in the furrows where it grew means Judah would perish in the very place where it had been planted. The nation did not need to be transplanted somewhere else to die. Rebellion would bring destruction upon it where it stood.

The lesson is plain. The vine was still under the rule of the LORD. The eagles were also under His rule. Neither Babylon nor Egypt stood outside His sovereignty. Judah’s political schemes could not escape God’s judgment.

B. The meaning and application of the parable.

1. Ezekiel 17:11-15, The meaning of the parable of the two eagles.

Ezekiel 17:11, Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

Ezekiel 17:12, Say now to the rebellious house, Know ye not what these things mean? tell them, Behold, the king-of Babylon is come to Jerusalem, and hath taken the king thereof, and the princes thereof, and led them with-him to Babylon;

Ezekiel 17:13, And hath taken of the king’s seed, and made a covenant with him, and hath taken an oath-of him: he hath also taken the mighty of the land:

Ezekiel 17:14, That the kingdom might be base, that it might not lift itself up, but that by keeping of his-covenant it might stand.

Ezekiel 17:15, But he rebelled against him in sending his ambassadors into Egypt, 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?

Know ye not what these things mean? shows that the LORD will not leave the parable unexplained. Ezekiel’s hearers might enjoy the riddle, but God presses them to face its meaning. The issue is not entertainment. The issue is judgment.

The king of Babylon is come to Jerusalem, and hath taken the king thereof, and the princes thereof, and led them with him to Babylon identifies the first eagle. Nebuchadnezzar came to Jerusalem, removed Jehoiachin and the princes, and carried them to Babylon.

Babylon is pictured as an eagle elsewhere in Scripture.

Jeremiah 48:40, For thus saith the LORD; Behold, he shall fly as an eagle, and shall spread his wings-over Moab.

Jeremiah 49:22, Behold, he shall come up and fly as the eagle, and spread his wings over Bozrah: and-at that day shall the heart of the mighty men of Edom be as the heart of a woman in-her pangs.

Daniel also saw Babylon represented by a winged beast.

Daniel 7:4, The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were-plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and-a man’s heart was given to it.

And hath taken of the king’s seed, and made a covenant with him, and hath taken an oath of him refers to Nebuchadnezzar installing Zedekiah as king and placing him under oath. Zedekiah’s throne was not independent. He ruled under a covenant obligation.

That the kingdom might be base, that it might not lift itself up explains Babylon’s political intention. Judah was to be humbled and kept low. This was also consistent with God’s judgment. Judah had lifted itself up in pride, and now the kingdom would be brought low.

But that by keeping of his covenant it might stand is an important statement. Judah could have continued if Zedekiah had kept the covenant. Submission to Babylon was not pleasant, but it was the path of survival under God’s discipline.

But he rebelled against him in sending his ambassadors into Egypt identifies the vine turning toward the second eagle. Zedekiah looked to Egypt for horses and many people. He wanted military help to escape Babylonian control.

Shall he prosper? shall he escape that doeth such things? or shall he break the covenant, and be delivered? gives God’s verdict in question form. The answer is no. Zedekiah would not prosper. He would not escape. He would not break covenant and still be delivered.

This matters because oath-breaking is sin before God, even when the oath is made to a pagan ruler. Zedekiah had sworn loyalty, and God expected him to honor his word. Political pressure did not excuse covenant treachery.

The historical background is stated in Kings.

2 Kings 24:20, For through the anger of the LORD it came to pass in Jerusalem and Judah, until he had cast-them out from his presence, that Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.

Jeremiah also warned Zedekiah not to trust in Egypt.

Jeremiah 37:6, Then came the word of the LORD unto the prophet Jeremiah, saying,

Jeremiah 37:7, Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel; Thus shall ye 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.

Jeremiah 37:8, And the Chaldeans shall come again, and fight against this city, and take it, and burn it with-fire.

Jeremiah 37:9, Thus saith the LORD; Deceive not yourselves, saying, The Chaldeans shall surely depart from us: for-they shall not depart.

Jeremiah 37:10, For though ye had smitten the whole army of the Chaldeans that fight against you, and there remained but-wounded men among them, yet should they rise up every man in his tent, and burn this city with fire.

Jeremiah also urged surrender as the path of life.

Jeremiah 38:17, Then said Jeremiah unto Zedekiah, Thus saith the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel;-If thou wilt assuredly go forth unto the king of Babylon’s princes, then thy soul shall live, and this city-shall not be burned with fire; and thou shalt live, and thine house:

Jeremiah 38:18, But if thou wilt not go forth to the king of Babylon’s princes, then shall this city be-given into the hand of the Chaldeans, and they shall burn it with fire, and thou shalt not escape-out of their hand.

Jeremiah 38:19, And Zedekiah the king said unto Jeremiah, I am afraid of the Jews that are fallen to the-Chaldeans, lest they deliver me into their hand, and they mock me.

Jeremiah 38:20, But Jeremiah said, They shall not deliver thee. Obey, I beseech thee, the voice of the LORD,-which I speak unto thee: so it shall be well unto thee, and thy soul shall live.

Jeremiah 38:21, But if thou refuse to go forth, this is the word that the LORD hath shewed me:

Jeremiah 38:22, And, behold, all the women that are left in the king of Judah’s house shall be brought-forth to the king of Babylon’s princes, and those women shall say, Thy friends have set thee on, and-have prevailed against thee: thy feet are sunk in the mire, and they are turned away back.

Jeremiah 38:23, So they shall bring out all thy wives and thy children to the Chaldeans: and thou shalt not escape-out of their hand, but shalt be taken by the hand of the king of Babylon: and thou shalt cause-this city to be burned with fire.

2. Ezekiel 17:16-18, God’s estimation of Zedekiah.

Ezekiel 17:16, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely in the place where the king dwelleth that made-him king, whose oath he despised, and whose covenant he brake, even with him in the midst of Babylon-he shall die.

Ezekiel 17:17, Neither shall Pharaoh with his mighty army and great company make for him in the war, by casting up-mounts, and building forts, to cut off many persons:

Ezekiel 17:18, 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.

As I live, saith the Lord GOD gives the solemn certainty of the judgment. God swears by His own life that Zedekiah will not escape the consequences of his treachery.

In the place where the king dwelleth that made him king refers to Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar had made Zedekiah king, and Babylon would be the place where Zedekiah would die.

Whose oath he despised, and whose covenant he brake repeats the moral charge. Zedekiah’s sin was not merely that he miscalculated politically. He despised an oath and broke a covenant. The LORD takes oath-breaking seriously because truthfulness reflects God’s own character.

Even with him in the midst of Babylon he shall die was fulfilled exactly. Zedekiah was captured, judged, blinded, taken to Babylon, and remained there until his death.

2 Kings 25:7, And they slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and put out the eyes of Zedekiah,-and bound him with fetters of brass, and carried him to Babylon.

Jeremiah 52:11, Then he put out the eyes of Zedekiah; and the king of Babylon bound him in chains, and-carried him to Babylon, and put him in prison till the day of his death.

Neither shall Pharaoh with his mighty army and great company make for him in the war means Egypt would not save Zedekiah. Pharaoh’s promises would fail. Egypt might appear powerful, but it could not overturn the word of the LORD.

Seeing he despised the oath by breaking the covenant, when, lo, he had given his hand shows the seriousness of Zedekiah’s pledge. Giving the hand was a sign of agreement. He had bound himself, and then he violated his word.

The sanctity of an oath was taken seriously in Israel. Even when the Gibeonites obtained a covenant by deception, Israel was still held accountable for honoring it.

Joshua 9:18, And the children of Israel smote them not, because the princes of the congregation had sworn unto them by-the LORD God of Israel. And all the congregation murmured against the princes.

Joshua 9:19, But all the princes said unto all the congregation, We have sworn unto them by the LORD God of-Israel: now therefore we may not touch them.

2 Samuel 21:1, Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David enquired-of the LORD. And the LORD answered, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he-slew the Gibeonites.

He shall not escape is the final verdict. Zedekiah’s oath-breaking sealed his judgment. Human alliances could not deliver him from divine accountability.

3. Ezekiel 17:19-21, God’s promise to capture Zedekiah.

Ezekiel 17:19, Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; 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.

Ezekiel 17:20, And 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.

Ezekiel 17:21, 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 the LORD have spoken it.

Mine oath that he hath despised, and my covenant that he hath broken is striking. Zedekiah’s oath was made to Nebuchadnezzar, but the LORD calls it mine oath and my covenant. Because the oath was sworn under God’s authority, breaking it was treason against God Himself.

This principle is far-reaching. The obligations of God’s people matter even when made in political, civil, or ordinary human settings. God cares about truthfulness. A promise made before men is still made under the eye of God.

Even it will I recompense upon his own head means Zedekiah would bear the consequence personally. He could not blame Babylon, Egypt, advisors, or circumstances. The judgment would fall on his own head.

I will spread my net upon him, and he shall be taken in my snare echoes the language of Ezekiel 12. Zedekiah would try to flee, but God had already declared that he would be caught. Babylon would capture him, but the LORD says the net is His.

Ezekiel 12:13, My net also will I spread upon him, and he shall be taken in my snare: and I-will bring him to Babylon to the land of the Chaldeans; yet shall he not see it, though he-shall die there.

The historical fulfillment is recorded in Jeremiah.

Jeremiah 52:6, And in the fourth month, in the ninth day of the month, the famine was sore in the-city, so that there was no bread for the people of the land.

Jeremiah 52:7, Then the city was broken up, and all the men of war fled, and went forth out of-the city by night by the way of the gate between the two walls, which was by the king’s garden;-now the Chaldeans were by the city round about: and they went by the way of the plain.

Jeremiah 52:8, But the army of the Chaldeans pursued after the king, and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of-Jericho; and all his army was scattered from him.

Jeremiah 52:9, Then they took the king, and carried him up unto the king of Babylon to Riblah in the-land of Hamath; where he gave judgment upon him.

I will bring him to Babylon, and will plead with him there for his trespass that he hath trespassed against me means Zedekiah would stand under divine accusation. His rebellion against Babylon was, at the deepest level, rebellion against the LORD.

All his fugitives with all his bands shall fall by the sword shows that Zedekiah’s rebellion would not merely destroy him personally. His troops and supporters would also suffer. Bad leadership spreads consequences to those who follow it.

They that remain shall be scattered toward all winds means the collapse of Zedekiah’s reign would end with scattering, not recovery. Judah would not bounce back under his leadership. His covenant-breaking would contribute to the final fall of Jerusalem.

And ye shall know that I the LORD have spoken it gives the theological purpose. When these things happened exactly as Ezekiel declared, the people would know that the LORD had spoken. The fall of Zedekiah would vindicate the word of God.

4. Ezekiel 17:22-24, The hope and promise of restoration.

Ezekiel 17:22, Thus saith the Lord GOD; 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:

Ezekiel 17:23, 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.

Ezekiel 17:24, And all the trees of the field shall know that I the LORD 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 the LORD have spoken and have done it.

I will also take of the highest branch of the high cedar returns to the imagery of the parable, but now the LORD Himself acts. The first eagle took the highest branch and carried it away. Now God takes from the royal cedar for His own purpose. This shows that God is not finished with the Davidic line.

I will crop off from the top of his young twigs a tender one points to the Messiah, the Son of David. The royal house appeared cut down and humiliated, but God would bring forth a tender branch. This connects with the prophetic title of the Branch in other messianic passages.

Isaiah 11:1, And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow-out of his roots:

Isaiah 53:2, For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a-dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that-we should desire him.

Jeremiah 23:5, Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch,-and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.

Jeremiah 23:6, In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby-he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Jeremiah 33:15, In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto-David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land.

Zechariah 3:8, Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they-are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH.

Zechariah 6:12, And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name-is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of-the LORD:

Revelation 22:16, I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the-root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

And will plant it upon an high mountain and eminent points to the LORD’s own establishment of the messianic kingdom. Unlike Zedekiah, who was planted as a low vine under Babylon, the Messiah will be planted by God on a high and eminent mountain. This is royal, visible, and exalted.

In the mountain of the height of Israel will I plant it most naturally points to Zion and the future reign of the Messiah over Israel. From a literal, premillennial understanding, this looks forward to the future Davidic reign of Christ, when the promises to Israel and David are fulfilled openly on earth.

Psalm 2:6, Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.

2 Samuel 7:12, And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy-seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.

2 Samuel 7:13, He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for-ever.

2 Samuel 7:16, And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for-ever.

It shall bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a goodly cedar shows that the messianic branch will succeed where Judah’s kings failed. Zedekiah was a low vine that rebelled and withered. The Messiah will be a goodly cedar, fruitful, strong, and glorious.

Under it shall dwell all fowl of every wing; in the shadow of the branches thereof shall they dwell shows the international blessing of Messiah’s kingdom. The birds of every wing represent peoples and nations finding shelter under His rule. The kingdom of Christ is centered in Israel and extends blessing to the nations.

This agrees with the Abrahamic promise that blessing would come to all families of the earth through Abraham’s seed.

Genesis 12:3, And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee-shall all families of the earth be blessed.

It also agrees with the prophetic picture of nations coming under the LORD’s rule.

Isaiah 2:2, And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’S house shall-be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow-unto it.

Isaiah 2:3, And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of-the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we-will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD-from Jerusalem.

And all the trees of the field shall know that I the LORD have brought down the high tree and exalted the low tree means all nations and rulers will know the sovereignty of God. The LORD brings down proud kings and raises up the humble. He removed Jehoiachin, judged Zedekiah, humbled Judah, and yet will exalt the true Son of David.

Have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish shows God’s sovereign reversal. What seems strong can be dried up by God. What seems dead can be made to flourish by God. The Davidic line may appear cut down, but God will bring forth the Messiah.

This is the hope at the end of the chapter. Human kings failed. Zedekiah broke covenant. Egypt could not save. Babylon conquered. Jerusalem would fall. But God would still keep His promise. He would plant the tender branch. He would establish the Messiah. He would bring fruit, shelter, kingdom, and glory.

I the LORD have spoken and have done it closes the chapter with certainty. God’s word is not merely prediction. It is divine determination. What He speaks, He performs. The same LORD who judged Zedekiah’s treachery will fulfill His covenant promise through the righteous Branch, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of David, who will reign in righteousness and shelter the nations under His kingdom.