Yechezkel Perek 17

• This perek is in riddle form. A riddle is something in which the explanation is concealed. (Radak)

• A great, beautiful eagle will swoop down and uproot a vine/tree from its place. Radak: this is a reference to Nevuchadnetzar who will exile Tzidkiya from Yerushalayim to Bavel.

• The vine will try to latch itself onto a second great eagle (but not as magnificent as the first one) in order to be rerooted in a better location to flourish and grow. According to Radak, Tzidkiya will try to reach out to Egypt, the second eagle, for help against Bavel, to relocate the Jewish nation to Egypt.

Note: Tzidkiya was wrong for doing so for two reasons: 1) the prophet Yirmiya had instructed Tzdkiya to be subservient to Bavel. 2)Tzidkiya himself had sworn allegiance to Nevuchadnetzar to not rebel against him.

• The navi related a prophecy regarding the times of Mashiach.

• God will make the kingdom of Dovid like the tallest cedar tree, and all birds (other nations) will want to flock to its branches.