Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezekiel 17:23
In the mountain of the height of Israel will I plant it: and it shall bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a goodly cedar: and under it shall dwell all fowl of every wing; in the shadow of the branches thereof shall they dwell.
23. mountain of the height ] Cf. ch. Eze 20:40, Eze 40:2.
fowl of every wing ] As fowls flock to a great tree so all peoples will put their trust in the shadow of this great monarchy in the land of Israel; ch. Eze 31:6; Dan 4:12; Mat 13:32.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
In the mountain of the height of Israel – The parallel passage Eze 20:40 points to the mountain on which the temple stood. But it is not here the actual Mount Moriah so much as the kingdom of which that mountain was the representative, the seat of the throne of the anointed Son of God (Psa 2:6; compare Psa 40:2).
All fowl of every wing – (or, of every kind) are those who flock from all lands to this kingdom. Compare Mat 13:32.
The prophet brings prominently forward the future exaltation of the king; and he furnishes us thereby with hope, encouragement, and consolation, at such times as we see the Church of Christ in like depression.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 23. In the mountain of the height of Israel] He shall make his appearance at the temple, and found his Church at Jerusalem.
Shall bring forth boughs] Apostles, evangelists, and their successors in the Gospel ministry.
And bear fruit] Multitudes of souls shall be converted by their preaching.
And under it shall dwell all fowl of every wing] All the nations of the earth shall receive his Gospel.
In the shadow of the branches thereof shall they dwell.] Trust in him alone for salvation, and be saved in their trusting.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
In the mountain; either the church or Jerusalem, whence the law of Christ was to be published, and where the preachers of the gospel were to continue till furnished with abilities for that work. Like a tree that taketh root, and spreadeth forth into branches, so the kingdom of Christ should grow, and be fruitful in good works, not flourishing in boughs and leaves only, but much more in excellent fruits of holiness, justice, and temperance, and in joy, peace, and love.
A goodly cedar; the goodliest that ever grew, most excellent and most durable.
All fowl, all nations, the Gentiles as well as the Jews, shall build, breed, and multiply under the kingdom of Christ; it shall be no more confined to the Jews, but extend to the Gentiles also. There they shall find peace and safety; and this repeated confirms the certainty of the promise.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
23. under it . . . all fowltheGospel “mustard tree,” small at first, but at lengthreceiving all under its covert (Mt13:32); the antithesis to Antichrist, symbolized by Assyria, ofwhich the same is said (Eze 31:6),and Babylon (Da 4:12).Antichrist assumes in mimicry the universal power really belonging toChrist.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
In the mountain of the height of Israel will I plant it,…. In the highest part of the land of Israel, as Jerusalem is said to be by the Jewish writers; the land of Israel, they say, particularly Kimchi upon the place, was higher than all other lands, and Jerusalem was the highest part of that land; here the Messiah preached and wrought his miracles, even in the mountain of the Lord’s house, the temple; and here the first Christian church was planted and established:
and it shall bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a goodly cedar; that is, the tender twig or branch cropped off, set and planted as before described: by the “boughs” or “branches” it brings forth may be meant believers, who are as branches in Christ; are of the same nature with him, united to him; have a communication of life and grace from him; are supported and strengthened by him; and so, abiding in him, persevere to the end; see Joh 15:4; and the same may be said of particular churches; and by “fruit” it is said to bear may be designed the persons of the chosen, redeemed, and called; who are the fruit of Christ’s death, and of the ministration of his Gospel, Joh 12:24; or the blessings of grace which are in him, come from him, and are communicated by him; even fill spiritual blessings, as justification, pardon, adoption, sanctification, and eternal life; in short, both grace and glory; and thus he becomes and appears to be a “goodly cedar”, in his person, office, and grace, to his people, to whom he is altogether lovely; being full of grace and truth, So 5:16; and in his kingdom and interest, especially in the latter day, when the kingdoms of this world shall become his:
and under it shall dwell all fowl of every wing; in the shadow of the branches thereof shall they dwell; by whom are designed converted sinners of all sorts, and of all nations, Jews and Gentiles; compared to birds, because weak, defenceless, and timorous; exposed to danger; and wonderfully delivered; are subject to wander and go astray; and for their chirping and warbling notes: now these may be said to “dwell” under the “shadow” of the “branches” of this “goodly cedar”, Christ and his church; that is, under the ministration of the word and ordinances, which is a very delightful and refreshing shadow, a very safe and fruitful one, So 2:3; and here saints choose to dwell, and determine to abide and continue, as it is their interest and happiness so to do; and what a flocking and tabernacling of these birds here will there be in the latter day, where they will chirp and sing in the height of Zion? Isa 66:4; compare with this
Mt 13:32; where our Lord is thought by some to allude to this passage.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
When God announces that the twig which he will plant shall become a lofty cedar, he shows by lofty words that the increase of Christ’s kingdom shall be so wonderful, that it shall surpass the common rule of nature; which indeed was shadowed forth in the person of Zerubbabel, who was chosen to bring back the people from their sad and disgraceful captivity. (Ezr 2:2; Hag 1:14.) For it does not naturally happen that a twig increases in a short time to a lofty cedar, for we know how slowly cedars grow, and hence we see the Spirit’s intention in saying that a tree should spring from a very small twig. And this prophecy answers to one of Isaiah’s, where he says, (Isa 11:1,) A branch shall spring from the root of Jesse: for the house of Jesse was cut off, and he names the house of an obscure and private man as if the remembrance of David were utterly lost. The house of Jesse then was cut off like a tree: that twig, says he, shall spring from its root. Now the Prophet signifies the same thing, and almost under the same similitude. I leave the rest for the next lecture.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(23) In the mountain of the height of Israel, i.e., Mount Zion, called in the parallel passage (Eze. 20:40) mine holy mountain. Similar prophecies are also to be found in Isa. 2:2-4; Mic. 4:1-3; Psa. 2:6. No point is made more clear in the prophecies of the Christian dispensation than that it is to have its roots in the Jewish, that the law shall go forth from Zion, and that the new covenant shall yet be a covenant with Gods people of old. This mountain is to be understood as the representative of the centre and seat of the kingdom of Israel, and not to be confined too literally to the actual hill of Zion itself.
Be a goodly cedar.Not like the vine of low stature; this shall grow into a strong and great tree, under whose shadow all the inhabitants of the earth shall find sustenance and protection. A similar figure is used by the contemporary prophet Daniel (Dan. 4:20-21), and by our Lord Himself in the parable (Mat. 13:32). The universality of the blessings of the Christian dispensation, in contrast with the narrowness of the Jewish, is one of its features most frequently dwelt upon both in prophecy and in the New Testament, and shall still enter into the burden of the songs of the redeemed (Rev. 5:9). The last clause of the verse repeats and emphasises the permanence of the connection of the believer with Christ.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
23. In the mountain of the height will I plant it Compare Eze 17:3; Eze 20:40; Eze 40:2; Isa 2:9; Isa 11:10; Mic 4:1-3. This new kingdom shall be conspicuous and fruitful, yea, it shall be a universal kingdom, for “all fowl of every wing” shall dwell under it (Eze 31:6; Dan 4:12). Babylon could only make of the Israelitish kingdom a “vine of low stature,” and Egypt could not do more; but Jehovah can make of it a mighty cedar crowning the mountain height. This was never realized until the Messianic kingdom was set up by the divine “Branch” on the holy hill of Zion. (Zec 3:8; Isa 53:2; Isa 11:1.) In the only fragment of a wall preserved from the most ancient mosque in Damascus is carved this sentence: “Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations” ( Psa 145:13; Dan 2:44; Dan 7:27).
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Eze 17:23 In the mountain of the height of Israel will I plant it: and it shall bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a goodly cedar: and under it shall dwell all fowl of every wing; in the shadow of the branches thereof shall they dwell.
Ver. 23. In the mountain. ] In the Church, that highest top.
And it shall bring forth boughs, &c.
All fowl of every wing,
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
In the mountain, &c. Compare Isa 2:2, Isa 2:3; Isa 54:1-17; Isa 62:1-7.
bring forth boughs = exalt its branch.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
and it: Psa 92:12, Psa 92:13, Isa 27:6, Joh 12:24, Joh 15:5-8
under: Eze 31:6, Gen 49:10, Psa 22:27-30, Psa 72:8-11, Isa 2:2, Isa 11:6-10, Isa 49:18, Isa 60:4-12, Dan 4:10-14, Dan 4:21-23, Hos 14:7, Mat 13:32, Mat 13:47, Mat 13:48, Luk 14:21-23, Act 10:11, Act 10:12, Gal 3:28, Col 3:11, Rev 11:15
Reciprocal: Jos 11:16 – the mountain Psa 104:16 – General Psa 148:10 – flying fowl Son 2:3 – the apple tree Isa 4:2 – the branch Jer 31:12 – the height Jer 33:15 – the Branch Eze 20:40 – in mine Eze 21:27 – until Eze 40:2 – a very Dan 4:12 – the beasts Col 2:7 – Rooted
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
17:23 In the mountain of the height of Israel will I plant it: and it shall bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a well favoured cedar: and under it shall dwell all {p} fowl of every wing; in the shadow of its branches shall they dwell.
(p) Both the Jews and Gentiles will be gathered into it.