John Gill Commentary Ezekiel 19

Moreover, take up a lamentation
These words are directed to the Prophet Ezekiel, to compose a doleful ditty, a mournful song, such as was used at funerals; and by it represent the lamentable state of the nation of the Jews and their governors, in order to affect them with it, with what was past, and present, and yet to come: for the princes of Israel ;
or, "concerning them" ^F19 ; the princes meant are Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jeconiah, and Zedekiah, who were kings, though called princes, these words being synonymous; or, if so called by way of diminution, the reason might be, because they were tributary, either to the king of Egypt, or king of Babylon.

FOOTNOTES:

• F19: (larvy yayvn la) "de principibus Israel", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Polanus, Starckius; so Ben Melech.

And say, what [is] your mother ?
&c.] That is, say so to the then reigning prince, Zedekiah, what is your mother like? to what is she to be compared? by whom is meant, not the royal family of David only, or Jerusalem the metropolis of the nation, but the whole body of the people; and so the Targum interprets it of the congregation of Israel. The answer to the question is, a lioness ;
she is like to one, not for her strength and glory, but for her cruelty and rapine; for her want of humanity, mercy, and justice:

she lay down among lions ;
that is, kings, as the Targum interprets it Heathen princes, the kings of the nations about them, as of Egypt and Babylon, (Jeremiah 50:17) ; so called for their despotic and arbitrary power, tyranny, and cruelty: now this lioness, the people of the Jews, lay down among them, joined with them in leagues and marriages, and learned their manners, and became of the same temper and disposition:

she nourisheth her whelps among young lions ;
princes, as the Targum explains it; either the princes of Judah, who were become like young lions, fierce and cruel; or the princes of other nations, among whom the children of the royal family were brought up; or, however, they were trained up in the principles of such, even of arbitrary and despotic power, and were taught to oppress their subjects, and not execute justice and mercy among them.

And she brought up one of her whelps
Or sons, as the Targum: or, "made him to ascend" ^F20 , as the word signifies; to mount the throne; this was Jehoahaz, whom the people of the land took and anointed him, and made him king in the stead of Josiah his father, (2 Kings 23:30).

it become a young lion ;
that is, a king, as the same Targum explains it, and a tyrannical and arbitrary one.

and it learned to catch the prey ;
being instructed by evil counsellors, he soon learned to oppress his subjects, to get their substance from them, and do many evil things, as he is said to do, (2 Kings 23:32).

it devoured men ;
or a man, Adam, the people of Israel, so called, (Ezekiel 34:31) ; as the Jews frequently observe; it ate up and destroyed their liberties, privileges, and property.

FOOTNOTES:

• F20: "et ascendere fecit", Pagninus, Montanus, Tigurine version.

The nations also heard of him
The neighboring nations, particularly the Egyptians; the fame of his behavior reached them; they were informed how he used his own subjects, and what designs he had formed, and what preparations he was making against his neighbors; wherefore they thought it proper to oppose his measures in time, and to hinder him from proceeding and putting his projects into execution, by coming out against him, and fighting with him, as they did: he was taken in their pit ;
alluding to the manner of hunting and taking lions, and such like beasts of prey; which was done by digging pits, and covering the mouths of them with straw, as Jarchi observes, into which in their flight they fell unawares: so Pharaohnecho king of Egypt came out against Jehoahaz, and took him, and put him in bonds at Riblah in the land of Hamath, that he might reign no more in Jerusalem, after he had been on the throne but three months, (2 Kings 23:31 2 Kings 23:33) ; and they brought him with chains into the land of Egypt ;
or, "with hooks" ^F21 ; in his nose, as in (Isaiah 37:29) ; or with a bridle, as the Septuagint; or with branches, as the Syriac version, in his jaws; the Targum renders it in chains, as we do: it is certain that Jehoahaz was put in bonds or fetters, and carried into Egypt, where he died, (2 Kings 23:33 2 Kings 23:34) .

FOOTNOTES:

• F21: (Myxxb) "in, [vel] cum hamis", Montanus, Tigurine version, Cocceius, Starckius.

Now when she saw: That is, his mother, as the Syriac version expresses it; not his natural mother, as the mother of Sisera looked out and waited for him; but the congregation of Israel, as Jarchi interprets it, the body of the Jewish people.

that she had waited; for the return of Jehoahaz out of Egypt, which was expected for some time; or, "that she was become sick"; or "weak" ^F23, and feeble, and brought to a low estate by his captivity, and by the tax the king of Egypt put upon her.

[and] her hope was lost; of his return to her any more, and so of being eased of the tribute imposed, and of being restored by him to liberty and glory; for the Lord had declared that he should return no more to his native country, but die in the place where he was carried captive, (Jeremiah 22:10–12).

then she took another of her whelps; or sons, as the Targum: [and] made him a young lion: a king, as the same Targum paraphrases it; that is, Jehoiakim, the brother of Jehoahaz, who before was called Eliakim, but his name was changed by Pharaohnecho; and though he is said to make him king, yet it was by the consent of the people of the Jews.

FOOTNOTES:

• F23: (hlxwn yk) "quod infirmatus esset", Cocceius, Starckius.