Reading for January 25th

Read Ezekiel 19.1-14. In 19.1-14: Two allegories concerning the demise of the Davidic monarchy. Ezekiel laments the demise of the Davidic monarchy with two allegories styled as dirges or songs of mourning. In verse 1: Raise up a lamentation for the princes of Israel: Hebrew poetry tyipcally had three stressed syllables in each line. The lament, however, used a three-stress line followed by a two-stressed line. The poems use the 2/3 stress pattern (called "qinah") of the funeral lament. Ezekiel refers to the kings as "princes," thereby expressing the kig's diminished status in relation to the priests (34.24; 45.7-8). In verses 2-9: The lion symbolizes the tribe of Judah and the royal house of David (gen 49.8-12). A lioness was your mother refers to Judah or all Israel. Note the identification of Israel as the bride of God in Hosea (Hos 1-3), Jeremiah (Jer 2-3), and Ezekiel (ch 16). The first cub who is brought ... with hooks to the land of Egypt is Jehoahaz, who was exiled to Egypt by Pharaoh Neco after Josiah's death (2 Kings 23.31-34; 2 Chr 36.1-4). The second cub who learned to catch prey and devoured people would be Jehoiakim, who Pharaoh Neco placed on the throne after exiling Jehoahaz. Jeremiah condemns Jehoiakim for his injustice (jer 21.11-22.19). And brought brought him to the king of Babylon, they brought into custody; Jehoiakin, who was exiled to Babylon following Jehoakim's failed revolt (2 Kings 24.18-17; 2 Chr 36.9-10). In verses 10-14: This poem employs the imagery of the vine (see ch 15; 17; compare Isa 5.1-7). It is impossible to dentifiy the poem's imagery with specific individuals or countries (see Isa 10.5-11.16; 1.29-31; 6.13). The east wind dried up: the "Sharab" or "Hamsin," a dry desert wind like the Santa Ana wids in southern California, is fequently employes as a symbol of God's power (Ex 14.21; 15.8-10; Isa 11.15). Now it is transplanted into the wilderness: Jeholachin's exile. Comments or Questions..