Eze 17:3, 5 | JFB | STEP | 3. eagle-- the king of birds. The literal Hebrew is, "the great eagle." The symbol of the Assyrian supreme god, Nisroch; so applied to "the great king" of Babylon, his vicegerent on earth ( ; ). His "wings" are his great forces. Such symbols were familiar to the Jews, who saw them portrayed on the great buildings of Babylon; such as are now seen in the Assyrian remains. long-winged-- implying the wide extent of his empire. full of feathers-- when they have been renewed after moulting; and so in the full freshness of renovated youth ( ; ). Answering to the many peoples which, as tributaries, constituted the strength of Babylon. divers colours-- the golden eagle, marked with star-like spots, supposed to be the largest of eagles [Bochart]. Answering to the variety of languages, habits, and costumes of the peoples subject to Babylon. came unto Lebanon-- continuing the metaphor: as the eagle frequents mountains, not cities. The temple at Jerusalem was called "Lebanon" by the Jews [Eusebius], because its woodwork was wholly of cedars of Lebanon. "The mountain of the Lord's house" ( ). Jerusalem, however, is chiefly meant, the chief seat of civil honor, as Lebanon was of external elevation. took the highest branch-- King Jeconiah, then but eighteen years old, and many of the chiefs and people with him ( , ). The Hebrew for "highest branch" is, properly, the fleece-like tuft at the top of the tree. (So in ). The cedar, as a tall tree, is the symbol of kingly elevation (compare ).

‏ Ezekiel 17:3

3. eagle--the king of birds. The literal Hebrew is, "the great eagle." The symbol of the Assyrian supreme god, Nisroch; so applied to "the great king" of Babylon, his vicegerent on earth (Jr 48:40; 49:22). His "wings" are his great forces. Such symbols were familiar to the Jews, who saw them portrayed on the great buildings of Babylon; such as are now seen in the Assyrian remains.

long-winged--implying the wide extent of his empire.

full of feathers--when they have been renewed after moulting; and so in the full freshness of renovated youth (Psa 103:5; Is 40:31). Answering to the many peoples which, as tributaries, constituted the strength of Babylon.

divers colours--the golden eagle, marked with star-like spots, supposed to be the largest of eagles [Bochart]. Answering to the variety of languages, habits, and costumes of the peoples subject to Babylon.

came unto Lebanon--continuing the metaphor: as the eagle frequents mountains, not cities. The temple at Jerusalem was called "Lebanon" by the Jews [Eusebius], because its woodwork was wholly of cedars of Lebanon. "The mountain of the Lord's house" (Is 2:2). Jerusalem, however, is chiefly meant, the chief seat of civil honor, as Lebanon was of external elevation.

took the highest branch--King Jeconiah, then but eighteen years old, and many of the chiefs and people with him (2Ki 24:8, 12-16). The Hebrew for "highest branch" is, properly, the fleece-like tuft at the top of the tree. (So in Eze 31:3-14). The cedar, as a tall tree, is the symbol of kingly elevation (compare Da 4:10-12).

‏ Ezekiel 17:5

5. seed of the land--not a foreign production, but one native in the region; a son of the soil, not a foreigner: Zedekiah, uncle of Jehoiachin, of David's family.

in a fruitful field--literally, a "field of seed"; that is, fit for propagating and continuing the seed of the royal family.

as a willow--derived from a Hebrew root, "to overflow," from its fondness for water (Is 44:4). Judea was "a land of brooks of water and fountains" (De 8:7-9; compare Joh 3:23).