Barnes’ Notes on the BibleEzekiel 19

Princes of Israel - Israel is the whole nation over which the king of Judah was the rightful sovereign. Compare Ezekiel 2:3; Ezekiel 3:1, Ezekiel 3:7.

Thy mother - The people represented by Judah. Compare Genesis 49:9; Numbers 23:24.

Compare the marginal reference. The short reign of Jehoahaz was marked by violence and idolatry, and was closed by Pharaoh-Necho‘s carrying him captive into Egypt.

Verses 4-9

Chains - See the marginal rendering to Ezekiel 19:9 and Isaiah 27:9, note.

Ezekiel 19:5

Another - Jehoiachin who soon showed himself no less unworthy than Jehoahaz. The “waiting” of the people was during the absence of their rightful lord Jehoahaz, a captive in Egypt while Jehoiakim, whom they deemed an usurper, was on the throne. It was not until Jehoiachin succeeded, that they seemed to themselves to have a monarch of their own 2 Kings 24:6.

Ezekiel 19:7

Their desolate palaces - Rather, his palaces, built upon the ground, from where he had ejected the former owners.

Ezekiel 19:8

The nations - are here the Chaldaeans: see the marginal references.

Thy mother - Judah or Jerusalem. Jehoiachin is still addressed.

In thy blood - Blood is equivalent to “life” Genesis 9:4. The clause is equivalent to “Thy mother is a vine, living in thy blood,” i. e., in the life of thee and of thy children. The excellency of a vine is in her fruitful branches; the glory of a mother in her noble children. Jeremiah was to write Jehoiachin childless (see the note at Jeremiah 22:30); Ezekiel here takes a general view of the king and princes of the blood royal.

Sceptres - Genesis 49:10.

The thick branches - Or, the clouds; so Ezekiel 31:3, Ezekiel 31:10, Ezekiel 31:14.

This is a dirge; and therefore that which is foreseen by the prophet, the capture and burning of Jerusalem, is described as already accomplished.

Fire is gone out - Compare the marginal reference. Zedekiah is regarded, like Abimelech, as all usurper and the ruin of his people.