Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezekiel 19:3
And she brought up one of her whelps: it became a young lion, and it learned to catch the prey; it devoured men.
Compare the marginal reference. The short reign of Jehoahaz was marked by violence and idolatry, and was closed by Pharaoh-Nechos carrying him captive into Egypt.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 3. She brought up one of her whelps] Jehoahaz, son of Josiah, whose father was conquered and slain by Pharaoh-necho, king of Egypt.
It learned to catch the prey] His reign was a reign of oppression and cruelty. He made his subjects his prey, and devoured their substance.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
See Eze 19:3.
Brought up; not as a nurse, the word is of other import, but advanced, promoted, or caused him to take the throne after the slaughter of Josiah.
One of her whelps; this was Jehoahaz, the second son of Josiah, of whom it is said, 2Ki 23:30; 2Ch 36:1, the people made him king; for God had not made him so by primogeniture, and right of succession. They looked upon him as a warlike prince, fitter for sustaining the troubles of those martial times than his eldest. brother, and therefore strain a point of law and right.
It became a young lion; soon showed his fierce, haughty, cruel, and bloody disposition, as appears 2Ki 23:30-32, though he continued but three months, and some odd days, wherein to play his pranks.
Learned; had tutors and counsellors that showed him the method; and he, an apt scholar in an evil school, learnt apace.
To catch the prey; to seize first, and then to tear the prey, by frauds and violence to hunt, take, and devour that he took, as lions use.
Devoured; eat up, as the word notes, lived upon.
Men; man, Adam, the weaker sort; or it may be in those divided times Adam may imply such as were crushed because they were not of the tyrannizing faction: at that time Pharaoh had some that inclined to him, and perhaps these were used hardly by Jehoahaz.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
3. young lionJehoahaz, son ofJosiah, carried captive from Riblah to Egypt by Pharaoh-necho (2Ki23:33).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And she brought up one of her whelps,…. Or sons, as the Targum: or, “made him to ascend” t, 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,
2Ki 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, 2Ki 23:32;
it devoured men; or a man, Adam, the people of Israel, so called,
Eze 34:31; as the Jews frequently observe; it ate up and destroyed their liberties, privileges, and property.
t “et ascendere fecit”, Pagninus, Montanus, Tigurine version.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(3) It became a young lion.There can be no doubt (see Eze. 19:4) of the reference of this to Jehoahaz. After the death of Josiah, the people of the land took Jehoahaz, the son of Josiah . . . and made him king (2Ki. 23:30). In Eze. 19:6 Jehoiachin is also spoken of particularly. These two are mentioned as examples of all the other kings after Josiah. Jehoiakim and Zedekiah are simply passed over, although it may be that the prophet looked upon them as creatures of Pharaoh and Nebuchadnezzar rather than as legitimate kings of Israel. Jehoiakim, moreover, died in Jerusalem, and Zedekiah was at this moment still upon the throne.
It devoured men.This at once keeps up the figure, and has also its special justification in the evil courses of Jehoahaz (2Ki. 23:32). He is represented as growing up and being like the heathen kings around. See also, in Eze. 19:2, Israel as a whole is represented as going aside from her high calling as a theocracy, and making herself like the nations round about.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Eze 19:3. And she brought up one of her whelps This is meant of Jehoahaz, who neglected to follow the good example of his father Josiah, and pursued the evil practices of his wicked predecessors. See his history, 2Ki 23:32-33; 2Ki 23:37.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Eze 19:3 And she brought up one of her whelps: it became a young lion, and it learned to catch the prey; it devoured men.
Ver. 3. And she brought up one of her whelps. ] This was Jehoahaz.
It became a young llon.
It devoured men.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
one of her whelps. Probably Jehoahaz (i.e. Shah lam), the youngest son of Josiah, is intended (1Ch 3:15).
catch = rend,
men. Hebrew ‘adam. App-14,
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
one: Jehoahaz, made king of Israel instead of Josiah, who became cruel and oppressive.
it became: Eze 19:6, 2Ki 23:31, 2Ki 23:32, 2Ch 36:1, 2Ch 36:2
Reciprocal: 2Ki 23:33 – put him 2Ki 23:34 – he came 2Ch 36:4 – Necho Psa 10:9 – to catch Jer 22:10 – weep sore Eze 7:23 – a chain Eze 19:5 – another Eze 22:27 – princes Eze 34:3 – ye kill Eze 38:13 – with Eze 45:8 – and my princes Dan 7:3 – beasts Zec 11:3 – a voice Mat 14:11 – and given Mar 6:24 – said
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Eze 19:3. This verse singles out one of the whelps and the context indicates it means Jehoahaz. (See 2Ki 23:30.) The figurative form of speech is continued, hence the evil conduct of this king is described as that of catching prey which really means that this Icing devoured men as is literally stated.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Eze 19:3-4. And she brought up one of her whelps This seems to be spoken of Jehoahaz, who, we are told, followed not the good example of his father Josiah, but the evil practices of the wicked kings his predecessors; and though we have no further account of his acts, yet, from this, there is sufficient reason to suppose that he was rapacious and injurious to his neighbours, and tyrannical and cruel; which possibly was the reason why Pharaoh-necho deposed him after he had reigned only three months, and placed his brother on the throne in his room. The nations also heard of him The king of Egypt, hearing of his character, and probably some of his subjects having been used ill by him, deprived him of his kingly office, put him in bands, and carried him into Egypt, 2Ki 23:32; 2Ki 23:34. He was taken in their pit This expression alludes to those pit-falls and snares which are made to take wild beasts; and as Jehoahaz is spoken of here as a young lion, the expression was quite applicable to signify his being taken prisoner.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
One particular ruler in the Davidic line became lion-like. He tore his prey and devoured people. When his neighbors heard about him, someone captured him and brought him as a prisoner to Egypt.
This describes the character and fate of King Jehoahaz who did evil in the Lord’s sight by devouring people in his own kingdom through oppression and injustice (2Ki 23:31-34). Even though his reign lasted only three months (in 609 B.C.) it was a violent and brutal period in Israel’s history. Pharaoh Neco placed Jehoahaz on Judah’s throne after Neco killed his father, Josiah, at Megiddo thereby gaining sovereignty over Judah. However, Jehoahaz proved to be unmanageable, so Pharaoh took him to Egypt where he finally died (2Ki 23:31-34; 2Ch 36:1-4; Jer 22:10-12). The Judeans had hoped that Jehoahaz would return from Egypt and rule again in Judah, but that was not to be the case (cf. Jer 22:10-12).