God told this parable to prophet Ezekiel, who had been deported to Babylon
(probably 597 BC) (2 Kings 24:14, Jer 24:1), to tell it to the Jews there.
This occurred when Zedekiah was king of Judah, see Visions and Dreams by Prophet Daniel. Jeremiah was at this moment in Jerusalem prophesying to the people there to serve king Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. Zedekiah didn't listen to Jeremiah and would be convinced by false prophets and other people to actually rebel against the king of Babylon. These false prophets told Zedekiah what he wanted to hear, see itching ears. See also Zedekiah of Judah in Kings of Judah and Israel.
The Parable (Ezekiel 17:1–24):
A great eagle came to Lebanon. He seized the top of a cedar tree, broke off its topmost shoot, and carried it away to a land of merchants, where he planted it in a city of traders. He took one of the seedlings of the land and put it in fertile soil.
He planted it like a willow by abundant water, and it sprouted and became a low, spreading vine. Its branches turned toward him, but its roots remained under it. It became vine and produced branches and put forth leafy boughs. (Ezekiel 17:1–6). (The great eagle is an image of Nebuchadnezzar).
But there was another great eagle. The vine now sent out its roots toward him from the plot where it was planted, and stretched out its branches to him for water. It had been planted in good soil with abundant water so that it would produce branches, bear fruit and become a splendid vine. Because of that, it would be stripped of its fruit so that it withers. It doesn't take a strong arm or many people to pull it up by the roots. (Ezekiel 17:7–10). (This second large eagle is an image of Egypt).
Ezekiel would say to this rebellious people of Judah: The king of Babylon went to Jerusalem and carried away her king and her nobles and brought them back with
him to Babylon. (Ezekiel 17:11–12).
(This king was Jehoiachin of Judah who was deported to Babylon (2 Kings 24:8–16). See also The Curse of Jeconiah).
Then he took a member of the royal family (this was Zedekiah (2 Kings 24:17–20,
2 Chron 36:11–12, 14–16, Jer 52:1–3a)). He made a treaty with him and put him under oath (Zedekiah swore an oath to the Lord (2 Chron 36:13a), and such oath must be kept (Joshua 9:19, Ecclesiastes 5:4–7 (3–6 in some translations))).
(Ezekiel 17:13a).
The king of Babylon carried away the leading men of the land, so that the kingdom would be brought low, unable to rise again, and survive only by keeping its treaty.
(Ezekiel 17:13b–14).
But the king (Zedekiah) rebelled against the king of Babylon by sending his envoys to Egypt to get horses and a large army. (Egypt is always a picture of the world (Isaiah 31:1), see Typology. Zedekiah tried to solve the issue in in his own strength, without turning to the Lord. God had told him, through prophets like Jeremiah and
Ezekiel, to submit to the king of Babylon, but the king also rebelled against God.) (Ezekiel 17:15).
The king won't succeed and be able to break the treaty and still escape. He would die in Babylon, in the land of the king who set him on the throne, whose oath he despised and whose treaty he broke. Pharaoh with his mighty army and great hordes would be of no help to him in war, when ramps are built and siege works erected to destroy many lives. The king despised the oath by breaking the covenant. Because he had given his hand in pledge and yet did all these things, he won't escape. God would repay him for having despised his oath and broken his covenant. God would spread his net for him, and he would be caught in God's snare. God would take him to Babylon and execute judgment on him there because he was unfaithful to God. All his chosen troops would fall by the sword, and the survivors would be scattered to the winds. (2 Kings 25:1–21, 2 Chron 36:13, 17–20,
Jer 52:3b–30). The people would know that God had spoken when this happens. (Ezekiel 17:16–21).
God himself would take a shoot from the top of a cedar tree and plant it. He would break off a tender sprig from its topmost shoots and plant it on a high and lofty mountain, on the mountain heights of Israel. It would produce branches and bear fruit and become a splendid cedar. Birds of all kinds would nest in it, they would find shelter in the shade of its branches. (Ezekiel 17:22–23).
(Zerubbabel led the rebuilding of Jerusalem and was the legal ancestor of Jesus
(Mat 1:12–13, Luk 3:27), see The Book of Haggai. Jesus will reign as king during the millennial kingdom, see The Millennial Kingdom in The Prophecies of Isaiah.)
All the trees of the forest would understand that God cuts down the tall tree and makes the low tree grow tall. He dries up the green tree and makes the dry tree flourish. (Ezekiel 17:24).
(Zedekiah would be the last king from the line of Judah until Messiah returns
(Ezekiel 21:25–27, Gen (1 Mos) 49:10, Heb 7:14), see
Messiah's Second Coming in The Prophecies of Isaiah.)
For information on other parables, see Jesus' Parables.
