Eze 19:5-7 | JFB | STEP | 5. saw that she had waited, and her hope was lost-- that is, that her long-waited-for hope was disappointed, Jehoahaz not being restored to her from Egypt. she took another of her whelps-- Jehoiakim, brother of Jehoahaz, who was placed on the throne by Pharaoh ( ), according to the wish of Judah.

‏ Ezekiel 19:5-7

5. saw that she had waited, and her hope was lost--that is, that her long-waited-for hope was disappointed, Jehoahaz not being restored to her from Egypt.

she took another of her whelps--Jehoiakim, brother of Jehoahaz, who was placed on the throne by Pharaoh (2Ki 23:34), according to the wish of Judah.

6. went up and down among the lions--imitated the recklessness and tyranny of the surrounding kings (Jr 22:13-17).

catch ... prey--to do evil, gratifying his lusts by oppression (2Ki 23:37).

7. knew ... desolate palaces--that is, claimed as his own their palaces, which he then proceeded to "desolate." The Hebrew, literally "widows"; hence widowed palaces (Is 13:22). Vatablus (whom Fairbairn follows) explains it, "He knew (carnally) the widows of those whom he devoured" (Eze 19:6). But thus the metaphor and the literal reality would be blended: the lion being represented as knowing widows. The reality, however, often elsewhere thus breaks through the veil.

fulness thereof--all that it contained; its inhabitants.