The Parable of the Two Eagles
Study note
The first great eagle represents King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, who came to Jerusalem ('Lebanon') and took away King Jehoiachin ('the top branch of the cedar'). He planted Zedekiah as a vine ('seed of the land') to rule as a loyal subject. But the vine turned toward a second eagle, representing Egypt's Pharaoh, seeking help from Egypt instead of staying loyal to Babylon. The question was whether this vine would prosper after betraying the first eagle.
1 The Lord gave me this message. And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
2 "Son of man, pose a riddle and tell a story to the people of Israel." Son of man, put forth a riddle, and speak a parable unto the house of Israel;
3 The Lord God says: "Picture a magnificent eagle with enormous wings, long feathers, and plumage of many colors. This eagle flew to Lebanon and seized the very top of a cedar tree." 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:
4 "He snapped off the highest branch and carried it to a land of traders. He planted it in a city of merchants." 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.
5 "Then he took some seed from the homeland and planted it in rich soil beside abundant water. He set it in the ground like a willow." 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.
6 "It sprouted and grew into a low, spreading vine. Its branches reached toward the eagle, and its roots grew deep beneath it. It became a vine that sent out branches and shoots." 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.
7 "But then a second great eagle appeared, also with large wings and thick plumage. The vine stretched its roots and extended its branches toward this second eagle, hoping for water from a different source." 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.
8 "This vine was planted in rich soil near plenty of water. It had all it needed to grow branches and bear fruit. It could have been a fine vine." 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.
9 "Now the Lord God asks: Will this vine thrive? Will not the first eagle yank it up by its roots and strip away its fruit until it shrivels? It will not take much effort to pull it out -- no strong arm or army is needed." 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.
10 "Even if someone transplants it, will it survive? It will wither completely when the hot east wind blows on it, drying up right where it was planted." 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.
The Meaning of the Parable
Study note
God explained the parable clearly. Nebuchadnezzar had taken Jerusalem's king and nobles to Babylon and set up Zedekiah as a puppet king under oath. But Zedekiah rebelled by sending ambassadors to Egypt for military help, breaking his oath. God said this betrayal would not succeed. Zedekiah would be caught in God's net and die in Babylon. Though the oath was made to Babylon, God took it personally because it was made in his name.
11 The Lord spoke to me again. Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
12 "Ask this rebellious people: Do you not understand what this story means? Explain it to them: The king of Babylon came to Jerusalem, captured its king and officials, and took them back to Babylon." 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;
13 "He picked someone from the royal family and made a deal with him. He made the new king promise to be loyal. He also took the country's most important people as hostages." 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:
14 "His goal was to keep the kingdom weak and submissive. It could only survive by honoring the treaty." That the kingdom might be base, that it might not lift itself up, but that by keeping of his covenant it might stand.
15 "But this puppet king rebelled against Babylon by sending diplomats to Egypt to beg for horses and troops. Can he possibly succeed? Can someone who violates a treaty like that get away with it?" 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?
16 "I swear on my life," says the Lord God. "This king will die in Babylon. The ruler there put him on the throne. But he scorned that ruler's oath. He broke the treaty." 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.
17 "Egypt's mighty army will not help during the siege. Ramps will be built and walls will go up, and many people will die." 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:
18 "He gave his word and then broke it. He shook hands on the deal and then violated it. He will not escape the consequences." 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.
19 So the Lord God says: "I swear on my life that I will make him pay. He looked down on the oath he swore in my name. He broke the covenant he made before me." 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.
20 "I will throw my net over him and catch him in my trap. I will bring him to Babylon and put him on trial there for his unfaithfulness to me." 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.
21 "His best warriors will fall in battle, and the survivors will be scattered to the winds. Then you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken." 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.
God Plants a Noble Cedar
Study note
The chapter ends with a beautiful promise. God himself would take a tender shoot from the top of the cedar and plant it on a high mountain in Israel. It would grow into a magnificent tree where every kind of bird would find shelter. This was a promise about the future Messiah who would come from David's line. God would bring down proud trees and raise up humble ones, showing that his kingdom would not depend on human power.
22 The Lord God says: "I myself will take a tender shoot from the very top of the tallest cedar and plant it. I will snap off a small, new twig from the highest branch and plant it on a high, towering mountain." 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:
23 "I will plant it on Israel's highest mountain. It will grow branches, produce fruit, and become a grand cedar. Every kind of bird will nest in its boughs and rest in the shade of its limbs." 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.
24 "Every tree in the land will then recognize that I, the Lord, cut down tall trees and raise up small ones, dry out green trees and make withered ones flourish. I, the Lord, have spoken, and I will make it happen." 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.