John Calvin Commentary Ezekiel 19:13

"And now it is planted in the wilderness, in a dry and thirsty land." — Ezekiel 19:13 (ASV)

The Prophet here seems inconsistent with himself, since these two statements are openly contradictory: that the vine was not only withered but also burnt up, and yet was planted in a desert place; for if it were withered, it could not take root again; but the burning removed even the slightest hope. For when the twigs were reduced to ashes, who ever saw a vine spring up and grow from its ashes?

But when the Prophet says that the vine was withered and burnt up, he refers to the conclusion which people must arrive at from their own senses when the city was utterly ruined. For that was truly a horrible spectacle: when the people were made tributaries after their king was captured, the temple plundered, the city ruined, and their safety dependent on the will of their conqueror.

Since, therefore, neither the royal name and dignity, nor freedom and security, remained, and especially when they were led to the slaughterhouse, was not their ruin very much like a burning? Now, therefore, we see why the Prophet said that the vine was torn and burnt up, for that most severe destruction took away all hope of restoration for a time.

Therefore, he spoke according to common understanding: then he kept in view that picture of horrible ruin, or rather deformity, which was like a burning and a final destruction of the people. But now, when he says that the vine was planted again, he praises the mercy of God, who wished some seed to remain for the production of new shoots; as it is said in the first chapter of Isaiah, Lest you should be in like Sodom and Gomorrah, some small seed has been wonderfully preserved (Isaiah 1).

Although, therefore, the people were burnt up after being violently uprooted, and their entire lives subjected to the will of the proudest of conquerors, yet God took some twigs or vine branches, which he planted so that he might propagate a new nation, which was done at the people’s return.

But he says that those vine branches were planted in the desert in the dry and thirsty land, because God preserves the religion of his people even in death. Therefore, he compares their exile to a desert and a wilderness. It may seem absurd at first sight that Chaldea should be compared to a desert, since we know that district to be remarkable for its fertility and other advantages; we know, too, that it was well watered, though called dry.

But the Prophet here does not consider the physical characteristics of the country, but rather the condition of the people in it.

Although Chaldea was very lovely and full of all kinds of fruits, yet, because the people were cruelly oppressed and contemptuously treated, the land was therefore called a desert.

We say that no prison is beautiful, so their exile could not be pleasant for the children of Israel; for they were ashamed of their life and did not dare to raise their eyes upwards.

Since, then, they were drowned in a deep abyss of evils, the land was a desert to them; therefore, there was no splendor, dignity, or opulence, and liberty, the most precious of all gifts, was wrested from them.

Now we understand the meaning of the words. It follows—