Tyndale Open Study NotesEzekiel 15

This section includes eight metaphors, each showing from a different angle the certainty of Jerusalem's upcoming judgment. The images are of:

1. a worthless vine (Ezekiel 15);

2. a faithless wife (Ezekiel 16);

3. a vine and two eagles (Ezekiel 17);

4. Sour grapes (Ezekiel 18);

5. a lion and her cubs (Ezekiel 19);

6. a sword (Ezekiel 21);

7. two corrupt sisters (Ezekiel 23); and

8. a cooking pot (Ezekiel 24).

The wood of most trees can be used to make many useful objects. Even small pieces can serve as pegs, which are simple wooden pins used to hang or hold things in place.

The wood of a vine is different. It is weak and thin. It is not strong enough to make pegs or other tools.

It is not even useful as firewood. It burns too quickly and does not give much heat. In this way, vine wood is completely useless.

• The people of Jerusalem are like grapevines (compare Psalm 80:8–9; Isaiah 5:1–7; Jeremiah 2:21; John 15:1–6).

• Grapevines growing among forest trees do not bear fruit because they lack enough sunlight.

Anyone who escaped one “fire” of God’s judgment would not truly be safe. Here, “fire” is a picture of severe judgment.

This first fire likely refers to the defeat of Judah by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon in 597 BC (2 Kings 21:1–4). Some people survived that attack and were taken into exile.

But those who escaped that disaster would soon face another one. This second fire refers to the final destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC. In other words, escaping the first judgment would not prevent the second.

unfaithfully: See Ezekiel 6:9; 16:17; Hosea 2. Jerusalem had turned away from the Lord and followed idols instead of serving the true God. This was spiritual unfaithfulness. The prophets often describe this sin as breaking faith in a marriage relationship.

By worshiping idols, the people broke the covenant (the binding promises between God and his people). Because they broke this covenant, judgment would follow.

As a result, the land would become desolate (empty and ruined).